The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-30
Granting the Request.

"~dSHlHSlOn. April Ex-senator John
w Daniel. of Virginia, several days
ago addressed a letter to President
Mckinley. endorsing the application
of General George Washington Gusts
Lee. submitted by him on Behalf of
Miss Mary GUSTS Lee his sister, for
George Washington, which he, Gener-
al Lee. became owner of on the death
of his mother, who was the wife of
General Robert E. Lee. In reply Pres
ident Mckinley informs Senator Daniel
that it will afford hin great satisfac-
tiOn to have the articles, which are
now in the Smithsonian institution, re-
stored Ito the present head of an his
tOTic family"
The president in his letter says that
all the government did was to accept
the trust of their custody at a time
when the owner could not protect hem
and they were consequently exposed TO
the risk of destruction.
Senator Daniels letter is as follows:
Washington. ID. c.. April 20.
Mr.. President,
sir have the honor to indorse
herewith the application of General
George Washington Custis Lee, sub.
mitted by me on behalf of Miss Mary
Gusts Lee, his sister, who has his
power of attorney for restoration of
the relics of General washington,
which he became owner of OF the death
of his mother, who vas the wife of
General r. h. Lee.
When the house of representatives
passed the resolution in 1869, now thir-
ty-twO a ago. against their resto-
ration to GeneI al Z. L. Lee it was un-
der rho 1nn1rert imnFpSSinn which &c
recited that he owned them and had
applied for them. This was a mistake,
as is shown in the report of the judi
ciary committee of the house in 1870.
Mrs. Lee had a life tenancy in them
and the remainder was in General G.
w. c. 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 ju~dicially
recognized by the purchase of Airing
ton. these heirloOmS descended to him,
Mr.. President. you know the char
acter of the Lees-they had rather give
than lakeland. as 'Sectionalism has
disappeared" l am sure o will not
deem me presumptuous if L express my
conviction that you. who have done sc
much to this happy end. will Should
your right to do so be confirmed by
your inquiry be glad to have these
honorable ana CnGTlSnSu ARTICLES Hdlu-
ed ever to their rightful heir.
with great respect.
Very truly yours,
JOHN w. DANIEL"
in reply the president sent to Senator
Daniel the following letter.:
Executive Mansion,
washington, d. c., April %.
My Dear Sir:
o behalf of George Washington
Gusts Lee. you have applied to me fol
the restoration of certain relics o
George washington. now in the Smith
sonian institution. These articles came
from Mount Vernon and before the
civil war were the property OF George
Washington Parke Custis. the grand
son of Martha Washington and the
owner of Arlington who. on his dealt
in 1857, left them by his will, alons
with the Arlington estate, to his daugh'
ter Mary Ann Randolph Lee, the wiz
of Robert E. Lee, during her natura
life and then to his eldest grand son
George Washington Custis Lee to de
scend from him.. entire and
to my (his) latest posterity.
The relics were at Arlington Whel
the civil war began and early In lS6
were turned over to General
then in command there. by a serVan
of the Lee family who became alarme'
for their safety. The general. inter
ested in their preservation. sent then
to the patent office for safe keeping
whence they were transferred TO thel
present place of deposit. 1t does no
appear that the government ever tool
any steps to divert the title of Mrs
Lee and her son to them, or even claim
ed any title of it's own. All the gov
did was to accept the trust o
their custody at a time when the owne
could not protect them and they Wer
consequently exposed to the risk OF de
struction. The need for such protec
ton having ceased. and the trust Vo
untary assumed having been discharS
ed it Will afford me great satisfaction
TO give direction for the restoration I
tie present head of an historic fanLl
of these cherished heirloOms of tn
father of his n
sincerely yours,
WILLIAM M'KINLEI-