The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-24
A BITOF IMPERTINENCE.

:
The Times Dispatch has never en-
Unused over the proposition to place a
statue of General Lee in the Capitol at
Washington. although we have had no
special objection to it. Our only objec-
ton as stated more than once, is that
we do not consider 1t any great honor
for General Lees statue to be placed in
Statuary Hall in company with the
statue of Brigham Young. and others
| even more objectionable. whom it is not
necessary to name, nor do we wish to
| give the Northern people any grounds for
blowing that the people of Virginia are
DESTROYS of forcing the government to
recognize" the South's hero But we
confess to different feeling when we
read from our Washington correspondent
that some OF. the Northern Congressman
are making the point that Virginia has
no right to place statue of Lee IN Stat
utary Hall, as she was not State OF
the Union when the act of July 2, 1864,
was passed. In that act 1t is provided
that "the President is hereby authorized
toSinvite each and all the States to pro-
vide and furnish statues in marble or
bronze, not exceeding two in number for
each State, of deceased persons who
have been citizens thereof and illustrious
for their historic renown. or from dis
tingulslred civic or military services,
such as each State shall determine to be
worthy Of this national commemoration:
and when so Furnished the same shall
be placed in the old hall Of the House
of Representatives, in the Capitol of the
United States, which is hereby set apart,
or so much thereof as may be necessary,
as a National statuary Hail, for the pur-
poses herein Indicated
That act has never been repealed and
is still in force. If it does not include
| Virginia, no more does it include any
State that has been admitted since 1864.
| We do not claim for Virginia any rights
or privileges that are not enjoyed by
| for her the same rights and privileges
that other States enjoy and there must
be no discrimination against her. We
| claim that she occupies in the ssterllood
| of States a positon quite as honorable
| and important as that of any other
! State; that she is entitled to all the
4 rights and immunities Of statehood, re-
4 CARELESS OF the fact that she seeded. She
| has the same riGht to occupy her niche in
| Statuary Hall that New York, or Penn
/ asNtlI nj rFH. AZ
4 has to oceWpy theirs, and she has tho
| right, under the act of 1864 to put into
this niche a statue of Robert f. Lee, OF
Stonewall Jackson, or jefferson Davis,
or any other man whom she delights to
honor And when Congressman from 9th.
or States undertake to Interfere or tc
dictate to her, it arorses our resentment
and our indignation and we feel like
telling them to mind their own business
Virginia raised no objection when Other
states put their distinguished sons in tht
inches assigned 10 them, and other States
must not raise objection when Virginia
exercises her privilege. There is some
little state sovereignty left, and Virginia
claims all that belongs to her.
j While on the subject, let MS say tina,
If "a statue OF General Lee is to be made
the work should be done in this genera
tlon, when there are in the land sculp.
tors who knew him in the flesh and knew
his characteristics and his features. Nc
living sculptor is so well equipped as
Edward v. Valentine to make the piece
lilo lived with General Lee when his
| famous ''Recumbent Figure was being
made ard he studied his every feature
| and expression and pose, Moreover. he
| loves and l~yeres the subject and his
heart Will be IN his work,