Part 84 (2/2)
Alexander eagerly protested.
”I don't agree with you, sir. G.o.d has given the South Lee as her Commander. Your genius is equal to a hundred thousand men. And in all our terrible battles, at the head of your men, again and again, as you were to-day, with bullets whistling around you, you've lived a charmed life. You're here to-night strong in body and mind, without a scratch.
Don't tell me, sir, that we haven't had luck!”
Stuart broke in.
”You're the biggest piece of luck that ever befell an army.”
Lee rose.
”I appreciate your confidence and your love, gentlemen. But I've made many tragic mistakes, and tried to find an abler man to take my place.”
”There's no such man!” Stuart boomed. ”Give the word to-night and every soldier in this army would follow you into the jaws of h.e.l.l!”
Lee's eyes were lifted dreamily.
”And you ask me to blot out the liberties of our people by a single act of usurpation?”
Alexander lifted his hand.
”Only for a moment, General, that we may restore them in greater glory.
The truth is the Confederate Government is not fitted for revolution.
Let's win this war and fix it afterwards.”
”I do not believe either in military statesmen or political generals.
The military should be subordinate always to the civil power--”
”But Congress,” Rives broke in, ”speaking for the people, offers you supreme power. Mr. Davis has not proven himself strong enough for the great office he holds.”
Lee flared at this a.s.sertion.
”And if he has not, sir, who gave _me_ the right to sit in judgment upon my superior officer and condemn him without trial? Mr. Davis is the victim of this unhappy war. I say this, though, that he differs with me on vital issues. I urged the abolition of Slavery. He opposed it. So did your Congress. I urged the uncovering of Richmond and the concentration of our forces into one great army for an offensive--”
Rives interrupted.
”We ask you to take the supreme power and decide these questions.”
Lee replied with a touch of anger.
”But I may be wrong in my policies. Mr. Davis is a man of the highest character, devoted soul and body to the principles to which he has pledged his life. He is a statesman of the foremost rank. He is a trained soldier, a West Point graduate. He is a man of n.o.ble spirit--courageous, frank, positive. A great soul throbs within his breast. He has done as well in his high office as any other man could have done--”
He looked straight at Rives.
”We left the Union, sir, because our rights had been invaded. Our revolution is justified by this fact alone. You ask me to do the thing that caused us to revolt. To brush aside the laws which our people have ordained and set up a Dictators.h.i.+p with the power of life and death over every man, woman and child. For three years we have poured out our blood in a sacred cause. We are fighting for our liberties under law, or we are traitors, not revolutionists. We are fighting for order, justice, principles, or we are fighting for nothing--”
A courier dashed to the door of the tent and handed Lee a message which he read with a frown.
<script>