The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-29
THE EX-PREsIDEST's SPEECH
OffTaking the Chair as Permanent Pre-
siding Officer.


was manifested in round after round of
cheers and applause that lasted for several
minutes. At length quiet was restored, and
the Confederate leader began the following
eloquent address, which absorbed the atten-
tiOn and interest of his vast audience from
beginning 20 end:
soldiers and sailors of the Confederacy,
countrymen and friends-Assembled ON
this sad occasion. with hearts oppressed
with She grief that follows the loss of him
who was our lcadorOn many bloody battle
field, there is a melancholy pleasure in the
spectacle which is presented. Hitherto, in
all times. men have been hOnored when sue
cesslul. but here is the case of one who,
amid disaster, went down 10 his grave, and
those who were his companions in mistOr-
tune have assembled 10 honor his memory.
II is as much as honor 10 YOU who give rs 10
him who receives. for above the vulgar test
Of merit You show yourselves competent TO
discriminate between him who enjoys and
him who deserves success.
Ny ASSOCIATE AND FRIEND.
Robert T.. Lee was my associate and friend
in the military academy. and we Were
friends until the hour of his death. We
were associates and friends when he was Il
soldier and a congressman; and associates
and friends when he led the armies of the
Confedcracy and held civil Office. and
therefore may claim to speak as one who
knew him. I'm the many sad scenes and
peril0us circumstances through which we
passed together, our conferences were fire.
uuent and full, vet never was there an oc-
casiOn on which there was not entire har-
mony of purpose and accordance rs to
means. II ever there was difference of Opin-
ion. 10 was dissipated by discussion, and
harmony was the result. lrepcat, we never
disagreed. and may add, that | never in
my life saw in him the slightest tendency 10
sclf-sooking IL was not his 10 make re-
cord. il was not his TO SHIFT blame to other
shoulders: but il was his with an eye fixed
upon the welfare of his country. never falter-
ing To follow the line of duty TO the end. Ills
was the heart that hrayed every difficulty
his was the mind that wrought victory out
Of defeat.
80 LACK OF COURAGE.
lie has been charged with "want of
DASH" wish TO say that ! never knew
lee to decline To attempt anything man
might dare. An attempt has also been
made tO throw a cloud upon his character
because he left the army OF the United
state, to Join i'm the struggle for the liberty
of his state. Without entering into politics,
deem il ms duty 10 say one word in refer
seconded from "a family illustr0us in the
Colonial history of Virginia, more illustri-
0us still in her struggle for Independence,
and most illustrious IN her recent effort 10
maintain the great principles declared in
l1l6: given by Virginia to the service OF the
United states. he represented her IN the
Military Academy at West Point.
lie was not educated by the Fed
cral Government. but by Virginia
for she pad her full share for
the support of that institution. and was en-
titled % demand in return the services OF
her ,Ons. Entering the army of the United
states, he represented Virginia there also,
and nobly performed his duty for the | mon
Of which Virginia was member whether
We look TO his peaceful services rs an engi-
uocr. or 10 hi, more notable deeds upon for
eien fields Of battle. lie came from MeNi-
co crowned with homOrs, covered by brevcts.
and recognized. Young rs he was. "a, one
of the able-t OF hi, cOuntry's soldiers. And
tO prove that he was estimated then as such
moi only by his associates, but by foreigners
ALSO. / may mention that when he was a
captain OF engineers, stationed in Baltl-
more. the Cuban Junta in New York Sc
lected him to be their leader in tho
revolutionary effort on that island. They
were anxious to secure his services, and Of
fcrcd him every temptation that ambition
could desire and pecuniary emOluments,
far bcvond any which he could hope other
wise Ia acquire. iie thought the matter
over. and remember, came To ashingtOn
90 consult me as to what he should do.
DONE WITH DELIBERArION,
After brief discussion Of the complex
character of the military problem which was
presented. he turned from the consideration
of that view of the question. by stat
ng that the point on which he wished
particularly to consult me was as to the
UrOpriety OF entertaining the proposition
which had been made TO him. lie had been
educated i'm the sert ice OF the tnited states
aud felt il wrong to accept a place IN the
army If a foreign power while he held his
commission. such was his extreme deli
cacy. such the nice sense Of honor
Of the gallant gentleman we de-
plOre. But when Nirgnia-the State
Ia which he owed his first and
last allegiance. withdrew from the l'niOn,
and thus terminated his relations 10 Il. the
sense. nice sense Oi honor and duty, which
mad Guided him ON "A former occasion. had q
dilercnt application, and led him TO draw
his sword and throw IL in the scale 10 share
/ her fortune for good or for evil. When
/ Nirgn.a joined the COniederacy, and
/ the seat Of government was moved to Rich
mond. Ice wa- the highost officer in the liz
tie army of.N irginia, and promptly cooper
ated i'm all the movements Of the tOnieder-
ate Government for the defense Of the com
mon country. and when he was sent Il
Western virginia. and though he had. in
uoiut Of fact. then been appointed Gen
eral by the Confederate Government
h. was 80 careless Of himself as never Il
have learned the fact, and only made inquiry
Z when ordered 10 another state; he deemed II
necessary 10 know what would be his rela'
tive uosition toward other officers with
whom be might be- brought in contact. You
all remember the disastrous character ol
| that campaign IN Western Virginia u
which | have referred. lie came
| hack carving the heavy weight Of defeat
and unappreciated by the people Whon
/ he served. for they could not know that, il
+ bi. nlans and orders had been carried out,
/ lhe result wOuld have been victory rather
than retreat. lOu did not know il, for
/ would not have known it had he not report
ed il. with request, however, that II
! should not be made public. The clam0l
which then arose. followed him when ht
went ID south Carolina, so that 1t became
necessary tO write letter 10 the Governor
of that state, telling him what manner o
man he was. Yet. through all this, with a
magnanmltN rarely equalizer, ne suOou III
silence. without defending himself or allow
ing others 10 defend him. for he was unwil
/ ling To iniure any one who was wearing q
sword and striking blows for the Confeder
acy.
MIR. DAVIS then spoke Of the straits Il
which the COnfederacy was reduced and o
/ the danger 10 whicn her capital was ex
{ posed lust after the battle Of Seven Pites
/ and told how General lee conceived ano
executed the desperate plan TO turn theii
/ flank and rear; and how, after seven days
bloody battle, the protection Of Richmon,
was secured: and the enemy, driven TAI
from the city covered on the banks OF IN,
James river, under the cover Of his gun
boats. The speaker referred also 10 the cir
cumstances attending General Lees cross
ing the Potomac aud the march into Penn
sylyania; aud 20 the censures 10 which tina
movement had been subjected by thos'
who did not comprehend the purpose fo
which il was undertaken. He sal,
that if necessary he had always
been willing TO assume the RESPONSE
blily Of il, and had ~ the time written /
yindication. Whatever were the sacriiice'