Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-21
GENERAL LEES BIRTHDAY
  Was Royalty Celebrated by the Virginia Society. EX-G0V. CAMERON ORATOR Paid Glowing Tribute to the South's Great
 est Chieftain.
OTHER TOASTS WERE RESPONDED TO
Hon. Porter King Responded to the Toast, Atlanta Resurgents" = General Wheeler Was Guest of the
 Baltimore Celebration:


 and public offices were closed here today in honor of General Lees birthday. The Virginia society held a meeting in the Young Mems Christian association hall tonight, and immediately after there was a banquet at the Kimball house. Presi- dent Barbour Thompson of the Virginia society was prevented from attending. The oration was delivered by Ex-Gov. William D. Cameron of Virginia. His address was upon Gen. Robert E.. Lee. After briefly sketching Lees life prior to the breaking out of the war, Gov ernor Cameron said:
 And so he started forth upon that course which brought him to the call of Virginia in 1861, a veteran already in war, master of it's theories, ripe in its practice, in the flush of health. Scott, his old com mander, had declared of him in his sin cere way that he, was the greatest mili- tary genius in America, the best soldier ever saw in the field. and If opportunity should offer he will show himself the fore most captain of his time.' It was through the Influence of this Virginian, then at the head of the United States army, that President Lincoln was i'm duced to offer that high command to Colonel Lee. This tender so calculated
 
 enough to satisfy any ambition. It came to a man who was controlled in every act of his existence by a desire to do the right In all that memorable career there Is not an act nor an utterance which sug- gests motive less noble than a sense of duty.
 That his resignation from the United States army was a step taken in sorrow and after severe conflict of mind is not to be doubted by any who reads the calm yet mournful letters in which. at this juncture, he announced his decision to his sister He severed the ties and relin- quished the aspirations of a lifetime to enter upon a contest which promised nothing but loss and danger to him."
 Outlining General Lees war record up to the close of 1864, the speaker said:
 Dark days were upon us. The shad- ows of the inevitable were beginning to obscure the brow of hope. It was as the winter fell that first observed the deep- ened lines of care that not all the serenity of a soul at peace with God and itself could smooth from the countenance of General lee. The raven hair of four years ago was already bleached, and though too much of gentleman to be- tray abstraction, his speech, except on business, was rare. In fact, at this period the perils and. privations of the troops were never absent from his thoughts. So patient of privation him self, he was indignant. at what he be- lieved to be the neglect of the supply de7 partment in furnishing clothing and pro- visions to the men,"
 In closing Governor Cameron said:
 whether posterity will assign to Gen eral Lee the rank which the south claims for him. Is question which need not be discussed here. The Judgment of for eign critics presents him in the high list of the born leaders of men,. That he ac- complished much with limited resources, that he elicited the best skill and valor of the union by his persistent defense of Virginia; that he overmatched many generals and decimated several armies ere his own succumbed, and that he final ly gave to the victor a costly triumph, are facts not to be gainsaid. He fought for the cause of his conscience until further contest would have been a useless and criminal sacrifice of life. He surren- dered in good faith to a. generous foe, and thereafter gave his example to the building up of substantial peace and a real union He laid aside his stainless sword with less reluctance than he had drawn it, and without a sigh for the past turned to the duties of the present, patiently insulting the lessons of virtue into the minds of the Virginia youth, presiding at the vestry meetings of the church, foremost in unheralded chari- ties-so passed the few years that re- mained on earth to Robert Lee"
 Lucien L. Knight responded for "Vir- ginia" and made an eloquent speech Mayor Porter King spoke for Atlanta The other toasts and the speakers were:
 Atlanta Resurgents'-Hon. Porter King. ssgti-e'o
 Colonial Dames"--Mr. Charles A. Read. 'H
 "The Daughters of the Confederacy"- Dr. William Perrin Nicolson.
 "The Confederacy's Capital, Richmond on the James'-Maj. John A. Courtney.
 "The University of Virginia"-Alger B. Candler. ,..
 "The Ragged Heroes of the Lost Cause'-Julian A. Hutchinson.
 "The Heroes of Balls Cross Road"- Rev. J. B. Kiely. ,s. e,.e p
 "The Press'-F. H. Richardson.