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'WISDOM, JUSTICE AND MODERATION.
roLTJME XXI
HOME, GA., FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 26, 1867.
NEW SERIES—NO. Itr
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P*F r#t H. DWINELL,
Proprietor
1PUI, ADVERTISEMENTS.
, j T. an ,l by Administrators, Exec-
^Sians. are required by law to
1 ?! ,], e first Tuesday in each month,
W L hours of ten in the forenoon
, the afternoon, at the Court
jj-the county in which the property
rSlfo'f these sales must bo given in
\r.rtffitte « days previous.
“?.the mle of personal property
•'fu.ivca ia like manner, through a
1 „, et te 10 days previous to sale day.
to Debtors and Creditors of an es-
JS* published 4° days,
c <?« th» applications will be made [
5 OrlUry for leave to sell land
T. Btlforta months.
“ b i P " for letters of Administration.
Sip h. must be published. 31
, for dianision trom Administration,
o^uthk fir months—for dismission from
LiMSip.M days. . ,
B, = k the forccloseure of Mortgages
ta published monthly for four months
for establishing lost papers, lor the full
in; rf three months—for compelling titles
Executors or Administrators, where
-1 has been given by the decease^, for the
we of three months. .
plications will always be continued
cording to these, the legal requirements,
la otherwise ordered, at the following
bates. *
if. Sales per levy of ten lines or
lessL $ 3 00
erjffs Mortgage fi. fa. sales, per
— 5
[Collector’ssoles, per levy...... 5 00
liions for letters of Administration... 3 00
itions for letters ot Guardianship..— 3 00
ice ot application for dismission
mm Administration, 6 00
dec .if application for dismission
:cmGuardianship,.- 4 00
Jication to sell land, —— 6 00
ice to Debtors and Creditors, 3 00
of Land, pcrspiare, 5 00
of perishable property, 10 days... 2 00
ray Notices. f.Gdays, 4 00
’closure of Mortgage, per square... 4 00
man advertising his wife, (in ad-
tncei 10 00
each school will appoint an Assis-
Marshal.
The Schools will proceed from their
churches to a point on Broad street, op
posite the Choice Hotel, and will march
procession thence to the railroad
Depot, in order of numbers—largest
first* &c.
Mr. Thos. J. Perry has kindly con
sented to take charge of all provisions;
and all packages should be placed in
his charge at the Depot. Each School
shall appoint an Assistant for him.
Each Superintendent is requested to
appoint a Committee, whose duty it
shall be to see that all the children are
provided for.
Badges decided upon.
Baptist—Blue.
Methodist—Pink.
Presbyterian—Purple.
By order of the Committee.
M. Dwinell, Ch’n.
C. O. Stillwell, Sec’y.
Rohe. Ga., April 13, '67.
Headquarters, Third Military Dls<
trict.
We notice the following order of
Maj. Gen. Pope in the Opinion of the
17th inst:
Hd’qrs., 3d Mil’y. Dis’t., I
Atlanta, Ga., April 16th, '67. j
General Order, No. 6.
The Headquarters of this Military
District are hereby transferred from
Montgomery, Alabama, to Atlanta, Ga
John Pope,
Brevet-Maj-Gen. Commanding.
Selma, Rohe & Dalton Railroad,-?-
On yesterday we were shown a letter
from Capt. Barney, Superintendent of
this Road. He states that 1700 tons
of iron are ready for shipment, and
that the laying of the track will be com
menced in a short time. Ample means
for the completion of the enterprise are
secured, and he thinks this will be ae
complished in 12 or 15 months.
plies for the Destitute of Chero
kee County, Alabama.
Fe learn that Mr. J. B. Walden, who
silently returned from the North
a,has been reasonably successfu
ofciinirg donations for the needy
Cherokee county, Alabama. Two
loads of corn, constituting a portion
these contributions, arrived in Rome
Thursday night, and will be
omptly forwarded. We understand
it a car load of corn, shipped to the
re of Her. Mr. Glozner, went down on
o steamer Clara Belle, on yesterday,
riday.) Beside these shipments, no
^visions have been shipped to that
tty, except those by the United
tes Government, to Gen. Turrentine,
ce the recent floods.
•‘The Post of Rome.”
nder the new regime, Rome is mad©
ilitary post, and the jurisdiction of
commanding officer extends over
16 e *cht or ten counties. Brevet.
■Col. J. F. Bitter, a’graduate of West
in class of 1856, is in command
’garrison is to be composed of com
t:S U—already here—and G, of 33d
b Regulars.
■i Ritter is a very pleasant gentle-
*’ a,ld 6’ ves assurance that he will
J® ' n ki s power to promote peace
good order in the community—
offering as little as possible with the
authorities. There are always
le rogues in a battallion of soldiers,
• Ritter will cause to be proper
punished any in his command found
,*• 0fan y cr ime or misdemeanor; oi
^ Ura t * lem °ver to the civil author-
'■ le wishes citizens to scrutinize
e 5 any soldier detected in crime,
S . t0 enabled to identify him with
s ‘ntj, and he hopes that citizens
promptly report these crimes at his
Quarters. 1
Fli
, * garrison now at the Court Hous e
^ aj move to the Warehouse
‘•Hargrove.
j k a ^ no se t of men, who main-
good reputation in Macon, and
Pe nothing unpleasant will mar
re ations with the citizens of
-andvicinity. Let all the. citi-
■eat, wtth courtesy, the military:
“ S ’ y mutual good treatment
ne»e relations entirely harmoni-
11 altogether pleasant.
iLw “ ay Celebration, 1867.
lethodist, Baptist and Presby
^ Sunday Schools, will join in cel
fcon i°o the lst of Ma y> and ^ the
*1 joI tf Ch ° 01 declines t0 j°in| us as
iviM . members hereof are kind
asion ° partic *P ale trith us on the
g °ve near Mai. Sprouls’ :
'■esdav °M ed i UP ° n aS the p]ace > and
> W lst > as th ^ day.
* ■ehestu?'’ 1 ! 1 , assemble a * their
> at 11 o clock, A. M., on May
ited ^ eott was unanimously
G0Ueral Marshal of the day,
Gov! Jenkins passed down on the
Stale Road on Thursday night on his
way home from the North.
Pardons.—The pardon business at
Washington has about been suspended.
The Sun says:
The President, for some time past,
has been granting but very few pardons
to those who were engaged in the re
hellion, although there area very large
number of petitions for pardon before
him. A few are pardoned under the
13th exception, or $20,000 clause. But
very few others have received a pardon
for some time past.
Bank Robbery in Selma, ai=».
We learn from the Messenger that an
kdroit rogue entered the National Bank
at Selma, on the 16th ihst., in broad
day light, and while the President,
Mr. Parkman. was busy counting mon
ey in the back part of the room, stole
$160,000 that Was put up in two pack
ages.
The Government had $65,000 or 70,-
000 deposited there, and Gen. Swayne
has ordered the commandant of the
post to take possession of the bank, so
as to secure the government against
the loss.
The Steamer Undine
Arrived yesterday morning, bringing
the following: -
PASSENGERS.
C. Rush and Lady, Mrs. Whorton
and Smith, Mrs. Collins, Dr. Harrison,
C. Nowlin, D. R. Wilson, G. W. How
ell, J- H. Patterson, U. A-King, J. D.
Freeman.
CONSIGNEES.
Berrys & Co., W. S. Cothran & Son,
Stewart & Moore, Wright & Brother,
J. C. Rawlins, R. T. Hargrove, Jno.
Rush, L. C. Johnson, Southern Express
Company, Rome Railroad.
PREIGHT.
Three bales of cotton, 9,000 feet of
lumber, &c.
New Goods.—H. & S. Abrahams,
have just received a large and desira
ble stock of spring and summer goods
—which they will be glad to sell at
reasonable prices. Mr. Pinkas, who
has charge of the business, and Matt
Pate, his assistant, will endeavor that
none shall go away dissatisfied. Give
them a call.
Auction Sale.—Watters, Allen &
Co., will sell to-day a fine gold watch,
a gold nugget chain, and other things
too numerous to mention.
[Communicated.]
Tbc Resurrection of “Sam.”
The memorable “Sam Know-noth
ing” is alive again and kicking; and is
holding out to gentlemen of political
aspirations, a glorious chance for office.
The formula of his ritual has under
gone but little change; yet it must be
confessed that during his sojourn in
the land of departed spirits, his new
associations, or something else, have
effected a great and radical change in
his views, pertaining to affairs of State,
and the requisite qualifications for office.
By attaching ourselves to his new or
der, it secures to us a superb chance for
honorable official positions; and, at the
same time, we are offered ample pro
tection for person and property. Black
and white, Catholic and Protestant.se-
cesh and Union, have equal chances to
unite in forming one grand homogeni
us brotherhood, in which the lay mem
bers, or the voting machines of the es
tablishment, are oath-bound to vote
for and support, for all political offices,
members of the order, in preference to
all others; and, in all things, political
and social, to comply with the will of
the majority of the order, though it
may conflict with their personal prefer
ences.
A glorious chance this for “black
spirits and white,” orthodox and he
terodox, the “lion and the lamb,” to
lie down together, casting off their old
partisan and sectarian habiliments,
and by a miraculous harmonizing of in
congruities, secure to themselves and
their successors, all the offices, and all
the honors, world without end, ev6r
more!
Look out Romanites, and Floyd
countians! Sam is coming in his new
dress, styled “Union League.” Be ye
ready. Ye know not what an hour
may bring forth. When the sun goes
down, and the shades of evening cast
their dark mantle over the multitude
retiring from their daily avocations,
and render dim the pathways to their
abode, be on the watch. A lantern,
darkly burning, of variegated hues
emblematic of the miraculous conglo
meration, will announce the second
coming of Sam. When your eyes be
hold the strange light, approach it can-
tiouslyjwith noiseless step, and subdued
breathing, follow it through dark al
leys, and devious ways, disturbing not
the stillness of the night, and you will
be conducted safely and comfortably
to the spacious sewer, under broad
street, where you will be initiated into
the mysteries of the new order.
Colored men, secessionists, and Union
men, be there,
Will meet upon the letel, and part
. upon the square.
Sam.
Ballou’s Patent Shirts.—Every gen
tleman knows how difficult it is to get
a shirt that fits well—Ballou pretends
to fit everybody. If he tells a story
somebody will give him Jits sure. See
adv. ■
No* 3.
The attention of our readers is called
to the advertisements in another col
umn of Messrs. Berger, Shutts & Co.,
Chemists, Troy, New York. They are
manufacturers of, and agents for, some
of the most valuable Toilet preparations
in use. .By their use all may possess a
clear, smooth skin, or a healthy and
luxuriant growth of hair upon the
head or face. Those of our readers hav
ing use for anything of the kind, would
would do well to patronize them.
A Fresh Supply of Drugs and Medi
cines.
Dr. H. D. Hoyt is now receiving large
additions to his snpply of goods, includ
ing drugs, medicines! paints and oils,
glass, articles for the toilet, &c., &c.—
The public are invited to examine his
stock.
apr.-tri-tfc-w tf.
Get Good Clothes.—A. A. Omberg j
Merchant Tailor, has received a beau
tiful lot of cloths, cassimeres and sum
mer goods for gentlemen’s clothing,
and is ready to make neat suits in all
the latest styles. He is a clever man,
and suits a considerable portion ot the
community finely. Give him a call
over Veal & Williamson’s jewelry
store.
Cox & Hill.—A large portion of our
readers are well acquainted with Wm
B. Cox and Rhodes Hill. These clever
gentlemen are now wholesale dealers
in foreign and domestic liquors, cigars
and tobacco, at Atlanta, Ga. We will
venture the assertion that there is no
more reliable house in the South, and
persons desiring fine wines and liquors
of any kind, will hardly do better else
where. See adv.
SPECIAL NOTICE.
The Non-Explosive Petro Oil.
I have on hand, for sale, the above
article. This oil possesses merits far
superior to all other illuminating oils
now in use. It is perfectly non-explo
sive, which will be demonstrated to all
who will call and see it. It is mnch
cheaper, and furnishes a clearer .light
than kerosene. It emits little or no
smoke, and is free from grease—can be
used in any kind of kerosene lamp —
In short, it has all the advantages of,
and is entirely free from all objections
to the purest kerosene oil; and is, be
yond all doubt, the best, safest, and
cheapest light for the family, the office
and the church.
I have also, a portable lamp, which
burns without oil or chimney, for house
and kitchen work. It is farchea-
safer and * more convenient
than candles, and is truly a safety-lamp,
i there are no sparks or dripping as in
_ candle; no danger of breaking .or
spilling as in ordinary lamps of every
kind.
I have purchased the exclusive ngh
to sell this oil in Floyd county, and
will be pleased to exhibit it to any and
every one at my drng store, call and
see it tested for yourself.
I also offer to sell rights for other
counties in the State Any one wishing
to make inquiries in deference to pur
chasing, will do Well to write to me at
this place, Rome Ga.
W. D. Hoyt.
apl-20-tri-<fc-w-It.
Rgr-Col. W. T. Thompson, of the Sa
vannah News sailed for Europe yester
day, from Savannah; it is to be hoped
his wardrobe was more extensive than
that of his “GeorgiaMajor”
[From the Charleston Mercury.
Governor Jenkins’ Letter to the Peo-
of the State of Georgia.
This.Letter from Governor Jenkins,
which will be found in full in another
column, is undoubtedly inspired by the
belief or fear that he will either be un
able to obtain at all an adjudication
from the Supreme Court of the United
States, on the constitutionality of the
late Military act—or that he will be
unable to obtain it in time to prevent
action under the act, precluding any
benefit from the future decisions of
the comt. He expresses no doubt as
to the nature of the act itself; and if
the court will act promptly, that it will
be act aside. But supposing that the
act from any cause is not considered
and adjudicated on by the court—what
then? Governor Jen sins advises that
the State should prefer remaining un
der the present military control than
to overthrow, by the assembling a con
vention, the civil policy of the State,
with the hazard of the innovations
which may ensue. This counsel appears
to us wise for the State of Georgia—
From the large preponderance of her
white population, she can reject at the
polls the call of a convention, and thus
gain time to obtain the reluctant ar
bitrament of the Supreme Court of the
United States. Unfortunately, howev
er, all the other Southern States are
not in the condition of the State of
Georgia. In two of them, at least, the
white population are 'in a minority,
and may find it to be their policy to
support the call of a convention. But
their course ought not to influence the
course of other Southern States, who
are differently situated. It is the duty
of 1 any Southern State—which is in a
situation to do it—to force a decision
of the Supreme Court of the United
States on the constitutionality of the
Military Act. If that decision shall be,
what Governor Jenkins does not doubt
that it must he—that is, that the South
ern States are States within the Union of Ike
United States, a shield will be thrown
over all the Southern States, which
will protect them from future prosecu
tion by Congress, and what has been
unconstitutionally done under the
Military Act, will be reversed and ob
literated. The whole difficulty may be
overcome by patience, and invincible
perseverance. Surely we ought to have
been taught by ;tbe experence of the
war the ability to exercise these high
virtues. The Supreme Court may re
ject the applications now being made,
to take cognizance of the act; and may
compel a resort to the District courts,
to get up the case; and consider it only
on an appeal from these courts. Ihis
course will postpone the consideration
of the case to its next sitting. In the
meantime, the Military Act will be en
forced. To head this policy, some of
the Southern States ought to refuse to
enforce it. by going into a convention,
and standing out against it, force the
final decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States on the constitution
ality of the Military Act. We hope
that if the application now pending be
fore that court shall fail, that this will
be the coarse of the State of Georgia.—
As to the Military Act accomplishing
reconstruction, no one, we presume,
believes that any State of the Sonth,
which shall not send a Radical delega
tion to Congress, will be admitted on
the floors of Congress.
Republican Convention in Virginia.
Ricuhond, April 17.—The State Re
publican Convention met at noon in
’the African Church. Georgia Rye, of
Senandoah, was chosen temporary
Chairman. Two hundred and ten dele
gates present, of whom fifty were white.
Forty-nine counties represented direc
tly, and nearly all in the State by
proxy.
John Hawshursfc, of Fairfax, prenlan-
ent President. Ten Vico Presidents
were chosen, inclnding Hunnicnt,
Lewis McGuire, of Alexandria, and
three colored men. The Secretary, one
colored. Committee on organization
out. Fears are entertained that some
Democrates have come here to spoil
the Convention. _
Hunnicutt and F. M. Conway, of
New York, madqinflamatory speeches,
the new idea being that the negroes
should demand higher pay, at least
forty dollors per month. Convention
adiourned till to-morrow.
To-night a mass meeting is being
held at the Capital Square. Citizens
do not take much notice of the pres
ence of the Convention. No bad feel-
WIRTZ.
Important Letter from Capt. *Wirtz’
Counsel.
WfiERE DOES THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
ANDERSONV1LLE HORKtJilS itESI*
ing. t
CONSERVATIVES UNION CONVEN
TION OF TENNESSEE.
Enthusiasm and. Harmony.
Emerson Etheridge Unanimously
Nominated for Governor.
[Special to Daily American Union.]
Nashville. April 16.
The Convention met this morning
and was largely attended. _
Emerson Etheridge w*s unanimously
and enthusialicaUy nominated forGov-
ef The resolutions reaffirm the devcStion
of the Conservatives Union men ot
Tennessee to the Union and the Con
stitution. They favor the extension of
equal political rights to all men, re
gardless of race or color. They favor
the enfranchisement of the late rebels;
take strong ground against the repu^
diation of the National debt: against
the Militia law and faver the policy ot
the President.
A Committee was appointed to pre
pare an address to the people.
The Way it was Done.—The Presi
dent killed the bill giving Brownlow s
bushwhackers 10,000 stand of arms, by
a “pocket veto.” An exchange says
that so many muskets are not often
routed by a pocket pistol.
To the American People :
Intending to leave the United States
for some time, I feel it my duty, be
fore I start, to lullfil in part a prom
ise which, a few hoars before his death
I gave to my unfortunate client, Capt.
Wirtz, who was executed at Washing
ton on the 10th day of November, 1865.
Protesting up to the last moment his
innocence of those monstrous crimes
with which he was charged, he received
my word that, having failed to save
him from a felon’s doom. I would, as
long as I lived, do everything in my
power to clear his memory: I did that
the more readily, as I was then alrea
dy perfectly convinced that he suffered
wrongfully. Since that time, his un
fortunate children, both here and in
Europe, have constantly implored me
to wipe out the terrible stains which
now cover the name of their father.—
Though .times do not seem propitious
for obtaining justice, yet, considering
that man is mortal, 1 will, before en
tering upon a perilous voyage, perform
my duty to those innocent orphans,
and also to myself.
I will now give a brief statement of
the causes which led to the arrest and
execution of Cape. Wirtz. In April,
1865. President Johnson issued a proc
lamation stating that, from evidence in
the possession of the “Bureau of Mili
tary Justice ” it appeared that Jeffer
son Davis was implicated in the assas
sination of President Lincoln, and for
that reason the President offered a re
ward of $100,000 for the capture of the
then fugitive Ex-President of the South
era Confederacy. That testimony has
since been found to be entirely false,
and a mere fabrication, and the subor
ner, Conover, is now under sentence in
the jail in this city—the two perjurers
who he suborned having turned states
evidence against him, whilst the indi
vidual by whom Conover was suborned
has not yet been brought to justice.
Certain high and influential enemies
of Jefferson Davis, either then already
aware ot the character of the testimo
ny of those witnesses, or not thinking
their testimony quite sufficient to hang
J eft'Davis, expected to find the want
ing material in the terrible mortality
of Union prisoners at Anderson ville.—
Orders were issued accordingly to ar
rest a subaltern officer, Capt. Wirtz, a
poor, friendless, and wounded prisoner
of war (he being included in the surren
der of Gen. Johnston) and^ besides a
foreigner by birth. On the I th day of
May lie was placed in the old Capitol
prison at Washington, and from that
time the greater part of the Northern
press was engaged' in forming the un
fortunate man in the eyes of the North
era people into such a monster that it
became almost impossible for him to
obtain counseL Even his countryman,
the Swiss Consul-General, publicly re
fused to accept money to defray tbe
exj enres of the trial! ‘ He was doomed
before he was heard—and even the
permission to be heard according to
[aw wa3 denied himj To increase the
excitement and give eclat to the pro
ceedings, to inflame still more the pub
lic mind, the trial took place under the
very dome of the capitol of the natien.
A military commission, presided over
by one of the most arbitrary arid des
potic generals in the country, Was
formed, and the paroled prisoner of
war, his wounds still open, and .so fee
ble that he had to recline during the
trial on a sofa, carried before the same.
How that trial was conducted, the
whole world knows. The enemies of
generosity and humanity believed it
then to be a sure thing to get at Jeff
Davis.
Therefore, the first charges was that
of conspiracy between Wirtz, Jefferson
Davis, Seddon, Howell Cobb, R. B.
Winder, and a number of others, to
kill the Union prisoners. The trial
lasted for three months, but unfortu
nately for the blood-thirsty instigators,
not a particle of evidence was produced,
showing the existence of Buch a con
spiracy; yet Capt. Wirtz was found guil
ty of that charge 1 Having thus failed,
another effort was made. On the
night before the execution of the priso
ner a telegram was sent to the North
ern press from this city, stating that
Wirtz had made important disclosures
io Gen. L. C. Baker, the well known
detective, implicating Jefferson Davis,
and that the confession would probably
be given to the pnblic. On the same
evening some parties came to the con
fessor of Wirtz, Rev. Father Boyle, and
also to me, one of them informing me
that a high Cabiuet officer wished to as
sure Wirtz. that if he would implicate
Jefferson Davis with the atrocities com
mitted at.'Andersonville, his sentence
would be commuted. He, the messen
ger, or whoever he was, requested me
to inform Wirtz of this. In presence
of Father Boyle, 1 told Wirtz, next
morning, what bad happened.. The
Captain simply and quietly replied :—
“Mr. Schade, you know that I have
always told you that I do not know
anything about Jefferson Davis. He
had no conn.ection with me as to what
was done at Andersonville. If I knew
anything of him I would not become a
traitor against him or anybody else,
even to save my life.” He likewise de
nied that be had made any statement
whatever to Gen. Baker. Thus ended
the attempt to suborn Capt. Wirtz
against Jeff Davis. That alone shows
what a man he was. How many of his
defaruers would havd done tho game?
With his wounded arm in a slifig, the
poor paroled prisoner mounted; two
hours later, the scaffold: His last words
were that be died innocent—and so he
did. The 10th day of November, 1.865
will indeed be a black stain updn the
pages of American history.
To weaken the effect of his declara
tion of innocence, and of tbe noble
manner in which Wirtz died, a tele
gram was manufactured and sent North
stating that on the 27th day of October.
Mrs. Wirtz, (who was actually 900
mileson that day away from Washing
ton.) had been prevented by that Stan-
tonian dcuc exmachina, Gen. L. C.Baker;
from poisoning her husbandl Thus, on
the same day when tho unfortunate
family lost,thdir hu-band acd hither,
a cowardly and atrocious attempt was
made to blacken their character also.
On the ne.tt day 1-bramie l the whole
as an infamous lie, and siuco then I
never have heard of it again, though
it emanated from a Brig. Gen. of Hie
United States army.
All those who were charged with
having conspired with Capt. Wirtz,
have since been released, except Jeffer
son Davis, the prisoner of the Ameri
can “Chilldh.” Capt. Winder was let
off without trial, and if any of the oth
ers have been tried, which I do not
know, certianly none of them have
been hang. As Capt. Wirtz could not
conspire alone, nobody will now, ^in
view of that important fact, consider
him guilty of that charge. So much,
then, for Charge No. 1. .
As to charge No. 2, to wit: Murder,
in violation of the laws and customs of
war, I do not hesitate to declare what
about 145 out of 160, witnesses on both
sides declared daring the trial—that
Capt. Wirtz never murdered dr killed
any Union prisoners with his own
hands, or otherwise. All those wit
nesses (about twelve to fifteen) who
testified that they saw Captain Wirtz
kill a prisoner, have sworn falsely,
abundant proofs of that assertion be
ing in existence. The hands of Capt.
Wirtz are clear of the blood of priso-
Oners of war. He would certainly have
at least intimated to me a knowledge
of the alleged murders with which he
was charged. In most all Cases no
names of the alleged murdered men
could be given, and where it was done,
no such persons could be identified:—
The terrible scene in court, When he
was confronted with one of the wit
nesses, and the latter insisting that
Wirtz was tbe man who killed a cer
tain Union prisoner; which irritated
the prisoner so much that he almost
fainted, will still be remembered. That
man (Grey) swore falsely; and God
alone knows what the poor innocent
prisoner most have suffered at that
moment! That scene was depicted
and illustrated in the Northern news
papers as if Wirtz had brolcen down on
account of his guilt. Seldom has a mor
tal suffered more than that friendless
and forsaken man.
Fearing lest this communication will
be too long, 1 will merely speak of the
principal and most intelligent of those
False witnesses, who testified to indi
vidual murder on the part of Capt.
Wirtz. Upon life testimony the Judge
Advocate in his final argument laid
particular stress on accouot of his in
telligence. This witness prepared also
pictures of the alleged cruelties of
Wirtz, which were handed to the com
mission, and are now on record, copies
of which appeared at the time in North
ern illustrated papers. He swore that
his name was Felix de la Baume, and
represented himself as a Frenchman
and grand-nephew of Marquis LaFay-
ette. After having so well testified and
shown sj much zeal, he received-a re
commendation signed by the members
of the Commission. On the II th day
of October, before the taking of the tes
timony was concluded, he was ap
pointed to a clerkship in the Depart
ment of the interior. This occurred
whilst one of tbe witnesses for the de
fence (Duncan) was arrested in open
court and placed in prison before he
testified. After the execution of Capt.
Wirtz some of the Germans of Wash*
ton recognized in de la Baudle a deser
ter from the Seventh New York (Steu
ben) Regiment, whose name Was Hot
de la Baume. but Felix Oeser, a native
of Saxony. They went to Secretary
Harlan, and he-dismissed tbe impostor
and the important witness in the Wirtz
trial on the 21st of November, eleven
days after the execution. Nobody who
is acquainted with the Conover testi
mony, in censequence of which the
PresidenUpf the United States was
falsely induced to place a reward of one
hundred thousand dollars upon the
head of an innocefit man, will be as
tonished at the above disclosures of
the chai actor of testimony before niili-
itary commissions: So much for charge
No. 2.
If from twelve to fifteen witnesses
could be found who were willing to tes
tify to so many acts of murder on the
part of Wirtz, there most certainly
have been no lack of such who were
willing to swear to minor offences.—
Such was the unnatural state of the
public mind against the prisoner a( the
time, that suen men regarded them
selves, and were regarded as heroes,
after having testified in the manner
above described; whilst, on the dthei
hand, the witnesses for the defence
were intimidated, particularly after
one of them had been arrested.
Bat who is responsible for the many
lives lost Andersonville, add in the
Southern prisons? That question has
not fully been settled, but history will
tell oil whose heads the guilt for those
sacrificed hecatombs of human beings
is to be placed. It Was certainly not
the fault of poor Captain Wirtz, when
in| consequence of medicines having
been declared contraband of war by
the North, the Union prisoners died
far the want of the same. How often
have we read during the war that la
dies going South had been arrested
and placed in the Old Capitol Prison
by tne Union authorities, because quin
ine, or other medicines had been ionnd
concealed in their petticoats 1 Our
navy prevented the ingress of medical
stores frUm the sea-side, and our troops
repeatedly destroyed drug stores, and
eveii the supplies of private physicians
in the South.
Thus, the scarcity of medicines be
came seneral all over the South: Siir-
geon J. C. Pilot writes, September 6,
1864, from Andersonville, [this letter
was produced, by tho Judge-Advocate
in the Wirz trial.] “We have little
more than the indigenous barks and
roots with which to treat the numerous
forms of disease to which our attention
is daily called: For the treatment of
wounds, ulcres, &c., we have literally
nothing, oscept water. Cur wards,
some of them, are wild with gangrene,
and we ate compeUed to fold oiir arms
and look quietly linon its ravages, not
even having stimulates to support the
system under its depressing influence;
the article being so limited in supply
that it edn only be issued for (rises un 1
der the knife;” i .
That provisions in tHe Bouth were
scarce; will astonish nobody, when it is
remembered how the war ivas carried
on: Gen Sheridan boasted in his offip
cial report, that in the Shenandoah
Valley alone, he burned two thousand
barns filled with wheat and corn, and.
all the mills in the whole tract of coun-?
try; that he destroyed all factories of
cloth, and killed, or drove off, every
animal; even to the poultry, that could
contribute to humah sustenance: And
these desolations were repeated in dif
ferent pafts of the South, and that qo»
thoroughly that last month, tfro years
after the end of the war. Congress had
to appropriate a million of dollars to
save the people of those regions from*,
actual starvation. The destruction o.f
railrcads and other means of transppr-’
tation, by which food could be supplied’
by abundant districts to those without
it, increased the difficulties in giving
sufficient food to our prisoners. i(
The Confederate authorities, award,
of their inability to maintain their
prisoners, informed the Northern
agents of the great mortality, and ur
gently requested that the prisoner^
should be exchangad, even without
regard to the surplus which the Con
federates had on the exchange roll froni
former exchanges, that is, man.forjman^
bat our War Department did not cpn-’
sent to an exchange. They did pot
want to ‘‘exchange skeletons for heatbjr
men:” Finally, when all hopes of. .ex
change Were gone, Col, Onld, the Con*
federate Commissioner, offered, early_
in August, 1864, to deliver up all the
federal sick and wounded, without re
quiring an equivalent in return,, aqd
plea led that the numbers would amount
to ten or fifteen thousand, and, if.it
did not, he would make up that num
ber with well men. Although this of
fer was made in August, the!transporta
tion was not sent tor them (to Savan
nah) until December, although lief
urged and implored (to*use his own
words) that haste should be made.—
During that very period the most of the
deaths at Andersonville occurred. Corf
gressman Govode, Who lost two sopA
in Southern prisons, will do well if hq
inquires who those “skeletons were”
which the Hon. Secretary of War did
not want to exchange for healthy di'en I
If he does, he will hereafter be perhaps
less bitter against the people of tne
South.-
But has the North treated hef South
ern prisoners so that she should lift yjf
her hands and cry “anathema” ,6’ver
the South? Mr. Stanton teporfs td
Congress, July 16,1806, that of South-:
ern prisoners there died in tbe North
26,430, and of Northen prisoners in Ufa
South 22,'576. What a fearful record 1
Over 26,000 prisoners dying In the
midst of .plenty! Mr. Stanton gives
the total number of prisoners in the
North at 220,000, and in the Sonth at
126,940. Suppose .this to be correct,
though this statement comes certainly
from no impartial source; there died of
prisoners in tbe South, without medi
cines, and provisions, the fifth part;
and in the North, with medicines aftd
provisions, the eighth part. Bat in the
number of Southern prisoners id the
North are probably included the pa
roled prisoners of Lee’s, Johnston’s and
Smith’s aridies, who never entered i
Northern prison. If that be so, tfid
mortality' of Southern prisoners lii ihd
North will be even greater than that
of the Federal prisoners in the Soiith !
We used jdstly to claim iti former
times that oars was ‘’the land , of (he
free and the home of the brave:” But;
when one half of tho cod n try is' shroud
ed in a despotism whicn now only finds
a parallel in Russian Poland ; and
wlien our Generals and soldiers qiiietly
permit that their ’.former adversaries in
arms shall be treated worse thdn the
Helots of old, brave soldiers though
they may be. who, when the forces and
resources of both sections were chore
equa>, have hot seldom seen the hacks
of our best Generals, not to speak of
Butler find cdhsorts, then we may well
questioii whether the “star-spangled
banner still waves over the land of the
free and • the home of the brave.” A
noble and brilve soldier never perihits
bis antagofiist to be calumniated ahd
trampled upoh after an honorable sur
render. Besides, notwithstanding the
decision of the highest legal tribunal
in the land that military commissions
arh unconstitutional; the earnest and
able protestations of President Johnson,
add the sad results of military iiommis-
sions, yet such military commissions
afe agaiii established by recent legis
lation of Congress all over the sdffering
and starving South.
History is just, and; as Mr. Lincoln
used to say, we cannot escape history.
Puritanical hypocrisy, self-dciulation
and self-gloiificatidn will not save
those enemies of liberty from tlieir just
punishment.
Not even a Christian burial of the
remains of Captain Wiitz has been al
lowed by Secretary Stanton. They
still lie, side by side, with those of an*
ether and acknowledged victim of Mill*
tary Commissonrs, the unfortunate Mrs.
Surratt, in the yard of the former jail
in this city f
If anybody should desire to reply to
this, I politely beg that it may be done
before the lst of May next, as then I
shall leave the country to return in the
fall. After that day letters will reach
me in care of the American Legation,
or Mr. Benedetto Bolzans, Leipzig
street, No. 38, Berlin, Prussia.
Louis Scuade, Attorney-at Law.-
Washington, April 4,1867.
ESL=Tlie Mobile Times is informed
that Gen. Swayne has appointed Col.
W. H. Smith as the General Superin-,
ten dent of the Registration Bureau of
Alabama.
Col. Smith commanded one of ihfc
two or three Alabama regiments which
went into the Federal army after Gen.
Mitchell’s invasion iritoNorth Alabama,
and now lives in Randolph county.
Arkansas.—A. H. Garland, Senator
elect from Arkansas, has prepared a
bill to place his State before tho Su
preme Court. Mr. G. was a member
of the old Congress, subsequently oc-'
cupied a seat in tho CoiilbUerato Con
gress, and has been elected to the
United States Congress.
mm