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The questions which for years were in dispute between the State and General Government, and which unhappily were not decided by the dictates of reason, but referred to the decision of war, having been decided against us, it is the part of wisdom to acquiesce in the result, and of candor to recognize the fact.

Letter to former Virginia governor John Letcher on August 28, 1865. "Personal Reminiscences, Anecdotes, and Letters of Gen. Robert E. Lee" by John William Jones, p. 203, 1874.
The questions which for years were in dispute between the State and General Government, and which unhappily were not decided by the dictates of reason, but referred to the decision of war, having been decided against