Lee on Secession

In this video, I read an excerpt from a letter written by Robert E. Lee to his son discussing the secession of southern states.

For more videos check out the links below.

[Stiglr]

Very nice! I enjoyed that thoroughly. You could tell Lee's brain was churning and agonizing over his eventual decision. I am borrowing part of his letter to form the title of a simulation game I'm designing on some Civil War Battles. It was nice to hear his words read, especially by a southern-inflected voice, such as you have in abundance!! I'm really enjoying your videos, keep up the good work!

[hscollier]

I live very close to where Fort Mason, Texas was, where Lee was stationed when he wrote this letter. I’ve stood on top of the hill where the fort was, looking out over the same view of the Texas Hill Country that Lee would have had when he was there, imagining the turmoil he was going through at this time. His words quoted here are very poignant, especially considering our current social and political troubles.

[reemitchell]

He great man, father, husband, military man, gentleman and Virginia citizen

[dukeman]

I enjoyed this letter very much, one can tell the conflict he must have been feeling, and the
outcome which he knew would happen.

[BibleResearchTools]

Do you have a source for that letter? I checked the family archive, but it is not listed.
Thanks,
Dan

[followthefleet]

"I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a cause, though that cause, was I believe, one of the worse for which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least excuse."....U.S. Grant

[jameseubanks]

At one time we spoke with eloquence and understanding, knew at some point would just be rants! Love reading the letters from the night before tomorrow’s battles, they understood something that we now have forgotten, our next Civil War will be nothing but rants and blood.

[richardofsylmar]

Thank you very much for this read. I enjoyed it very much.

[redneckweiser]

Robert Lee signed papers Abraham Lincoln Office.
From two states ( north and south)to one state.

[tangle]

After reading some of the comments, I think some forget the thoughts of the founders at the time.

"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

They firmly thought that the states had the right to secede, since it is their right to do it.

[slyfoxxsr.]

Letter Translated to Southern men, "Hold my beer, y'all." -Robert E. Lee.

[jaynoyd]

For a good read, check out "Jeff Davis's own" by James Arnold.. In the book, there is a lot of coverage of Lee and his service on the Texas frontier. Little is known of the tremendous sacrifices Lee experiences during his time in Texas. The sacrifices led to his love of country and why the contents of the letter he wrote to his son reflects that.

[butterfly.]

I stop all things for these video's, please do one on Robert Toombs....Please

[redneckweiser]

George Washington and Robert Lee are family Generations.

[AmericanUnionState]

Robert E Lee is one of the greatest American that ever lived.

[outdoorlife]

Anarchy is about what the CSA was. I do get tired of these people who spent a live time serving the country getting judged on 4 yrs. That said, it was a different time, they were state orientated instead of a Nation like we are today. If you look at a CW cemetery they are buried by states. It was that important to them

[peterrobertson]

The caution one must exercise in material like this is the risk of misinterpretation and extending the information presented here beyond the borders that Lee intended.

Lee was a confirmed racist. For those who would argue, explain the following excerpt from an 1856 letter where Lee discusses his thoughts on the condition of the slaves:
"The painful discipline they are undergoing, is necessary for their instruction as a race, & I hope will prepare & lead them to better things. How long their subjugation may be necessary is known & ordered by a wise Merciful Providence. Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild & melting influence of Christianity, than the storms & tempests of fiery Controversy."

Lee was less an American than a southerner and Confederate. Before Virginia had thrown in with the Slave states, Lee resigned his commission, and accepted a position as the head of Virginia's volunteer Army. Over the course of the conflict, he became as avowed a Confederate and defender of slavery as there was in the southern states. This does not make the perspective here inaccurate, but perhaps more incomplete than it might have been. Once secession had occured in Virginia, there was no more confirmed enemy of the United States, and no one more responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans. Lee is a cultural icon but his reputation has come under much harsher criticism in a post "Lost Cause" era and this is entirely appropriate. Preserving American History vs preserving American Myth must be the priority if America is to understand itself then and today.

I do not consider this to be the intention of the Wilder Historian, as I have always enjoyed this series and found it balanced in its approach. I don't believe it was the intention of the author to mischaracterize. But we have to correct the narrative, that Lee was opposed to slavery, believed that the Black race should be freed, did not embrace Civil War, and did not betray his oath in his behaviour and actions. It's just not the truth.

[bjohnson]

"...Defend any state if her rights were invaded"....(Mark 2:13 of video)
wishes for "all Constitutional means be exhausted"

It is IMPORTANT to note these words were issued by a patriot, R E Lee. But it is also important to note the comments provided in this video were those of Lee in Jan of 61.
Since that point and time and Virginia's secession in April....many things occurred. Why is this the only surviving quote of Lee regarding secession? Where are his thoughts after:

*Virginia was required to provide troops to make war on the Deep South
*Virgnia was required to allow federal troops to pass over its lands and use it ports to make war on the Deep South
*Virginia was required to embargo the Deep South

What were Lee's thoughts then on the justification of secession? On federal overreach? On one section imposing its will upon another?
And of note, VA did not secede with the Deep South which clearly seceded over slavery. This separates VA (and NC, TN and AR) from the motivations of the Deep South. The four states (VA TN AR NC) seceded over Constitutional issues and the federal government forcing them to partake in a War on the Deep South in the manners I describe. Prior to the federal edicts, VA had been strongly pro union in convention, voting 2:1 against secession as late as the first week of April, 61.

[ColinH]

Save in defence I will draw my sword on none. Lee was a fine man, but he certainly encouraged a lot of others to do just the opposite. His loyalty was to Virginia, not the USA, but it probably broke his heart.

[scottfleming]

Lee shows his genius in this letter. He was a very smart man.