In his public statements and private correspondence, Lee argued that a tone of reconciliation and patience would further the interests of white Southerners better than hotheaded antagonism to federal authority or the use of violence.
I sine offentlige udtalelser og private korrespondance argumenterede Lee for, at en forsonlig tone og tålmodighed ville fremme de hvide sydstatsfolks interesser bedre end hidsig modstand mod de føderale autoriteter eller brug af vold.