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Re: Just a reminder...
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David, that is as stated with the letter itself, the opinion of the War Dept. Consider the following information...


Citizenship restored

On January 30, 1975, Senate Joint Resolution 23, A joint resolution to restore posthumously full rights of citizenship to General R. E. Lee was introduced into the Senate by Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr. (I-VA). The resolution was to restore the U.S. citizenship to Robert E. Lee effective June 13, 1865. This resolution was the result of a five year campaign to posthumously restore Robert E. Lee's U.S. citizenship.[108][108][109]

Congressional summary
January 30, 1975 S. J. Res. 23 introduced.
March 19, 1975 Reported to Senate from the Committee on the Judiciary, S. Rept. 94-44.
April 10, 1975 Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate.
June 24, 1975 Reported to House from the Committee on the Judiciary, H. Rept. 94–324.
July 22, 1975 Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, roll call #415 Vote: 407 Yea 10 Nay
July 22, 1975 Cleared for White House

On July 24, 1975, after passing the Senate and House of Representatives, the resolution was presented to President Gerald Ford. The resolution, S.J. Res. 23, was signed on August 5, 1975 by the President and became Public Law 94-67 (89 Stat. 380). The signing took place at a ceremony at Arlington House, Arlington, Virginia. The house was formerly known as the Custis-Lee Mansion, and was the home of General Lee. The ceremony was attended by a dozen of Lee's descendants, including Robert E. Lee V, the general's great-great-grandson. Also attending were: Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr., Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr., and congressmen M. Caldwell Butler, Herbert E. Harris II, David E. Satterfield III, Thomas N. Downing, and Robert W. Daniel, Jr.[108][109][110]

President Ford signing and speech
July 24, 1975 Measure presented to President.
August 5, 1975 Signed by President.
August 5, 1975 Public law 94-67

Before signing President Ford spoke at 2:12 p.m. at the signing ceremony:

“I am very pleased to sign Senate Joint Resolution 23, restoring posthumously the long overdue, full rights of citizenship to General Robert E. Lee. This legislation corrects a 110-year oversight of American history. It is significant that it is signed at this place..."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Lee#Citizenship_restored
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I'm running off memory here but if I recall correctly in his memoirs "From Manasses to Appomattox" General James Longstreet wrote about a meeting at the White House in Washington after the war where he was told that no matter what laws were passed or not that himself, Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee would never receive relief in regards their civil rights. Perhaps that was Longstreet blowing smoke or my bad memory or both. I'll try and dig out my copy of the book and see what I can find on it. However, the fact that General Lee's application letter was deliberately lost by Seward should come as no surprise to any of us. Washington was full of crooks then and still is.

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Just a reminder...
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ROFL!!! It's ok Jamie. *NM*
You know how to pull my chain! :) *NM*
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