The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-01

Natural That Virginia Should
Place Bravest and Best in
Statuary Hail.

Beverly, Mass, July 31.-Presidcnt
Taft has approved, without comment,
an opinion by Attorneys Wick
ershnm to the effect that there Is NO
provision of law by which the statue
of General robert E. Lee, In Confed-
crate uniform. can be removed from
Statnnry Hall. in the Capitol mt Wash
InEton.
In addition TO deciding the ques-
ton on purely legal basis, Mr.. Wick
ersham argues the matter from an
ethical point of view. declaring that
Lee has come to be regarded as typify>
ing all that was best in the cause to
which he gave his services and the
most loyal and unmurmurlng in his
acceptance of the complete overthrow
OF that cause. That the State OF Vir-
ginia- should designate him for a
plae~ in Statuary Hall as one illus
trious for distinguished military SER
vice. the Attorney General declares, is
but natural and warranted under the
reading of the law.
Called Forth by Protests.
Mr.. Understands opinion was
called forth by protests TO The Presi-
dent from the Department of New
York. Grand Army of the Republic.
In his opinion, addressed to and ap-
proved by the President, Attorney
General Wickersham says:
''I have read the resolutions adopted
by the Department. OF New York
Grand Army of the Republic. at Syra-
cuse on June %, and the communica- :
tions of Hon. James Tanner with re-
spect to them. The act of July 2,
1864, referred to, provides for the Gre
alton of suitable structures and rail-
IL 4 a
Representatives for the reception and
protection of staruary, which is to be
under the supervision and direction OF
the chief Of engineers In charge Of
public buildings and grounds. and the
statute authorizes the President to In
yite each and all the States to provide
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 distinguished civic or military
services, such as each State shall
deem to be worthy of this national
commemoration; and when SO furnish
ed the same shall be placed in the
old hall of the House of Representa-
tives in the Capitol of the United
Sta tes. which is set apart. or SO much
thereof as may be necessary, as a
national statuary hall for the purpose
herein indicated.
"It is probably true" continues the
Attorney General. that when this act
was passed. Congress did not contem-
plate that any State would designate
one or more of it's citizens who We're
then engaged in warlike rebellion
against the government OF the United
States as persons illustrious for their
historic renown or for distinguished
pivio or military service; whose
statues should be placed in this hall.
Nevertheless, perhaps in the hope that
what Mr. Lincoln so httngly described
Rs this scourge of war might soon
pass away, and that reunited coun-
try might be realized, Congress placed
no limitation in the act upon tho ex-
ercise of the discretion Of any State
In selecting these persons whom, 1t
may deem to be worthy Of this na-
tIonal commemoration' @ .5
"Loyal and Uhmurmurtng.ss
"It is now forty-flve years since the
Civil War closed. Robert ,E..t Lee has
rome to be generally regarded as typi-
Tying not only what was best in the
cause to which, at the behest of his
lContlnued on Second PaEe,)
m