Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-12-16

OF arguments, protests. eutreaties, warnings
they would tramp!c uron another. Their in
tercsts are opposed TO ours. their faith is
worthless, the majority would he witt
them.
The attempt Of our enemies has been mark
Cd by the avowal Of tyranuous cbjecLs ir
proportion as it has been divestcd Of it's ape
clous delusirns. 1t now resolves itself sim
ply and conftssedly, into an effort to sublu
gate, by brute force and infamous expedisntl
with tyrannnus and hostile pu rpose, q peopl,
who justly hold theln in estreIue and abiding
oiium. Such is the simple issue now. q.
they themselves spo it. There is moi OH,
circumstance here to invite or excuse this
violent proceeding. It is wicked and finiou,
war upon people who ask nothing hut to ht
let alone, and who have no design Leyont
the pursuit Of happiness, in the exercise o
their inalisnable rights. It is an attempt tc
infict upon such people, desiring to be- al
peace with:all the world, the greatest posi-
BILE injuries, without any IA aliotf:: hope on tht
| part Of their enemies 10 ien"ti: tarn;eiya;;.-
Such conduct is Internal. Il lr,nro. succeed
Ii 1t should thousand times happier anu
more peaceful the deaths Of those ho have
fallen III CORY battle than1hey who may sur
| vHe to witness intolerabte des'aIation i,ces
| SAINT uprising and eternal stlife.
The following correspondence We Gnl III
the New York Herald" Of the S,h.
BRIGADE Headquarters, CtIAf,n's F.nM, }
Nov. u. 1862.
To the C!picer Commanding tie u. s. Forces
W williamsburg, Va:
SlR-Relatives Of the mfortucate inmates
of the Lunatic Asylum in ,he civ Of Vii.
lla'nsburg have become greatly slarmed and
distressed by Seeing it stated in The news
papers Of the day, and 10y rsports and r,,-
mers seeming to confirm. these statements--
|. That the United States authorities have
removed or intend to remove either all OF A
portion OF the inmates Of the State Lunstic
Asylum TO some Northern lncnlity OF else
where unknown; and
:. That since the invasion Of Williams
burg by tho United States forces they have
occupied large portion "i the building OF
the State Lunatic Asl in,u Tor nihlsry uses
and
3. That they have SC disturbed all disci-
pnne and regulations Of police as to crowd
mates in the Lunalic Asylum together in The
same wards and apartments.
These complaints have been made by the
f. mill and frs., oI1 IS. ~
President CT the Confederate States. lie has
ordered proper inquiries to be made, and !
aln authorized In aehd tlug Of truce To you
at Williamsburg TO ascertain the real state OF
facts in regard to these allegations. | trust
| need not say that the Confederate authori-
tes'are true without being better vuuched
Tor than by 1u:nor nr newspapers, and with
"u: giving even III invading ereuy the op-
p"rturitr OF rI"lealing his reputation horolc
the civilized world against all doubt as to in
humanity like this. Therefore this flag Of
truce is sent 10 soothe and quiet apprehen-
s,o,s, na turaily aud excusably exciIaLle III
mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands,
wives and friends, and to pay respect to the
;eIderest charities Of life, and the most awful
allicLions of mankind--charit and a1ictions
So sacred that States and God only can deal
with them with proper care, and such as are al
ways kept safe FROM all intrusion. The Lunatic
Asylum at Williamsburg is Stare charitable
institution, long established, and Of that
character of hospitals the most exempt Of all
from the least lVuch OF war When the
buildings Of the venerable William and Mary
College were burned, her ancient volumes Of
learning and all the material monuments Of
her benehceuce as Alua Mater of The sages
and heroes Ut American Revolution and
American History and glory' destroyed, the
President OF tho Confederate States abided
siuply the verdict of all civilized men, ard
justly deemed that no protest was called for
trcm hun. But now that the State Of Vir-
ginia's children Of ailliction ere said to be i'll
humanity han med, he appeals in behalf of
these "little unos," if they are or have been
injured, 10 no lower authority than that of
Heaven to Christianity. For Lieutenant COL
+ Harrison and Major Starke,oi my command,
ask all Interview with you in persona and that
they u,ay be permitted, under parole Of
honor, as officers and gentlemen, to make any
and all proper inquiries and inspection no
cessary 10 enable them 10 report fully and
accurately on The matter of this ccmmunica.
ton.
alu, SIT, most respectfully,
Your otcdirnt servant,
HEsaY z. WISE,
Brigadier General.
On The reception of the above letter, Gcn-
eral Keys at once communicated with Major
General Dix, and sent the following letter in
answer to General Wise:
tiE.DauAklER's FOURTH ARMY CoRps,
Yorktown, Va, Dec. 8, 1862.
To Brig. Gen. II. A. Wise, q. S. A., com-
manding, DC, Chatfin's farm:
Sir-Your communication of the 27th ult.,
addressed to the officer commanding the for
Cas- at Williamsburg, aud brought by COL
HarI isnn and Majo Stark under flag Of
truce, has been transmitted to me.
Maj. Gen. Dix, commanding the depart
mcnt, las drcilod lhnL these officers cannot
DO allowed to cuIie wlthin our lines, but that
Dir. Douglas, tho Superintendent of the Lima
tic Asylum, can see them and luy before them
stitution and its inmates 1t is not the inten-
tion of the United States Government, So far
rs know or can learn, to remove any of the
patients to the North, nor has there been any
authority given to occupy the building Of the
asylum for military purposes, further than
was necessary for protection. A surgeon Of
the United States forces has been directed to
render his professional assistance to the luna
tics, and full raiions of provisions have been
issued to them. Coal ls now being sent up,
and nothing in my power has been omitted to