The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-21 00:00:00

EVENING, SEPTEMBER 21, 1865.

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, Sept. 20.
The Inman steamer City of Washington, from
New York tho 9th inst., has arrived.
The New York Democratic State Convention has
passed resolutions demanding the subordination of
military to citil rule, and pledging its support to
President Johnson in his scheme of reconstruction
without negro suffrage ; recognising the national
debt, expressing adhesion to the Monroe doctrine,
and urging conciliation towards the Southern
States. The convention nominates General Slocum
for Secretary cd State.

The dispute in the State of Mississippi between
the civil and military authorities has been decided
for the present in favour of the former.

The Cincinnati Commercial has a despatch dated
Jackson, Misssl sippi, 4th, which says Gen.. Slocum
has issued an order by direction of the President
enjoining upoz his officers not to interfere with the
organization of the State Militia ordered by Provi-
sional Governor Sharkey. This is directly the re-
verse of the determination of the Government upon
this subject as reported a few days since, and is ac-
counted for in the fact that the Government is look-
ing to the gradualkerses,sion of the Federaltroops
by the State militia order to diminish the na-
tional expenses. The President sets forth his reasons
in a letter to Goverhor Sharkey, of which the fol-
lowing portion has been published :
" It is believed there can be organized in each
county a force of citizen militia to preserve order
and enforce the civil authorities of the State, and of
the United States, which would enable the Federal
Government to reduce the army, and withdraw, to
a great extent, the farces from the State, thereby
reducing the enormous expenses of the Government.
If there was any danger from an organization of the
citizens for the purpose indicated, the military are
there to suppress, on its first appearance, any move
insurrectionary in its character. One great object is
to induce the people to come forward in defence of
the State and Federal Government. General Wash-
ington declared that the people, or the militia, was
the arm of the Constitution, or the arm of the
United States, and as soon as it is practicable the
original design of the Government should be
resumed unde: the principles of the great
charter of freedom, handed down to the people
by the founder of the Republic. The people
must be trusted with their Government, and if
trusted, my opinion is that they will act in good
faith, and restore their former constitutional rela-
tions with all the States composing the Union.
The main object of Major-General Carl Schurz's
mission to the South was to aid, as much as
practicable, in carrying out the policy adopted by
the Government for restoring the States to their for-
mer relations with the Federal Government. It is
hoped such aid has been given. The proclamation
authorising the restoration of State Government re-
quires the military to aid the Provisional Governor
in the performance of his duty as prescribed in the
proclamation, and in no manner tointerfere or throw
impediments in the way of consummation of the ob-
ject of his appointment, at least without advising
the Government of the intended interference."

The Courrier des Etats Unis of the Bth inst. pub-
lishes the following, which it states it has received
from its Washington correspondent :
" The Mexican question was discussed at the
Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, which was pre-
sided over by President Johnson. All the members
present expressed themselves favourable to the status
quo except Mr. Harlan, Secretary of the Interior,
who desired that Juarez should at least be indirectly
supported. Quite a lively scene took place between
Mr. Seward ami Mr.- Hark.% the Premier telling Mr.
Harlan that he Baerifited the true interests of the
country to the love of vain popularity, that it was
not dignified for this Government to aid Juarez in-
directly, and that it was not advantageous to support
him openly. President Johnson fully agrees with the
views of the secretary of State, and declared that he
regretted the speech of Mr. Harlan made some time
since in public, and that members of the Cabinet
ought never to forget that their words are always
construed as having been inspired by the Govern-
ment. He would lose no opportunity to disavow
any such inconsiderate speeches, the same as he
had disavowed Sheridan's views by reducing his
army two-thirds. Mr. Johnson, when the meeting
said he would not determine
was about breaking up,
upon a fixed policy toward Mexico before the meet-
ing of Congress,when he would discuss in his mes-
sage whatever might seem best for the country.
It is evident that the President is animated with
his Cabinet. If it is true that Juarez has
pacific feelings as Mr. Seward and the
ofma-
jthoreitsyam e
evacuated Chihuahua and is obliged to take refuge
in the United States, the resumption of official re-
lations with Mexico will be considerably facilitated."
Mr. Davis has so far recovered from his attack of
erysipelas as to be able to take his accustomed walks
daily. A Fortress Monroe despatch of the 7th
says :

" Government carpenters were set at work a few
days since to convert the old telegraph office inside
the Fortress into quarters for Jeff. Davis ; but yes-
terday orders were issued to stop that work, and
prepare Carroll-hall-building, which is inside the
fortress. From this it is presumed the trial of Jeff.
Davis will take place here, and hence these prepara-
tions."

The Wirz trial had been partially interrupted by
the illness of the prisoner. When resumed on the
morning of the
a letter the
leBtth, Colonel Chipman read to the
Commissionr addressed to him by Captain
Wirz, asking, although he was conscious of his in-
nocence, that he might have religious comfort, and
suggesting that Father Wheelan and Hamilton be
permitted to visit him in their pastoral capacity.
The prisoner not being in the care of the Court, the
letter was referred to the War Department for its
action, there being no doubt the request would be
granted. In the course of the trial Colonel Chip-
man said that while Wirz was an atrocious criminal,
and responsible for a great many crimes, there are
others above and higher than he that the Govern-
ment will seek to hold responsible for greater crimes.
This was the theory of the Government and the
purpose of introducing the record evidence before
the military commission. In support of his view,
that the state of the prison was known at the War
Department in Richmond, he read the following
letter from General Howell Cobb

' Headquarters Georgia Reserves; Macon, Georgia,
May 5, 1864.

' General S. Cooper, Adjutant-General, Richmond,

Virginia.

is General,—Under war orders to inform myself
of the condition of the prison at Andersonville, with
the view of furnishing from the reserve corps the
necessary guard for its protection and safety, I
made a visit there, awl have just returned, and now
submit the result of my examination :—There are
in the prison about 12,000 prisoners in an area of
with a stockade around it
nab°ouletss than 18
15ft. high.
prison is well understood at Richmond, and there-
fore give no description of it. The danger of the
acres,
the character of the
, presume
prisoners escaping is not so great as I have sup-
posed. With a guard of 1,200 men, four pieces of
artillery, and a cavalry company, all apprehension
of escape would be quieted. I have arranged to send
two regiments of infantry there within the next
week, which, with the detached companies of Col.
Person's regiment, will be an ample military force.
Captain Gamble's battery is there, but I would re-
commend that it be returnedto Florida and Captain
Tiller's battery sent in its place. The reason mainly
for this accommodation is that Captain Gamble's
battery is well supplied with horses, and they are
not needed at Andersonville, whereas Tiller's horses
have been so reduced that he is unable to move his
battery in the field. The exchange of these batteries
would be of decided advantage to the service: Ire-
commend the cavalry company, because its presfince

would have a salutary effect in restraining the pri-
soners from any attempt at escape, knowing that
the means are at hand to pursue them ; and in the
event of the escape of any considerable number the
cavalry would be absolutely necessary to their suc-
cessful pursuit. I took the liberty of making several
suggestions for rendering the prison more secure,
and if the tools could be had I would recommend
that the entire prison grounds shOuld be surrounded
by fortifications, which could be put up by the
troops, whose health would be promoted by the em-
ployment. The most important change is the one
suggested in the accompanying report of my chief
surgeon, Dr. Eldridge—that is, the erection of an
hospital building outside the prison. Upon that point
there cannot be two opinions among intelligent men.
It ought to be done at once, and such is the opinion
of every sensible man who has examined the prison.
The prison is already too much crowded, and no
additional prisoners should be sent there until it
has been enlarged. The effect of increasing the
number within the present area must be a terrible
increase of sickness and death during the summer
months. I understand that an order has been given
for enlarging the prison. If it were possible to
make another prison it would be much better, for I
doubt very much whether the water will be suffi-
cient for th6'accommoda thins of-thelitelt. .

ber of prisoners. The general management of the
prison under Colonel Persons is good, and he mani-
fests a laudable desire to discharge his duties in the
most efficient manner. The duties of the inside
command are admirably performed by Capt. Wirz,
whose place it would be difficult to fill. I still
think the rank of the commanding officer of the
post should be a brigadier-general. In view of the
number of troops that will be under his command,
it seems to me he should have that superior rank
over those who may be ordered to report to him. I
take the liberty of inclosing a copy of Dr. Eldridge's
report.—l am, General, very respectfully,
" HOWELL COBB, Major-General Commanding."
The following paper was also put in evidence :
" Camp Sumter, Andersonville, May 8, 1864.

" Major,Ll have the honour to make the fol-
lowing report in regard to the Confederate States'
military prison at this post. I was assigned to the
command of the prison by Colonel A. W. Persons,
the commandant of the post, on the 27th of March,
1864, having reported to him for duty by order of
General J. H. Winder, commaiding Confederate
States prisons. I found the prison in a bad condi-
tion owing to the want of tools, ouch as axes, spades,
and lumber to erect proper. buildings. The first
commandant of the post, Captain W. S. Winder,
and his successor Colonel A. W. Persons, had left
nothing untried to supply theie so important
articles. Only two weeks ago I received axes,
spades, &c., from Columbus, Georgia, and went to
work cutting ditches, &c. r hope to have every-
thing in the interior of the prison completed in two
Weeks. The bakery, which could not be com-
pleted for want of lumber, is now in operation.
The necessity of enlarging the stockade is
unavoidable ; I shall commence as soon as
I can gather a sufficient number of negroes.
I would most respectfully ask you to present to
the authorities at Richmond the impediments thrown
in my way by having the hospitals inside the prison.
The number of prisoners on the Ist of April was
7,160 ; I received up to to-day front various points
5,787; recaptured, 7—total, 11,954. The number
of dead from the Ist of April to the Bth of May is
728 ; escaped, 13 ; leaving on hand 12,213. I con-
sequently lost six prisoners. I would also call your
attention to the danger of having our present guard
forces withdrawn and their places supplied by the
reserve forces of General Brown. In conclusion,
allow me to-make a felt
I am here in a very unpleasant position, growing
out of the rank I now hold, and suggest the pro-
priety of being promoted, having full control of the
prison, and consequently of the daily prison guard.
The orders which I have to give are very often not
obeyed with the promptness the occasion requires ;
and I am of opinion that it emanates from the re-
luctance of obeying an officer who holds the same
rank as they do. My duties are manifold, and re-
quire all my time in day time and very often part
of the night, and I would most respectfully ask that
two commissioned officers—lieutenants—could be
assigned to me.—l am, Major, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
" H. WIRz, Capt. Commanding Prison.
" Major Thomas Turner, C.S.A."

A good deal of documentary evidence in addition
was offered, including a report from Brigadier-
General Winder, addressed to the Confederate
Adjutant-General, which contains the following
description of Andersonville prison. It is dated
July 21, 1864 :
" Your endorsement on the letter to S. R. Davis, relating
to the strength of the guard at this post, contains severe
censure, which I am sure would not have been made if you
had a clear comprehension of this post—its wants and its
difficulties. Reflect for a moment ; 29,201 prisoners of war,
many of them most desperate characters ; a post a mile long
by a mile wide (the stockade for the prisoners being within
160 yards of a mile in circumference) ; numerous avenues
leading to the post to be guarded; public property to be
cared for; guards for the working parties and the ordinary
camp grounds of the troops, and you can form an estimate
of the number it would require for these purposes. The
following are the daily guards required, and they cannot be
reduced, but ought to be increased :—Stockade, 1,600 yards
around, 52 posts ; supernumeraries, 10, 166 enlisted men ;
two commissioned officers; hospitals (twounenclosed) 1,735
patients and attendants ; guard, 73 ; 23 posts, 69 men,
and four supernumeraries, and one commissioned
officer. Pickets around the stockade, 206. (This picket is
indispensable to prevent escape by tunnelling.) Outlying
pickets and the railroad bridge guard, 43 men and six com-
missioned officers. Guard, with party cutting wood daily,
100 ; guard with working parties, 25. This does not in-
clude accidental guards and camp guards. Total, 513.
Strength of guard, July 2, 2,421, including the prisoners'
guard detained here ; from which deduct 517 sick, 227 on
daily duty, and 126 in the artillery companies-870, leaves
1,581. You will observe that since Lieutenant Davis's re-
port the detained prisoners' guard have been added to the
strength of the guard. This gives the most favourable re-
port at this post, and the duties required of it. You speak
in your indorsement of placing the prisoners properly. I
do not exactly comprehend what is intended by it. I know
of but one way to place them, and that is to put them into
the stockade, where they have between four and five square
yards to the men. This includes streets and two acres of
land about the stream."

The following reference to the immigration re-
turns appears in the New York papers :

"Statistics from the office of the Commissioners of
Emigration go to show that the close of the war has not
been marked, as many persons supposed it would be, by an
increase of emigration to this country from Europe. On
the contrary, there is a decrease in the eight months of
this year, as compared with the corresponding period of
last year, of 20,000 ; and there is little prospect that this
result will be materially changed in the remainder of the
year. The figures are as follows :

FIRST BIGHT MONTHS.

Number of emigrants arrived.
1864. 1865.
... 6,075 ... 3,914
... 5,560 ... 3,575
... 12,768 ... 6,045

January
February ~ .
March

April... ...
May ... ...

... 16,859 ... 10,277
... 26,682 ... 22,227
... 31,909 ... 28,968
... 14,777 ... 21,370
... 20,469 ... 17,375