Year: 1870

- ~ nen the necessity became GP l3tt-
rent OF having a leader foro our forces all
hearts and eyes, by the impulse of an
Instinct which is q surer guide than
reason itself, turned to the old county
OF Westmoreland. We knew how pro-
life she had been, in other days, of he
r0es and statesmen. We knew she had
given birth to the Father Of bis COun-
try, to Richard Henry Lee, to Monroe,
and last, not least, to your own gallant
father: and we kneW well hy yoUr
deeds that her productive power was
not vet exhausted.


Sir, we watched with the most pro-
found and intense interest the trium-
Dhal march OF the army led by General
Scott, to which you were attached, from
Vera Cruz to the capital Of Mexico
ANe read Of the sanguinafy Conflicts
and the blood-stained fields, in all Of
Which victory perched upon our own
banners. We knew Of the Uulading
lIfster that vas shed ts3 5a the AnerI-
can name by the campaign, and We
know, also, what your modesty has
always disclaimed, that no small share
OF the glory of those achievements was
due to your valor and your military
genius.


Sir, one OF the proudest reoollec-
tons of my life will be to the honor



this body confirmation of the nomina-
ton made by the Governor of this State,
of you as COmmander-in-Ch of the
military and naval forces Of this Com
mOnwealth. / rose to put the question,
and when l asked if this body should
advise and consent to that appoint
ment, there rushed from the hearts to
the tongues of all the members an atfir-
NATIVE response, told with an empha-
sis that could leave no doubt of the
feeling whence it emenated. put the
negative Of the question for FORMS
sake, but there was an unbrOken ST.
Ience.


" Sir, we have 10y this unanimous
vote expressed our convictions that you
are at this day among the living citi-
zens of Virginia, 4" first III war;" We
pray to God most fervcntly that you
may 50 conduct the operations commit
ted to your charge, that it will soon be
said of you that you are first is peace; >
and when that time comes, you Will
have earned the still prOuder distinc-
ton of being first in the hearts of your
cOunIrymen.'


At the close of this address, General
Lee, in Il clear, distinct, full VOlumed,
as we'll as melOdious voice, replied as
follows


l. T
COUUCHtiOR: - Profoundly impressed
with the solemnity of the occasion, for
which, ! must say, | was not prepared,
l accept the position assigned me by
your partiality / would have much
preferred your choice had fallen upon
an abler man. Trusting an Almighty
God, an approving conscience and the
aid of my fellow citizens, l devote N.Y.
self to the service of my native State,
in whose behalf alone will I ever again
draw my sword"


All the force which personal appear
ance could and to the power and i'm
pressiYeness of the words, as well as
Sentiments uttered by him, was inn
parted by his manly form, aud the
great dignity as we'll as grace in his ev-
cry action and movement. All these
combined sent home to the breast Of
every one the fun conviction that he
was thoroughly impressed himself with
the full consciousness OF the Immense
responsibility he had assumed. y
more deeply interesting or solemn
scene OF such = character | never wit
messed.


So much ,Or this ceremony by way
of premise, and what occurred at my
first sight of General Lee. This is not
that first acquaintance with the man
of which l spoke. That occurred on
the evening of this memorable day, and
at my quarters in the Ballard House,
and requires something further still by
way of premise.


On my arrival at Richmond, and
hearing what had been done by the
Governor and the Convention, in rela-
ton to the rank Of General Lee, 1 knew
full we'll that every thing pertaining to
the success of the mission depended
mainly upon this man. For no practi-
cal alliance, as matters then stood,
could be formed between the COnfedeT-
ate States and the Commonwealth of
Virginia, which would not in effect, or
might not in effect, race to some eX-
tent the high official position and rank
Just conferred upon him. This felt
quite certain the Convention would be
exceedingly reluctant to agree to, and
would not agree to, unless the MEM
bers became perfectly satisfied that the
measure, having even by possibility
this effect, met with his full and cordial
approval. If Virginia came into alli-
ance with the Confederate States, her
Commander-in-Ch by virtue of the
State commission, would necessarily
have to be subordinate to officers of
lower grade or rank i'll the Confederate
army in certain contingencies. The
highest grade in the Confederate army,
at that time. was that of Brigadier-
General.


OF the man personally I knew moth
ing, but feeling assured that all depend
ed in a great degree upon him, my first
object was to see how the land lay in
that quarter. Upon invitation, he met
me at my quarters i'll private confer
ence that evening. 1t was at this con-
ference l first became acquainted with
the man. [ unfolded to him, with per-
| feet candOf, the object of my mission,
the nature of the alliance l should pro-
pose, and particularly the effect il
might have upon his official rank and
| position. There was on his part equal
| candor and frankneSS-nO reserve what
ever. He understood the situation full.
| ly. With a clear understanding of its
| bearing upon himself individually, he
| expressed himself as perfectly satisfied
and as being very desirous of having
| the alliance formed. He stated, IL
! words which produced thorough con
| victiOn in my mind of their perfect sin
/ cerity, that he did not wish anything
| to interfere m the slightest degree viii
/ the immediate consummatiOn of tina


measure, which he regarded as one o
| the utmost importance in every pOssi
| BILE view of public considerations. From


what occurred, L felt assured that Their


was no danger in the quarter from
| which ] had apprehended that ther


might probably be the most.


The omission in the ArticleS.tO max
| special provision for General Lees Off
I cial rank was soon discovered in tn
Convention. The commissioners OF


the part of the State were urged to ge


a change made in this particular.


was appealed to by n number Of th


members on the subject. knowing


that no such change could be made


and feeling the deepest solicitude in tn


result, I barely referred all parties ap


preaching me in relation to it, to Gen


eral Lee himself. I advised them


consult him, and to submit the Who'll


matter to him, as he was the party i'm


mediately interested, and assured then