The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-27
WASHINGTON'S HEIRS
RELICS TO BE RESTORED TO THE
LEE FAMILY.
PRESIDENT APPROVES 1T.
GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED CUSTODY
AS A TRUST.

An Interesting Exchange of Letters
Between senator Daniel ana
President Mckinley - The Relics
Now in the Smithsonian Institu-
tion viii BE Returned to Miss
Mary Custis Lee, Sister of Gen.
George Washington Custis Lee,
and Daughter of GEN. Robert Il.
Lee-The Presidents Letter Re-
cites the History and Title OF
These Relics.
Washington. April Ex-senator John w.
Daniel of Virginia. several days ago ad-
dressed a letter to President Mckinley,
indorsing the application of Gen. George
Washington Custis Lee, submitted by him
on behalf OF Miss Mary Gusts Lee, his
sister, for restoration of the relics of Gen.
George Washington, which he Gen. Leo
became owner of on the death of his
mother. who was the wife OF Gen. Robert
+. Lee. In reply President Mckinley in
forms Senator Daniel that 1t viii arrord
him great satisfaction to have the artl-
cles which are now in the Smithsonian
Institution, restored Ito the present head
his letter. says that all the government
did was to accept the trust of their Gus
tody at a time when the owner could not
protect them. and they were consequently
exposed to the risk of destruction.
Senator Daniels letter is as follows:
washington, April 20. 1901.
'Mr. President: Sr-I have the honor
to indorse herewith the application of
Gen. George Washington Custis Lee,
submitted by me on behalf of Miss Mary
Custis Lee. his sister, who has his power
of attorney. for restoration of the relics
owner of on the death of his mother,
who was the wife of Gen. r. e. Lee.
Were Once Refused Gen. Lee.
when the House of Representatives
passed the resolution in 1869, now 80 years
ago, against their restoration to Gen. r.
e. Lee, it was under the apparent inn
preston, which It -reeieea,- that he owned
them and had applied for them. This was
a mistake as is shown in the report OF
the Judiciary Committee of the House in
1870. Mrs. Lee had a life tenancy in them
and the remainder was In Gen. @. w q.
Lee, as shown in his application for the
restoration of the Arlington estate, which
Congress honored after judicial decision
and purchased from him. BY this same
title judicially recognized in the Airing
ton case and congressionally recognized
by the purchase of Arlington, these heir
looms descended to him.
Mr. President you know the charac-
ter of the Lees-they had rather give than
take-and as 'sectionalism has disappear
ed, | am sure you will not deem me pre-
sumptuous If L express my conviction
that you, who have done so much to this
happy end will Should your right to do
so be confirmed by your inquiry. be glad
to have these honorable and cherished ar
ticles handed over to their rightful heir.
With great respect, very truly yours,
John w. Daniel"
The Presidents Kindly Letter.
In reply the President sent to Senator
Daniel the following letter:
Executive Mansion. Washington, April
25 1901 My Dear Sir: On behalf OF
George Washington Custis Lee. you have
applied to me for the restoration OF certain
relics of George Washington now in the
Smithsonian Institution. These articles
came from Mount Vernon, and before the
Civil War were the property Of George
Washington Parke Custis, the grandson
of Martha Washington and the owner of
Arlington. who. on his death, in 1857, Ieft
them by his WILL along with the Arling-
ton estate. to his daughter, Mary Ann
Randolph Lee, the wife OF Robert l.. Lee,
during her natural llfe,a and them 10 .fIlA
eldest grandson, George Washington Gus
It's Lee. to descend from him. entire and
unchanged. to my (his) latest poseterity'
Accepted as IA Trust.