his own state, divided between love for the Union and sympathy with
its neighbors, was hovering on the brink of secession.

The issue in Lee's mind was not the existence of slavery. He had
long been in favor of emancipation, and Virginia had more than once
come so close to abolishing slavery by law that its disappearance
from her borders was practically assured within a very short period.
All his own slaves he had long since freed and he was gradually
emancipating his father-in-law's, according to the directions of
Mr. Custis's will. But the right of each state to govern itself
without interference from the Federal Government seemed to Lee
essential to the freedom of the people. He recognized, however, that
secession was revolution and, calmly and conscientiously examining
the question, he concluded that, if force were used to compel any
state to remain in the Union, resistance would be justifiable.
Most Virginians reached this decision impulsively, light-heartedly,
defiantly or vindictively, and more or less angrily, according to
their temperaments and the spirit of the times, but not so Lee. He
unaffectedly prayed God for guidance in the struggle between his
patriotism and his devotion to a principle which he deemed essential to
liberty and justice. He loved his country as only a man in close
touch with its history and with a deep reverence for its great
founder, Washington, could love it; he had fought for its flag; he
wore its uniform; he had been educated at its expense; and General
Scott, the Commander of the army, a devoted Union man, was his
warm personal friend. Patriotism, personal pride, loyalty and even
gratitude, therefore, urged him toward the support of the Union,
and only his adherence to a principle and the claims of his kinsmen
and friends forbade.