The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-21
cAHhRoN srhAKS II ArLANTr
The Virginia society Of the Gate City
II""~r- f',e i;irtbHno 90 ice.

The Virginia society Of the Gate city
H""~r- the rirtb'no oficc.
ATLANTA, CA. Jan. 2O.-All the banks
and public Offices were closed to-day IN
honor Of General Lees birtnday
The Virginia Society held meeting in
the Y. ". G. a. Han tonight, and i'm
mediately thereafter there was a banquet
at the kimboI House
President Barbour Thompson. Of the
Virginia Society was presented from
attending. The Grafton was delivered
by Ex-Governor Cameron, OF Virginia
his address was upon General Robert T..
Lee.
After briefly sketchine Lees life prior
20 the rlakng out Of The war, Governor
Cameron said
And so he started upon that course
which brought Him 10 the call of Viz
ginia In the lall Of 1861, veteran already
III war, master Of its theories ripe I'm
its practice in the flush OF health. Scott,
his old commander. had declared of him.
~ his sincere way. that ne was tho great
est military genius in America. ne best
soldier | ever saw in The held. and 81
opportunity will afford he viii show
himself the foremost captain Of his time
1T was through the influence OF this
Nirginian. then at the head OF the United
States army. that President Lincoln was
induced to offer that high command to
Colonel Lee.
"This tender was calculated to crafty
an ord nary prize and great enough TO
satisfy any ambition.
4 SENSE OF DUTY.
1T came to d man who was controlled
IN every act Of his existence b. a desire
to DO the right. In all that memorable
career, there is not an act nor an ut
terance which suggests motive less
noble than sense Of duty.
That his resignation from the United
states army was step taken in sorrow
and after severe conflict Of mind. is not
10 be doubted by any who read the calm
yet mouInful letters in which. at this
iuncture. he announced his decision 10
his sister.
Tie severed the ties and rellnquished
the aspirations OF "a life time TO enter
upon a contest which promised nothing
but loss and danger to him
Outlining Crnfral Lees war record up
TO the close Of 1864, the speaker said:
.iik avs were upon us. Tho shadows
Of the inevitable were beginning TO oh
scCre the brow of hope. II was as the
winter fell that ! first observed the deep
cned lines OF care that not all the Sc
rcnlty of soul at peace with God and
itself could smooth from the cOuntenance
of General Lee
Ine. raven nair of four years before
was already bleached into silvery. and
though too much gentleman To hctrav
abstraction his speech. except on bust
In fact. at this ueriod the neril and
privatiOns of the troops were never abb
sent from his thoughts. So patient of
urivauon himself be- was Judgment at
what ne believed T. be the neglect of
The supply department I'm furnishing cloth
ing and provisions 10 the men.
In closing Governor Cameron said.
AS \ COMMANDER.
Whether pOsterity win assign 10 Cen
eral Lee the rank as a commander which
the South claims Is question which need
not be discussed here. The Judgment OF
foreign critics Of this generation places
VI n4 gf he
OF men That he accomplished much
with limited resources: that he elected the
best skill ard Valor Of the Union bv his
persistent defence Of virginia: that he
overmatched many generals and deci-
mated several armies c.e his own sue
cumbod and that he finally gave TO the
victor a costly triumph. are facts not
10 be gansdid. lie fought for the cause
OF his conscience until further contest
would aave been a useless and criminal
sacrifice of life. He surrendered i'm good
faith TO generous foe. and thereafter
gave his example TO the building w Of
substantial peace and real Union.
lie laid aside his stainless sword with
less reluctance than he had drawn IT,
ana without sigh for the past turned
TO the duties Of the present
Patiently instilling the lessons Of viz
tue into the minds of the Nirrinian
youth. presiding at the vestry meetings
OF his church. foremost I'm unheralded
charlties-sO passed the few years that
remained or earth 20 Robert y Lee"
OTHER TOASTS.
Lucicn L. Knight responded for "Nir-
g'nia" and made an ELOQUENT speech
Mayor Porter King spoke for Atlanta
THE othe- toastS and the speakers were
Atlanta Resurgents," Hon. Porter
KfG.
Colonial Danes Mr.. Charles A.
Rerd de.
THE Daughters OF the Confederacy,"
Dr. William Perrin Nicoson
THE Confederacy's Capital, Richmond
on The James" Major John A. Courtney
"The University Of Virginia" AlgernOn
-. FaUicr
THE Ragged Heroes OF the Lost
Cause Julian \. Hutchinson.
The Hero Of Balls Cross Roads" Rev
y !. Kelly.
THE Press, f. H. Richardson
>orth Cnrolina Celebrates.
RALEIGH. y. c.. Jan. 2o-Robert Z.
Lees birthday Is a legal holiday I'm North
Carolina. and was observed to-day by the
closing Of state Offices and the display OF
flags on the Capitol. also by the closing
OF banks.
There We're no parades or meetings here.
Several pastors. in their sermons yester-
day, alluded TO General Lee