Decisions of the United States Supreme Court since Secession give a sweep and a certainty to the rights of States and limit the central power in this Republic as had never been done before.  The wild doctrines of Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens on these points are not our law.  If the Union is perpetual, equally so is each State.  The Republic is “an indestructible Union of indestructible States.”  If this part of our law had in 1861 received its present definition and emphasis, and if the Southern States had then been sure, come what might, of the freedom they actually now enjoy each to govern itself in its own way, even South Carolina might never have voted secession.  And inasmuch as the war, better than aught else could have done, forced this phase of the Constitution out into clear expression, General Lee did not fight in vain.  The essential good he wished has come, while the Republic, with its priceless benedictions to us all, remains intact.  All Americans thus have part in Robert Lee, not only as a peerless man and soldier, but as the sturdy miner, sledge-hammering the rock of our liberties till it gave forth its gold.  None are prouder of his record than those who fought against him, who, while recognizing the purity of his motive, thought him in error in going from under the Stars and Stripes.  It is likely that more American hearts day by day think lovingly of Lee than of any other Civil War celebrity, save Lincoln alone.  And his praise will increase.

It was thoroughly characteristic of Lee that he would not after the war leave the country, as a few eminent Confederates did, and also that he refused all mere titular positions with high salaries, several of which were urged on him out of consideration for his character and fame.  He was, however, persuaded to accept in 1865 the presidency of Washington College, at Lexington, Va., an institution founded on gifts made by Washington, and at present known as Washington and Lee University.  In this position the great man spent his remaining years, joining refinement and dignity to usefulness, and revered by all who came within the charmed circle of his influence.  Since 1863 he had suffered more or less with rheumatism of the heart, and from the middle of 1869 was never quite strong.  Spite of this, with the exception of brief holidays, he performed all his duties till Sept. 28, 1870, when, at his family tea-table as he stood to say grace;—­it was his wont to say grace before meat and to stand in doing so,—­he was stricken, had to sit, then be helped to his bed.  He never rose, though languishing a number of days.  He died at nine in the morning, Oct. 12, 1870. Ave, pia anima!

AUTHORITIES.

E. Lee Child, “Life and Campaigns of Robert Edward Lee.”  London, 1875.

Edward A. Pollard, “Life and Times of Robert Edward Lee.”  New York, 1871.

John William Jones, “Personal Reminiscences of Robert E. Lee.” 
New York, 1874.