Robert Wilmoth History 372: The Civil War and Reconstruction July 2, 2012
!"ter "our years o" arduous service mar#ed by unsur$assed coura%e and "ortitude, the !rmy o" &orthern 'ir%inia has been com$elled to yield to over(helmin% numbers and resources)*1 These (ords, (ritten by Con"ederate +eneral Robert ,) -ee (ere (ritten !$ril 10, 1./0) They be%un (hat has since been called his 1are(ell !ddress to The !rmy o" &orthern 'ir%inia, or 2ust The 1are(ell !ddress) 3t mar#s the end the Civil War "or Robert ,) -ee and serves as a milestone in his li"e) !"ter years o" "i%htin%, and months o" des$erately "i%htin% a%ainst the 4nited 5tates "orces under +eneral 4lysses 5) +rant, -ee had come a $oint (here his men (ere starvin%, beaten, and e6hausted) They (ere cut o"" "rom all su$$lies and ho$e "or rein"orcements) -ee came to believe they had only t(o choices, "i%ht and die needlessly, or surrender) He himsel" (ished to continue "i%htin%, but #ne( his duty to the (ell bein% o" his men lead to a di""erent conclusion 2 -ee, and the !rmy o" &orthern 'ir%inia, surrendered) 3n accordance (ith the %enerous terms -ee received "rom +eneral +rant, -ee surrendered his army, his arms, and returned home a%ain) The (ar era in his li"e (as over) The $ost7(ar era, the Reconstruction ,ra, (as to be%in) The $ur$ose o" this $a$er is to %ive detail about (hat -ee "rom a"ter his surrender at !$$omatto6 until his death in 1.70 and evaluate his attem$ts to reconcile &ortherners and 5outherners) -ee8s entrance into Richmond (as not one to stir military or "i%htin% "eelin%s) 3t (as a sim$le one, him and "ive other men 9his son Rooney and -ee8s aids: entered con;uered Richmond ;uietly) <et the (ord o" his comin% traveled be"ore him) !s he (al#ed do(n the street cro(ds came out to see him) They lined the (ay, 5outherner and <an#ee soldier, cheerin% at the si%ht o" him)3 =n both sides o" the lines -ee had already become some(hat mythic) 3n the &orth, -ee seemed a near unbeatable "oe) He (as seen as the %reatest %eneral the 5outh had, and the one that most had to be de"eated in order "or the &orth to ensure victory)
1) Robert ,) -ee, 1are(ell !ddress,* %ettysbur%)edu, htt$:>>((()%ettysbur%)com>bo%>leebye)htm 9accessed June 30, 2012:) 2) ?ou%las 1reeman, ?ou%las 5outhall 1reeman: R)e) -ee,*
htt$:>>$enelo$e)uchica%o)edu>Thayer>,>+a@etteer>Aeo$le>RobertB,B-ee>1R,R,->C>DE)html 9accessed June 30, 2012:) 3)?ou%las 1reeman, ?ou%las 5outhall 1reeman: R)e) -ee,* htt$:>>$enelo$e)uchica%o)edu>Thayer>,>+a@etteer>Aeo$le>RobertB,B-ee>1R,R,->C>10E)html 9accessed June 30, 2012:)
His de"eat (as (idely seen as the de"eat o" the entire 5outhern cause)C 3n the 5outh, -ee too# on some (hat the status o" a le%end) 3t (as believed that he alone could (in the (ar "or them) That as lon% a she still "ou%ht, the 5outh could still (in) His surrender (as a heavy blo( to morale) Fut even in de"eat many 5outherners loved him) 5o this day they turned out, &ortherner and 5outherner, <an#ee and Johnny Reb, to see the +eneral ta#e his 2ourney home) 5omethin% o" a ma#eshi"t $arade too# $lace, almost li#e a re;uiem) -ee traveled u$ Gain 5treet and turned onto 1ran#lin 5treet, %oin% to 707 1ran#lin, his home) Gany cheered, many (e$t to see the si%ht) When -ee arrived home many surrounded him, to sha#e his hand, to s$ea# to him, even 2ust to "eel him) -ee stayed as lon% as he could but eventually had to leave them) Fo(in% to the cro(d he turned and entered his home) The cro(d eventually died a(ay and silence returned to bro#en Richmond) !nd -ee returned to (ar no more)0 3n many (ays this instance stands as a e6am$le to sho( (hat $lace -ee (ould have in the Reconstruction ,ra and beyond) The myth o" The Garble Gan had already be%un) !nd -ee, (hile never a $olitician or a subtle mani$ulator, (ould use this in"luence to hel$ reconcile the t(o $eo$le heal the (ounds the (ar had brou%ht on and serve as a symbol o" ho( the "ormer Rebels could 2oin bac# into the national society once more) / =n Gay 2D, 1./0 45 Aresident !ndre( Johnson issued a Aroclamation o" !mnesty and Aardon* to certain classes o" $eo$le (ho had 2oined in the 5outhern Rebellion) -ee (as not amon%st this %rou$) Rather he (as amon% the "ourteen classes o" $eo$le (ho had to a$$eal to the Aresident directly "or $ardon, and be 2ud%ed (orthy or not)
C)?ou%las 1reeman, ?ou%las 5outhall 1reeman: R)e) -ee,*
htt$:>>$enelo$e)uchica%o)edu>Thayer>,>+a@etteer>Aeo$le>RobertB,B-ee>1R,R,->C>DE)html 9accessed June 30, 2012:) 0)?ou%las 1reeman, ?ou%las 5outhall 1reeman: R)e) -ee,*
htt$:>>$enelo$e)uchica%o)edu>Thayer>,>+a@etteer>Aeo$le>RobertB,B-ee>1R,R,->C>10E)html 9accessed June 30, 2012:)
/) Robert ,),* (i#i$edia, htt$:>>en)(i#i$edia)or%>(i#i>RobertB,)B-ee 9accessed July 30, 2012:)
He made this a$$eal on June 13, 1./0) =n =ctober 2, 1./0 -ee submitted his !mnesty =ath, "ul"illin% every re;uirement o" Johnson8s $roclamation)7 This oath read:
I, _______ _______, do solemnly swear, (or affirm,) in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the union of the States there under; and that I will, in li e manner, a!ide !y, and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which ha"e !een made during the e#isting re!ellion with reference to the emancipation of sla"es$ So help me God $%
?es$ite this oath, -ee (ould never have his citi@enshi$ restored durin% his li"etime) 3t (ouldn8t be until !u%ust 0, 1D70 (hen Aresident +erald 1ord si%ned a $ardon $ost7$osthumously restorin% -ee8s citi@enshi$ ri%hts e""ective the June 13, 1./0 date) 3n "act it seems that -ee8s actual si%ned oath (as lost until 1D70 because the 5ecretary o" 5tate William 5e(ard had %iven the oath to a $ersonal "riend o" his as a souvenir) !nd the 5tate ?e$artment had $ur$ose"ully i%nored -ee8s !mnesty =ath alto%ether)D =ne o" the uni;ue as$ects o" the Civil War is that so many $eo$le held by $ublic and $olitical o$inion as havin% committed treason (ere never $ut on trial "or their crimes) =nly Henry Wir@, commandant o" the notorious !ndersonville A=W Cam$ (as e6ecuted "or (ar crimes)10 =" the hi%h leadershi$ o" the Con"ederate 5tates, only Je""erson ?avis (ould be indicted "or treason) He (ould s$end t(o years as a $risoner, but never stand trial and eventually released)11 4ltimately this (as because Aresident Johnson (as "ollo(in% a Aresidential Reconstruction $olicy similar to the one his $redecessor, !braham -incoln, had laid out) 3t called "or the mass $ardonin% o" southerners in an e""ort to ;uic#ly heal the (ounds bet(een the &orth and the 5outh) Robert ,) -ee, bene"ited "rom this $olicy) He never (ent to trial "or his actions as someone (ho had ta#en u$ armed
7) Robert ,) -ee7Citi@enshi$,* archives)%ov, htt$:>>((()archives)%ov>$ublications>$rolo%ue>2000>s$rin%>$iece7lee)html 9accessed June 30, 2012:) .) ,* Civil War ?ocuments, htt$:>>((()se(anee)edu>"aculty>Willis>CivilBWar>documents>!ndre(J)html 9accessed June 30,
2012:) D) Robert ,) -ee7Citi@enshi$,* archives)%ov, htt$:>>((()archives)%ov>$ublications>$rolo%ue>2000>s$rin%>$iece7lee)html 9accessed June
30, 2012:)
10) !ndersonville Historic 5ite,* (i#i$edia, htt$:>>en)(i#i$edia)or%>(i#i>!ndersonvilleB&ationalBHistoricB5ite 9accessed June 30, 2012:) 11) Treason and 3ts Geanin%,* Aeace'oice, htt$:>>((()$eacevoice)in"o>200.>03>01>treason7its7meanin%7and7history> 9accessed June 30, 2012:)
"orce a%ainst the 4nited 5tates o" !merica and had committed treason) His $ardon did not restore his citi@enshi$) He could still neither vote no hold $ublic o""ice) Fut it s$ared him the $ains o" a $ublic trial, and most li#ely im$risonment and>or e6ecution) The (ar too# a heavy toll on the -ee "amily) Their home, the $lantation !rlin%ton, (as early on sei@ed by occu$yin% 4nion "orces, (ith the mansion turned into a hos$ital) The land around it became a burial %round "or 4nion dead (hich the 45 %overnment re"used to return to -ee, and it eventually %ained "ame as !rlin%ton &ational Cemetery) This (ould do -ee no %ood) The loss o" !rlin%ton meant the loss o" most o" his "amily8s (orldly $ossessions and their means o" tem$oral survival as the $lantation had been their livelihood) The "all o" the Con"ederacy meant that -ee had no money) Con"ederate %old (as (orthless and the 45 %overnment surely (asn8t %oin% to $ay him) 3n addition he had an invalid (i"e, Gary Custis -ee, to care "or) 3n order to do this -ee needed a 2ob) =ne soon came his (ay) =n =ctober 2, 1./0, coincidentally the same day he si%ned his !mnesty =ath, -ee acce$ted the 2ob as Aresident o" Washin%ton Colle%e in -e6in%ton, 'ir%inia) 12 Washin%ton Colle%e 9no( Washin%ton and -ee Colle%e: had been named such a"ter +eneral +eor%e Washin%ton had %i"ted it (ith a lar%e sum o" money to save it "rom insolvency) 3t had been renamed "rom -iberty Hall !cademy to Washin%ton Colle%e in honor o" the Aresident)13 ?ue to the Civil War it (as once more nearly insolvent (hen -ee became Aresident o" the school) 3n "act it could a""ord to $ay him very little "or his services) Fut he acce$ted the $osition over other business o""ers that (ould have $aid him (ell "or the use o" his name in connection to their $roducts) He did this "or three distin%uishable reasons) The "irst (as because it (as somethin% he had e6$erience (ith) Fe"ore the Civil War he has been su$erintendent o" West Aoint Gilitary !cademy)
12) 13)
Robert ,),* (i#i$edia, htt$:>>en)(i#i$edia)or%>(i#i>RobertB,)B-ee 9accessed July 30, 2012:) Washin%ton and -ee 4niversity,* (i#i$edia, htt$:>>en)(i#i$edia)or%>(i#i>Washin%tonBandB-eeBColle%e 9accessed June 30, 2012:)
The second reason (as because he believed this (as a $osition that he could do actual %ood "or the country (ith and hel$ reconcile the &orth and 5outh) !s $art o" this $ro%ram he actively recruited both &ortherners and 5outherners durin% his tenure) ,6$lainin% (hy he too# the $osition he said, 3 thin# it the duty o" every citi@en in the $resent condition o" the Country, to do all in his $o(er to aid in the restoration o" $eace and harmony)H1C The third reason (as because o" its connection to Aresident Washin%ton) -ee had lon% admired Washin%ton, and his (i"e Gary Custis Washin%ton (as the %reat7 %randdau%hter o" Gartha Washin%ton, +eor%e Washin%ton8s (i"e) -ee8s tenure as Aresident (as only "ive years lon%, as it (as cut short by his death in 1.70) Fut (hile he (as there he introduced many chan%es still im$ortant to the school today) Washin%ton Colle%e had been a small liberal arts colle%e that (as $rimarily #no(n "or its -atin courses o" study be"ore -ee) Thou%h even in the area o" -atin it (as not $articularly distin%uished)10 To this course o" study -ee added 2ournalism, (hich (hile it only lasted a "e( years (ould $rovide the le%acy "or the re7 establishment o" a 2ournalism school there in the 1D20s that (ould become one o" the most com$etitive "or liberal arts colle%es today) To hel$ the bro#en 5outhern a%riculture recover and advance -ee established the a%riculture chemistry $ro%ram) 1/ 3n addition -ee hel$ed establish the business school and la( school because he believed those occu$ations should be intimately and ine6tricably lin#ed (ith the liberal arts)* !s a conce$t this (as an innovation in learnin%) !t the time 2ournalism, la(, and business (ere all considered technical trades not scholarly cra"ts) Fut -ee8s ideas (ould "oreshado( these thin%s today as most modern liberal arts colle%es o""er courses in all these thin%s)17 He also added $ractical studied such as en%ineerin%, astronomy, and a$$lied mathematics) 9Aersonal $% .D: 3t (as durin% -ee8s tenure that the current Honor Code (as introduced
1C) Aresidents,* (lu)edu, htt$:>>((()(lu)edu>600D07)6ml 9accessed June 30, 2012:) 10) Washin%ton and -eeIThe -ee <ears,* medlibrary)or%, htt$:>>medlibrary)or%>med(i#i>Washin%tonBandB-eeB4niversity 9accessed June 30, 2012:) 1/ History,* (lu)edu, htt$:>>((()(lu)edu>6020.0)6ml 9accessed June 30, 2012:) 17) Washin%ton and -eeIThe -ee <ears,* medlibrary)or%, htt$:>>medlibrary)or%>med(i#i>Washin%tonBandB-eeB4niversity 9accessed June 30, 2012:) 1.) Robert ,) -ee Jr), &ecollections and 'etters of General &o!ert ($ 'ee 9&e( <or#: ?oubleday, Aa%e, and Co), 1D0C:,
as (ell) They serve (ell as an e6am$le o" -ee8s o(n sense o" a strict code o" honor and the need to live and lead a moral li"e)1D Reli%ion, and the s$iritual li"e o" his students, also concerned -ee durin% his tenure) When -ee became Aresident the school (as $lannin% to build a cam$us cha$el) -ee in his concern "or his student8s s$iritual (el"are counted the cha$el $ro2ect as o" $rimary im$ortance) 5eein% that the $ro2ect called "or a smaller cha$el he had ne( $lans made that (ould house the e6istin% student body) He also chan%ed the location o" the cha$el) !s o$$osed to sim$ly bein% a se$arate bac# $art o" the cam$us he located it at the very "ront o" the school) 3n an interestin% t(ist instead o" havin% the cha$el turned the same direction as all the other school buildin%s, he had it rotated 1.0 de%rees and had it "acin% the main school buildin%s) !s the buildin% o" the much lar%er cha$el cost more, he even diverted some "unds "rom the %eneral school bud%et to the cha$el "und) =nce "inished he held a "ive day dedicatory service "or the cha$el itsel") =nce dedicated it (as not intended "or 2ust one reli%ious denomination) -ee had $astors "rom the various di""erent sects and denominations o" Christianity in -e6in%ton all ta#e turns $reachin% "rom the cha$el8s $ul$it) 3t is said that the only time her ever missed services at the cha$el (as i" he (ere very sic# or out o" to(n) !nd this (asn8t 2ust 5unday services) He (as there "or the daily services as (ell)20 This (as all $art o" his $ro%ram to serve as an e6am$le "or the student body and to encoura%e them in their s$iritual develo$ment) He (as #no(n to $ublicly su$$ort local charity (or# done by reli%ious students on cam$us, donatin% boo#s and money liberally to their causes) 21 He (as #no(n to even meet (ith incomin% students and in;uire o" them their reli%ious $re"erence so as to ensure that a $reacher o" their denomination (ould be noti"ied about them and to hel$ them meet their s$iritual needs) The cha$el itsel" never had 5abbath day services, in
1D) Honor Code,* (lu)edu, htt$:>>((()(lu)edu>602/70)6ml 9accessed June 30, 2012:)
20) J) William Jones, )ersonal &eminicises, Ancedotes, and 'etters of Gen$ &o!ert ($ 'ee$ 9&e( <or#: ?) !$$leton and Com$any, 1.70:, 10D) 21) J) William Jones, )ersonal &eminicises, Ancedotes, and 'etters of Gen$ &o!ert ($ 'ee$ 9&e( <or#: ?) !$$leton and Com$any, 1.70:, 110
order to #ee$ "rom con"lictin% (ith the local denomination8s services (hich -ee encoura%ed students to attend)22 =ri%inally named Gemorial Cha$el it (as renamed -ee Cha$el (hen -ee died and (as buried there 9alon% (ith much o" his direct "amily: in 1.70) -ee8s (or# at Washin%ton Colle%e (ith the "aculty (as also $roductive) When he "irst became Aresident he ;uic#ly sa( to the "illin% o" em$ty $osts and ne( teachers "or the current and e6$andin% curriculum)23 3n many schools there is sometimes animosity, or at least dys"unction, bet(een teachers and de$artment chairs, de$artment chairs and the deans, the deans and the school $resident) &ot so (ith -ee) His relationshi$s (ith the various de$artment heads and teachers (as su$erb) ,6am$les u$on e6am$les o" his subordinates $raisin% his (or# and success as Aresident e6ist) =nly a "e( (ill 3 mention here) =ne "aculty member said o" -ee, Fut +eneral -ee (as not only earnest and laborious, he (as also able, as a colle%e $resident) He (as $er"ectly master o" the situation, and thorou%hly (ise and s#ill"ul in all its duties o" or%ani@ation and o" $olicy, as (ell as o" detail)*2C The Rev) J) William Jones (rote o" -ee, 3 (ill add to these s#etches o" those (ho hel$ed him in his (or#, that, as 3 (as $ermitted to see, durin% "ive years, the daily e""ects o" his $o(er in the colle%e the s#ill (ith (hich he mana%ed its a""airs, and the enthusiasm (ith (hich he ins$ired all (ho came in contact (ith him, until he had one o" the hardest7(or#in% 1aculties, and one o" the most orderly, studious bodies o" youn% men in the country 3 (as im$ressed (ith the conviction that he (as not only the best soldier, but also the best colle%e $resident, (hom this country has ever $roduced)*20 Colonel William Areston Johnston, a member o" the "aculty s$o#e o" both -ee8s %race and %ood humor (hen dealin% (ith the "aculty o" the colle%e, sayin%,
22) J) William Jones, )ersonal &eminisces, Anecdotes, and 'etters of Gen$ &o!ert ($ 'ee$ 9&e( <or#: ?) !$$leton and
Com$any, 1.70:, 112 23) Robert ,) -ee Jr), &ecollections and 'etters of General &o!ert ($ 'ee 9&e( <or#: ?oubleday, Aa%e, and Co), 1D0C:, .D 2C) J) William Jones, )ersonal &eminisces, Anecdotes, and 'etters of Gen$ &o!ert ($ 'ee$ 9&e( <or#: ?) !$$leton and Com$any, 1.70:, 120 20) J) William Jones, )ersonal &eminisces, Anecdotes, and 'etters of Gen$ &o!ert ($ 'ee$ 9&e( <or#: ?) !$$leton and Com$any, 1.70:, 12.
=ne characteristic o" +eneral -ee 3 noted then and have o"ten recalled) 3 never sa( him ta#e an un%race"ul $osture) &o matter ho( lon% or "ati%uin% a "aculty meetin% mi%ht be, he al(ays $reserved an attitude in (hich di%nity, decorum, and %race (ere united) J) There (as a %ood deal o" bonhomie and $leasantry m his conversation) He (as not e6actly (itty, nor (as he very humorous, thou%h he %ave a li%ht turn to table7tal# and en2oyed e6ceedin%ly any $leasantry or "un, even)*2/ -ee (as even #no(n to be a able to recite test scores and courses o" every one o" the C00 students at Washin%ton Colle%e durin% his tenure and ama@ed his "aculty by demonstratin% this #no(led%e re$eatedly) 27 Thou%h never a $olitician, either be"ore or a"ter the (ar, -ee did become involved in some $olitical a""airs) !n evaluation o" these (ill demonstrate (hat he thou%ht o" the issues o" race, blac# e;uality, and Reconstruction durin% his day) 3t (ill also sho( us (hat #ind o" leadershi$ he o""ered the 5outh as one o" its "oremost and res$ected %entlemen) -ee %enerally "avored the Aresidential Reconstruction $lan Aresident !ndre( Johnson $ro$osed) 3t (as one, li#e -incolnKs be"ore him, that sou%ht to minimali@e the $unishment o" the 5outh as much as $ossible) The one strict re;uirement (as that the reconstructed %overnments o" the ne( states acce$t the ,manci$ation Aroclamation and never return to slavery) -ee su$$orted this as he himsel" had su$$orted %radual emanci$ation be"ore the Civil War bro#e out)2. 3n e6chan%e "or an oath o" loyalty to the Constitution and 4nion the rebels (ere set at liberty) Johnson "avored the "ormer $lanter class and (as not a"raid to enact la(s that $rotected the "ormer rebels, such as returnin% their con"iscated lands to them as o$$osed to distributin% them to "ormer slaves) This, and other issues, caused a ri"t bet(een Johnson 9(ho (as a ?emocrat: and the Radical Re$ublicans (ho ran Con%ress) !nd a"ter the elections o" 1.// they (ere so stron% they could overrun Aresidential vetoes, (hich they did)) This $eriod o"
2/) Robert ,) -ee Jr), &ecollections and 'etters of General &o!ert ($ 'ee 9&e( <or#: ?oubleday, Aa%e, and Co), 1D0C:, 310
27) J) William Jones, )ersonal &eminisces, Anecdotes, and 'etters of Gen$ &o!ert ($ 'ee$ 9&e( <or#: ?) !$$leton and Com$any, 1.70:, 1307131
2.) Robert ,) -ee Jr), &ecollections and 'etters of General &o!ert ($ 'ee 9&e( <or#: ?oubleday, Aa%e, and Co), 1D0C:,231
reconstruction by the radical Re$ublicans in Con%ress is re"erred to as &adical &econstruction) 3t (as the $olicies o" Radical Reconstruction that dre( -ee8s ire) He said, HThe Radical $arty are li#ely to do a %reat deal o" harm, "or (e (ish no( "or %ood "eelin% to %ro( u$ bet(een &orth and 5outh, and the Aresident, Gr) Johnson, has been doin% much to stren%then the "eelin% in "avor o" the 4nion amon% us) The relations bet(een the &e%roes and the (hites (ere "riendly "ormerly, and (ould remain so i" le%islation be not $assed in "avor o" the blac#s, in a (ay that (ill only do them harm)H2D This le%islation he means (as the ri%ht to vote) -ee su$$orted "ormer slaves bein% "ree to (or#, o(n land, to toil and ma#e somethin% o" themselves, even su$$orted their bein% educated in $ublic schools) He testi"ied be"ore Con%ress sayin%, L,Mvery one (ith (hom 3 associate e6$resses #ind "eelin%s to(ards the "reedmen) They (ish to see them %et on in the (orld, and $articularly to ta#e u$ some occu$ation "or a livin%, and to turn their hands to some (or#)H30 Concernin% education o" blac#s he said, that blac#s should be educated, and ))) that it (ould be better "or the blac#s and "or the (hites)H31 3n the last years o" his li"e -ee even headed a $ro2ect o" settin% u$ state run schools "or blac#s so they could become educated)32 =" course none o" this should be construed as sayin% Robert ,) -ee su$$orted blac# e;uality) He (as a dedicated racist in that sense) Concernin% blac#s ri%hts to votin% he said, HGy o(n o$inion is that, at this time, they cannot vote intelli%ently, and that %ivin% them the LvoteM (ould lead to a %reat deal o" dema%o%ism, and lead to embarrassments in various (ays) What the "uture may $rove, ho( intelli%ent they may become, (ith (hat eyes they may loo# u$on the interests o" the 5tate in (hich they may reside, 3 cannot say more than you)H33 He "ran#ly admits his belie" that blac#s are o" a lo(er intelli%ence and that any current e""orts (ould only lead to embarrassment on the $arts o" blac#s) !nd rather ominously, and clairvoyantly he also adds belie"
2D) ?ou%las 1reeman, ?ou%las 5outhall 1reeman: R)e) -ee,*
htt$:>>$enelo$e)uchica%o)edu>Thayer>,>+a@etteer>Aeo$le>RobertB,B-ee>1R,R,->C>17E)html 9accessed June 30, 2012:)
30) -ee,* hi%hbeam)com, htt$:>>((()hi%hbeam)com>doc>1+17//CD0D0C)html 9accessed June 30, 2012:) 31) Robert ,),* (i#i$edia, htt$:>>en)(i#i$edia)or%>(i#i>RobertB,)B-ee 9accessed July 30, 2012:)
that i" the ri%ht to vote is "orced and (hites have to acce$t blac#s as e;uals that violence (ould be the true result)3C His ideal solution, 2ust li#e -incoln and many other (hites (as , H3 thin# it (ould be better "or 'ir%inia i" she could %et rid o" them ))) 3 thin# that everyone there (ould be (illin% to aid it)H 3n other (ords, the old idea o" coloni@ation) 3n 1./. -ee si%ned a $ublic endorsement o" the ?emocratic Aarty $ublished in a national ne(s$a$er) While the statement claimed care "or blac#s in a $aternalistic (ay, as i" they (ere children, it also contained a statement about 5outhern vie(s 9and as it $oints out really national vie(s: on race relations) 3t read, 3t is true that the $eo$le o" the 5outh, in common (ith a lar%e ma2ority o" the $eo$le o" the &orth and West, are, "or obvious reasons, in"le6ibly o$$osed to any system o" la(s that (ould $lace the $olitical $o(er o" the country in the hands o" the ne%ro race) Fut this o$$osition s$rin%s "rom no "eelin% o" enmity, but "rom a dee$7seated conviction that, at $resent, the ne%roes have neither the intelli%ence nor the other ;uali"ications (hich are necessary to ma#e them sa"e de$ositories o" $olitical $o(er)*30 3n $ublic -ee (as mostly conciliatory) 4nli#e his "ormer com$atriots (ho reacted loudly and an%rily to $recised &orthern insults u$on the 5outh, such as came "rom Jubal ,arly and Je""erson ?avis -ee counseled $atience and $eace) 3t should be the ob2ect o" all to avoid controversy, to allay $assion, %ive "ull sco$e to reason and to every #indly "eelin%) Fy doin% this and encoura%in% our citi@ens to en%a%e in the duties o" li"e (ith all their heart and mind, (ith a determination not to be turned aside by thou%hts o" the $ast and "ears o" the "uture, our country (ill not only be restored in material $ros$erity, but (ill be advanced in science, in virtue and in reli%ion)H3/ -ee believed that the 5outh had to bear the burden o" Radical Reconstruction as much a sit could and should "ocus on rebuildin% itsel" once more) =nly "ive short years a"ter the (ar the end (ould come "or -ee) Fut (hen it came, it came ;uic#ly) =n 5e$t) 2., 1.70 -ee su""ered a stro#e) !nd 2ust t(o short (ee#s later, on =ctober 12, 1.70
3C) Robert ,),* (i#i$edia, htt$:>>en)(i#i$edia)or%>(i#i>RobertB,)B-ee 9accessed July 30, 2012:) 30) ?ou%las 1reeman, 'ee.s 'ieutenants 9&e( <or#: 5cribners, 1DC/:, 37/ 3/) Robert ,),* (i#i$edia, htt$:>>en)(i#i$edia)or%>(i#i>RobertB,)B-ee 9accessed July 30, 2012:)
at the a%e o" /3, Robert ,) -ee, a %eneral and rebel at the last, uttered his "inal mortal (ords, Tell Hill he must come u$) 5tri#e the tent)H and $assed a(ay)37 !nd thus ended the li"e o" the 5outh8s %reatest $ersonality) Fut his death (as not an endin% to his story, but merely a be%innin%) 1rom mortality he ste$$ed into the realms o" le%end) -ee became the ideal 5outhern +entleman, acce$ted &orth and 5outh) His li"e a"ter Reconstruction had been one o" hard (or#) He sou%ht to reconcile the &orth and the 5outh as he himsel" (as reconciled to the reality o" the 4nion) He used his $osition as Aresident o" Washin%ton Colle%e, (hich a"ter his death renamed itsel" Washin%ton and -ee 4niversity in his honor) !s an e6am$le o" 5outhern racial thou%ht his aversion to blac# e;uality but his su$$ort o" blac# $ublic education sho(s him straddlin% both sides o" thou%ht) 3ndeed he doesn8t 2ust re$resent the 5outh in this, but the ma2ority o" the &orth as (ell) 5adly his death cut short his li"e at a relatively youn% a%e) Thou%h he ste$$ed into the realms o" immortality his leadershi$ as res$ected by $eo$le both north and south o" the Gason7?i6on -ine (ould be sorely missed)
37) Robert ,),* (i#i$edia, htt$:>>en)(i#i$edia)or%>(i#i>RobertB,)B-ee 9accessed July 30, 2012:)