“General Lee died at the right time.  His sun did not go down in the strife of battle, in the midst of the thunder of cannon, dimmed by the lurid smoke of war.  He survived all this:  lived with so much dignity; silent, yet thoughtful; unseduced by the offers of gain or of advancement however tempting; disdaining to enter into contests for small objects, until the broad disk went down behind the Virginia hills, shedding its departing lustre not only upon this country but upon the whole world.  His memory is as much respected in England as it is here; and at the North as well as at the South true hearts honor it.

“There is one thing I wish to say before I take my seat.  General Lee’s fame ought to rest on the true base.  He did not draw his sword to perpetuate human slavery, whatever may have been his opinions in regard to it; he did not seek to overthrow the Government of the United States.  He drew it in defence of constitutional liberty.  That cause is not dead, but will live forever.  The result of the war established the authority of the United States; the Union will stand—­let it stand forever.  The flag floats over the whole country from the Atlantic to the Pacific; let it increase in lustre, and let the power of the Government grow; still the cause for which General Lee struck is not a lost cause.  It is conceded that these States must continue united under a common government.  We do not wish to sunder it, nor to disturb it.  But the great principle that underlies the Government of the United States—­the principle that the people have a right to choose their own form of government, and to have their liberties protected by the provisions of the Constitution—­is an indestructible principle.  You cannot destroy it.  Like Milton’s angels, it is immortal; you may wound, but you cannot kill it.  It is like the volcanic fires that flame in the depths of the earth; it will yet upheave the ocean and the land, and flame up to heaven.

“Young Emmett said, ’Let no man write my epitaph until my country is free, and takes her place among the nations of the earth.’  But you may write General Lee’s epitaph now.  The principle for which he fought will survive him.  His evening was in perfect harmony with his life.  He had time to think, to recall the past, to prepare for the future.  An offer, originating in Georgia, and I believe in this very city, was made to him to place an immense sum of money at his disposal if he would consent to reside in the city of New York and represent Southern commerce.  Millions would have flowed to him.  But he declined.  He said:  ’No; I am grateful, but I have a self-imposed task which I must accomplish.  I have led the young men of the South in battle; I have seen many of them fall under my standard.  I shall devote my life now to training young men to do their duty in life.’  And he did.  It was beautiful to see him in that glorious valley where Lexington stands, the lofty mountains throwing their protecting