The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-03-07
Gen. Robert
til

y
fore the New York Southern Society
"A grand tribute to a grand mani
What of this charge Of treason and
what kind of traitor was LIE. 4 DIS
tinguishcd soldier and citizen Of Mass.
achusetts Charles Francis Adams,
reared ia the New Eogland school of
politics, himself throughout the war
in the army that confronted Lee, son
Of that Charles Francis Adams who
as United States minister to England
during the Civil war probably did as
much as any other man to defeat the
cause of the Confcderacy, grandson of
John Quincy Adams and great grand
son OF chat elder adams who succeed
ed Washington as president Of the
United States, man who 80 differed
from Lee in his Interpretation Of the
duty an American citizen owes as be.
tween his State and the central gov
ernment that he declared he would 20
against Massachusetts for the Union,
has written this for history:
IF Robert f.. Lee was o traitor, 80
also and indisputably was George
Washington. Washington furnishes
precedent at every point. A Vir-
ginian, like Les, he was also British
subject; he had fought under the Brit
ish flag, as Lee had fought under that
OF the United States; when, in 1776,
Virginia seeded from the British en-
pire he went with his State, just as
Lee went SIS years later, subsequently
Washington commanded armies in the
field Designated by those opposed to
them as "the rebels of '76," much 90
Lee later commanded and ct last sar-
rendered much larger armies, also de-
siguated "rebels" by those they con.
fronted. Ezcept.in their outcome the
cases were therefore, precisely alike;
and logic is logic. It consequently
appears to follow that if Leo was q
traitor Washington was alao.''
He further says:
I'm him there ere exempli6ed those
lofty elements Of personal character
which, typigsing Virginia at her high
est, made Washington possible. Es.
aentially soldier, Robert E. Lee was
many sided man. I might speak Of
him sc : s.rstesist, but Of this aspect
of the mah enough has perhaps been
said. I might dilate on his restraint
in victory; his patient endurance in
the face Of adverse fortune, the serene
dignity with wtioh he in the end tri-
umphed over defeat. But, passing
over all these we'll worn themes, I
shall confine myself to that one attri-
butte Of his which, recognized ia eol.
der BY an opponent, l cannot but ,e
gard as his surest and l"ftirst title to
enduring fame. Ir FIR o bis human
ity IN arms and his scruputuus rex..A
for the most advanced rules of mod.
ern warfare" ...
Dau7i1s tho contention ihat var
mnss be made hell, holding up to exc.
Grafton the authors Of the bloc odiess
d'eds in history, this generous foe and
great American said: "
!. II rejoice that no saoh hatred at
taches to the name Of Lee. Reckless
Of life to attain the legitimate ends
OF war, ne sought to mitigate its hor.
rors. Opposed to him at Gettysburg,
here, 40 years later, do him justice.
No more oreditable order ever Issued
from i commanding general than that
formulated and signed at Chambers:
burg by Robert e. Lee, as teward the
close ee June, 1868, he advanced on a
war OF invasion: No greater die.
grace he then declared, can hefslI
the army, and through it our whole
people, than the perresration Of bar.
bsrous outrages npon the innoeent
aud .defeneelees. Such proceedings
not only disgraee the perpetrators and
all connected With them. but ara cub.
versive Of the discipline and. Efficiency
OF the army, and destructive Of She
ends Of our, movement II must be
remembered that wo make war only on
arpzad men, !. .<s,<. ! & x: !. .::!' . !:
,tt':<tn scope and spirit ,Les's q order was
observed, and / doubt u 4 hostile
force ever advanced into aan e,nsmy's
country ot fell back from ii 2in Re.
treat leaving less cause OF hate 5snd
bitterness thar did The; arm, !, of north.
ernV Virgfnia inlthat memorable cam. l.l,u !: !.
pasgn which eulmipatad d Gettya.)
burg, Z s. @,.= !5> .s
70, dwelling On fthis thsms, ID; seen.|
traat 20 iLss's humanity may NOS
..'the avenging pen Of history. ! qquots]
from Z sOhib :in the War.s 81 f4he HnHS