the tragic flaw of lee and virginia in general is too great of loyalty to a constitution that, in practice, is hostile to the ideals of the revolution upon which it is purportedly based. in no way do i object to his being the symbol of the south's war effort, but the very invasion that he resisted so valiantly is proof that virginia's moderation during the secession crisis was the most perilous and misguided position of all, and productive of the most extreme results.
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