Before the war was over Robert E. Lee had inflicted at least 200% casualties on the Army of the Potomac, but in discussion after the war with a pastor Lee said, Doctor there is a good old book which I read, and you preach from, which says, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you. Do you think that your remarks this evening were quite in the spirit of that teaching? I have fought against the people of the North because I believed they were seeking to wrest from the South dearest rights. But I have never cherished toward them bitter or vindictive feelings and have never seen the day when I did not pray for them.
By the way, these dearest rights did not include slavery which Lee opposed, because Lincoln had already said at his first inauguration before Lee resigned his commission, the Federal Government shall never interfere with the domestic institutions of the States, including that of persons held to service.
It is that I based my comment on 67 years of life on this plant, in my beloved country and without, witnessing human nature, both Pentecostal and not.