The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-20

f6, TITS, that. these colonies are and of right ought to be, free and inde- pendent States and with his brother Francis Lightfoot signed the Declara- ton. Light Morse Harry" the fath- CT, was conspicuous in the military and civil annals of his country as a flashing dragoon in the war between Great Britain and the colonies. He was frequently commended by Washington He came out of the war with a bril- liant reputation. At the age of nine- teen, after the battle of Lexington, we find him a captain of cavalry, being nominated for that position by Patrick Henry, the orator of American liberty He rose rapidly. For his prudence, bravery and tactical skill, he was pre-
 sented by congres with gold medal He was member of the Virginia con- vention to ratify the Federal Consti- tuition, delegate to the Continental Con- gress. Governor of Virginia and com manded 15,000 men, who were sent to
 Western Pennsylvania to quell the "Whiskey Insurrection."
 The birthplace of Lee and Washing ton was in the same beautiful section. The married life of the two was spent at Arlington and Mount Vernon, and in Old Christ's Church in Alexandria, there are two marble tablets. one to the memory of George Washington and the other to the memory of Robert Edward Lee.
 Robert E. Lee entered West Point in 1925. and graduated second in a class of forty-six. as adjutant of the corps. He was a model cadet. In 1929 he became a lieutenant of Engi- neers in the United States Army. He was in love from his boyhood. and June 30, 1881, at Arlington. he mar ha n AanRhtAr George Washington Parke Custis. His father-in-law was the adapted son of Washington
 'Tn 1884 he was made First Lieuten- ant. and two years laten he was made Captain. He served successfvely at and New York, and when General Scott was assigned command of the army to take the capital of Mexico, he placed Lee on his personal staff. The high regard of Scott for Lee was born at Vera Cruz. From cerro Gordo to the cry point increased the reputation he
 was acquiring. The reports of his commander were full of commendation of his bravery.
 Returns to West Point. Tn 1852 he was apointed Superin- tendent of West. Point. from which. twenty-three years before. he had grad uated. After three years at West Point he served successively with the cavalry in Kansas. Missouri and Texas. Tn 1857 he was made Colonel. In 1859. during John Browns raid, he was at Arlington. He was placed in com mand of the United States troops and went to Harper's Ferry. Brown was captured. tried. convicted and hung. Colonel Lee returned to his regiment in Texas. and was recalled for the last time in February. 1861.
 (-I HA the question: loyalty to the general government or loyalty to Virginia. He was 54 years of age. with a record or thirty-two years honorable service in the United States Army. He became convinced that Virginia In seceding from the Union was exercising the right she had reserved when she entered 1T. and that if war must follow, his sword should be drawn in her defense. and not be pointed against her. IL was hard for him to give up his position Tn the army, and separate h'~ 'Self rom While wrestling with this question at Arlington. Scott was pleading for him to remain in the service of the United States, He said to President Lincoln that Lee would he worth 6oOoe men to their cause. Mir. Lincoln commis- stoned Mir. Francis Preston Biar 70 secure Colonel Lee. by the tempting offer of the command of the active army of the United States. General Lee wrote of this after the war to Hon. Reverdy Johnson of Maryland
 Refuses Prof1ered Commission.
 "'After listening to Bisirs remarhs I NdecIined the offer he mace me to take command of the army that was to be brought into the field. statlns as candIdIy and courteously as coui1 that, though deprecating the war could take no part In an invasion oh the Southern States ,u.,o,.
 Colonel Lee resigned his commission in the army. r-...,or
 "IJe was nominated by the Governo. of Virginia to be a major general, anu commander in chief of the Nlrslhla
 forces He was invited to appear p
 fore the convention. He was greeteu
 with the words his distinguished iaeheF had spoken at Washington;
 sir we have by this unanimous vote. expressed our conviction that you are at this time among the hvlng cltl- zens of Virginia, first in war. we pray God most fervently that you may conduct the operations committed to
 your charge, that It VIII soon pc saiu of you that you are first in peace, and when that time comes you will have
 earned the still prouder distinction or heinz the first in the hearts or your
 countrymen. His reply was short and
 beautiful: Profoundly impressed. with
 the solemnity Of the occaSlon, lot which I must say I was not prepared, accept the position assigned me by your partfality. Trusting in Almighty
 God, an approving conscience and the aid of my fellow citizens, l devote my
 self to the service of my native State,
 in whose behalf alone will I ever again
 draw my sword
 "AlI the world knows how well he
 redeemed his pledge. He won the love of his followers, the respect of his ene-
 mics, and through many victories, out
 of final defeat, he emerges victorious.
 Pays Tribute To veterans.
 "In conclusion, permit me to say as
 a son of the South, that am glad that
 I did not live when the star of the Con-
 feedracy melted away Into the bright
 ness of the Heaven. and when the
 standard of the Southern republic was
 carried by an angel U the Cod of
 truth. I am glad that I live today,
 when with you we become the inheri-
 tors of all the accumulated glory all
 the heroism and all the nameless and
 indescribable sacrifices that have been
 put forth. We have inherited land of
 ruins, memories and of liberty. The
 triumphs of might are transient; they
 pass away and are forgotten; the suf-t
 ferings of right are graven deepest on
 the chronicles of nations.
 Today the South subscribes to the
 sentiment. One flag, one country, one
 constitution, one destlny,' General Lee as teacher taught compete reconstruc-
 tion, the decision of the age is accept
 ed The veterans are now rapidly re-