The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1909-08-20
A Boston Historians Estimates
OF Lee


prcciated at the time. this in reality
was an advantage beyond conputa-
ton. Had he followed the exam
pie of Scott and Thomas. and re-
manned in service under the old
flag, in active command Of the
Army Of the Potomac. how differ
emily might not events have turned
outl
Lee, now 81 years old. his face
exhibiting the rudy glow of health
and his head without a gray hair.
was physically and morally splen-
did example Of manhood. Able to
trace his lineage far back in the
mother country. the best blood of
Virginia flowed in his veins. The
founder of the Virginia family, who
emigrated in the time If Charles l,
was cavalier in sentiment;
Light Horse Harry, of the
Revolution, was the father of
Robert E. Lee. Drawing from a
knightly race all their virtues. he
had inherited none Of their vices.
Honest, sincere. simple. magnani-
nous, forbearing, refined courteous,
yet dignified and proud, never lack
ing self-command, he was in all
respects Il true man. Graduating
from West Point, his life had been
exclusively that OF a soldier, yet he
had none of the soldiers bad habits.
He used neither liquor nor tobacco,
INDUCED rarely in a social glass of
wine and cared nothing for the
pleasures of the table. lie was a
good engineer, and under General
Scott had won distinction in Mexico.
The work that had fallen to his
lot he had performed in a system
attic manner and with conscien-
tious care. Duty is the sublimest
word in our language, he wrote to
his son. Sincerely religious, Provi-
dence to him was verify, and it
may be truly said he walked with
God.
A serious man, he anxiously
watched from his station in Texas
the progress of events since Lin
coins election. Thinking slavery
as an institution a moral and politi-
cal evil, " having a soldiers devo-
ton to his flag and a warm attach
ment to General Scott, he loved the
Union, and it was especially dear
to him as the fruit of the mighty
labors of Washington. Although
believing that the South had
| just grievances due to the aggression
Of the North, he did did think these
evils great enough to resort to the
remedy of revolution, and to him
secession was nothing less. Still. ,"
he wrote, in January, 1861, a
| Union that can only be maintained
by swords and bayonets, and in
which strife and civil war are to
take the place of brotherly love and
kindness, has no charm for me.
If the Union dissolved and the
government Is disrupted, [ shall
return to my native State and share
1.-The miseries Of my people. and save
in defense, viii draw my sword on
none" Summoned to Washington
by his chief. Lee had arrived there
a few days before the Inauguration
of Lincoln, and he had to make the
decision, Of the bOmbardent of
Sumter and the presidents call for
troops, whether he should serve the
/ National Government or Virginia.
The active command of the Federal
Army with the succession to the
chief place was virtually offered to
him, but, with his notion of State
rights and his allegiance to Nir-
ginia, his decision, though it cost
him pain to make it, could have
been no other than it was. He
could not lead an army of invasion
into his native State, and after the
ordnance of secession had been
passed by the Virginia convention
he resigned his position and accep-
ted the command of the Virginia
forces.
Northern men may regret that Lee
did not see his duty in the same
light as did two other Virginians,
Scott and Thomas, but Censure g
voice upon the action of such a
noble soul is hushed A careful
survey of his caracter and life must
lead the student Of men and affairs
to see that the course he took was,
from his point of view and judged
by his ilexorabIe and pure con-
science. the path of duty to which
a high sense of honor called him.
Could we share the thoughts of that
highs minded man as he paced the
broad, pillared veranda of his noble
Arlington house, his eyes CHANGING