The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-02-14
THE ssYELLOW BOOK"
r>e french Minister'S Visit % RI
WAsHrxarox, April IS, lse


General Huger, Who commands thai Ailif
Department, and At my request he had the
litensss to forward to Richmond the folio e
telegraphic dispatch: -. s.,sy s. 81 81
~. iercier, Minister Of France, Is here. He
desires 70 visit Richmond In aprivate capacity,
~ Il IN agreeable" .etg3E lsf0l aii 81
A favorable response having oeen given I re-
paired to Richmond Ny Arst visit was to Mr.;
Benjamin, Secretary Of State, whom had known
when he, represented Louisians In the United
States Senate said to him that the purpose
Of my journey WAS merely 20 assure myself, for
myself, of the true condition Of things; and that
called to beg him to aid me in attaining it
He answered that be would do % with the great
eat nles,are. and that he would be delighted that
should be able TO penetrate to the truth, which,
;udpipe from all that came back TO him from the
North. appeared to be little known there.
coudense n. lie Minissse, what / heard from the
mouth Of Mr.. BepjsmiD, and conversation With
Others. sYo3.s3.I
oo.Europs- and tie poHse Of comwercial inter-
~. hut are determined TO conquer our indie
pendence at Ill hssarda On this point the cen.
timents Of our people are unapimous They
hsye alresdy suffered much, but they will endure
fer more, IL necessary. 70 accomplish their OBJ
iees. We do not disguss from, ourselves that
che Federals possess infinitely superior resources.
and the command Of the ocean: that they may
in The long run make themselves mseters OF our
portaL But in capturing our cities they will ind
onlv women. old men and children. The whole
population capable of bearing arms will with
draw into the Interior, beyond the reach Of gun
boats, and ir presence Of such Resistance the
North will be oblighed TO yield. We remember
that. 10 the war Of Independence; the English
nomentarily held possession Of nearly oil the
cities on the coast, but succuobed notwithstand.
ing. The same result will now occur. The
present situation is exactly similar to what it
was then. Like the English, the North fights to
retain its power and wealth, and We, like the
Americans, fight for Independence. Our people
are to-day animated by uumistakabse sentiments.
Look at the women; they are foremost in urging
their husbands their sohs, their brothers to take
up arms. By their habits our people are better
prepared for / military life than those of the
North, and on equal terms our troops have al
ways had the advantage. Our measures are ia
ken to hold Richmond az long % possible, end
II, at last, we should be forced to abandon Vir-
ginia, it would be, certainly, heavy loss to us.
but We should not despair. Moreover, ws can,
if absolutely necessary, defend ourselves, but
the North cannot attack 10 without money. On
the other hand, we will not hesitate an instant
to burn our cotton and our tobacco, rather than
permit them to fall into the hands Of the enemy"
I have seen here al the most important per.
sonages. All have held the same language and
have expressed the same sentiments. Never.
theless, among those persons several are known
for the moderation oftfeir character and for the
resistance that they opposed at the outset TO
the movement of secession. But is the dispo.
sition which is 90 unanimously manifested OF
nature to resist al trials? This is what do
not know, but see many reasons for not call
ing in question their profound sincerity at this
moment. How otherwise can one, explain the
complete submission with which the people &C.
cept all the miseries to which circumstances
condemn them, and in the midst of those mis-
cries accept also rigorous measures, like that
just taken by the administration, which, in order
to prevent new disorders caused by drunken
ness, has Just forbidden in the city of Rich
mend and in the army, the manufacture and the
sale Of all kinds of fermented liquor. shall
conclude by saying TO your Excellency how
much reason have had TO be satisfied with
this step on my part. On the other hand, at
the South have met together with much eag.
erness to offer me (prevenance) hospitality and
opportunity for private discussion, a true regard
81 the delicacy Of my position. I did not think
it proper to ask to see President Davis. He
made in this respect no suggestion to me, or
the least effort to give to my presence any 9th
er significance than that which it really bad
Immediately upon the return Of the Gassendi to
Washington was Informed by the Secretary of
the Navy that all the resources Of the Navy
Yard we're put Ut the disposition Of that vessel.
and she WAS urged to .replenish her cargo of
coal from the yards of the Government. The
next day President Lincoln honored the vessel
with visit, and Mr. Seward gave soiree in
Z honor Of its oficera AZ to the results that we
might be able to attain in . short time from the
simple raising OF the blockade, We found our
selves placed between two contrary afirmations.
The Cabinet at Washington, relying upon the
considerations which your Excellency will be
able to apprehend, declares that cotton will be
delivered to commerce, while in the South this
is denied in the most categorical manner
What is certain 10, that cotton has been burned
in New Orleans and at different points, which
have fallen into the power Of the Fsderals
TIE MURDER OF NxaRors At MuRyRFrsBoRo.
The wauton murder, near Aurfreesboro, of 20
negro Transfers, who were in the service OF the
Un.onists, appears to be taken as matter OF
course by the advocates of the South IN this
country. We must presume that they know
their friends, and see no reason to be surprised.
And yet there are circumstances in this case
which should make them anxious for q reputa-
tion with which they have so far involved their
own. Theee negroes we're not killed in pursuit
OF any military purpose. They we're not in the
battlefield they we're not making armed resis
lance They were on the turnpike.road, driving
their wagons, when the Confederate party came
up. The train which they we're conducting was
captured, an il vac after that object had been
gained that the negroes we're taken out and sho,
in cold blood. 4'E' we
1t lie important to notice that this butchery
was perpetrated not IN some corner Of Secessis
by agents out Of the reach of authority or pub
lie opinion. II was the work Of officers Of thu
great Confederate Army Of the West, under the
orders Of Gen. Bragg. There Wa nothing in
the attitude Of the negroes TO make . sudden
resolution necessary; W mus, therefore, a.
sumo that their murder wss the effect Of 4 preyi
q oua A>A>,Vrsnatsnn tisfE asftE t-4, 3. = - :