The Columbus commercial., 1917-12-09
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Was Gen. r. E. Lee Sincere In his
Support of Southern cssfsAsrasy I


Editor of the Columbus Commercials
This is startling question after
a lapse Of half century. But we
are living in an eventsul and solemn
age. Times are out Of joint and
anything may happen. The old Mis-
sissippi ship of state has lost her an
chor and is drifting, God knows
where.
To the men who followed Gen.
Lee for four years and shed their
blood so freely upon the soils Of
Virginia, Maryland and re.insly-
vania this question is not asked, fol
the unanimous answer would be
les. So it is for the younger and
present generation this communica
ton is directed.
Gen. Lee did not as many OF hi
Lieutenant Commanders, write ;
history of the Civil War and it il
therefore from side lights, or tn
writings Of others that we get ex
pressions of his sentiments on thi
subject.
| The most accessible and authen
tic account is in the form of docu
mentary evidence given before tn
Congressional Committee on Recon
struction in the early part Of 1866
| Answering the summons to az
| pear at Washington, d. c., he wa
sworn and examined by variou
members of the committee an
covering sundry questions, but a
tention is called to a few answe,
which should convince any reasoi
able man of his views and purpos'
n entering the army Of the Col
, federacy, which were not change
Question by Mr.. Howard Of u
Committee:
Suppose jury was empanells
in your neighborhood. taken by lc
would it be possible to convict, Il
instance jeff Davis, for having levi'
war upon the United States, al
thus having committed the crime
treason?
Answer: think it is very pr
bable that they would not consid
he had committed treason.
Question: In what light wou
they view it; what would be the e
cuse or justification; how would tn
escape in their own mind.
Answer: So far as / know tn
a would look upon the a1tion of t
{ state in withdrawing itself from (
:. Government of the United States
+ carrying the individuals Of /
state along with it; that the sts
was responsible feFrthe act, not I
Individuals, and that the ordinan
Of secession so called, or those q
of the state and general govel
nent, stood as their justification !
their bearing arms against the e.
ernment of the United States. Y
sir; | think they would consider
i act of the state as legitimate; Il
hey were merely using the reser,
p rights, which they had a right
le do.
,s Question: State, if you plea
and if you are disinclined to ansv
the question you need not do
what your own personal views
ID that question are.
a. Answer: That was my view, Il
N the act of Virginia, in withdraw
/, herself from the United States, c
ried me along as a citizen Of '
ginia and that her laws and her a
. were binding on me.
Question: All that you felt
be your justification in taking
re course you did.
IN Answer: Yes, sir.
SO reads the Record, young n
and middle-aged men of Mississil
'a Was Gen. Lee a patriot or h
40 tor in giving allegiance to Virgin
If patriot then in this crisis Of
ternational affairs will you st,
- for the United States and agai
any and all foreign enemies! I
eyes of our nation are on Missis.
- pi.