The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-15

AFFAIRS IN PoRTsMOUrH.-A correspondent O.
the Petersburg Eapcs. writing from Portsmouth
Va, says 1t is mistake to suppose that Butler ,.
oath has been taken by all the citizens There ar,
more than fifty who have refused to take il In tina
city. The letter adds:
There Is much suffering among the moor nit
tance-a raiion--is distributed by the Government
10 the destitute females who would come IN and
swear fea'iy 10 Abraham. Many were driven II
submit TO this petty piece of despOiism; but God
In his justice will surely avenge the wrongs thu.
inflicted.
Several Of our churches have been closed, The
ministers refusing To take the oath The Rev NJ
Wingiieid Of the Episcopal, T.. N. Balm and Cash
Of the Methodist churches are forbidden TO oijcja,.
tn any capacity, and their congregations. while la
menting the loss Of their services, applaud them
tor the noble resolution. and bear the sacrifice
cheeTinlly. The Rev Father Plunkett, of the
Catholic church, has not yet been prohibited from
performing his presily duties. He was sunmOna.
10 appear before Gen. Barnes, and In the presence
OF that anfatie fhnctionary, declared his determi
nation not To take the oath. The General eoncIu
ded 10 make him an exception 10 the rule and he
has since been allowed TO continue in the undis
iurbed discharge of his duties. Why this is all
know well; but that Is neither here there,
since he has been passed Ovcr-at which none are
more grafihed than myself A truer Southern man
does not live, bOider one In enunciltion of opi-
ions out of the pulpit Is but rarely met with and
he is no cringing tool or humble subject for taaOrs
granted
We have now quartercd In and around the city
some three or four thousand negro soldiers. The
provost guard principally of the unbieac he'd,
and these sable pets Of the Beast may be seen stand
Ing sentry In all parts Of the city, patroling It's
streets In armed bands, parading IN regiments. or
crowdng the sidewalks, insulting or threatening
whom they please, without hindrance rebuke.
They are the favOIltcs of these in authority, and
the Southern citizen is less the subject of fear from,
these dark warriors than their white companions
in arms. The truth is, the white soldier IL com
is well aware of the advantage which he holds In
the game. All matters of dispute between the
b!eached and unbeached end In favor of SambO,
and II punishment is 10 be awarded Yankee luxu
ratcs In the guard house and blackskiR laughs
around his campfire. The white soldier knows
and feels his inferior position which he is made to
hold, and the growing discomfort Is apparent all
observers Had they the manIiness, the lndepend-
ence, the unbroken spirit of free white men, with
aims in their hands, they would assert their rights
and demand, at least, an equality with their negro
associa.es. In this they are deficient; they have
neither the spirit To resent the insults constant ilv
given them by the blacks nor the independence to
ask their masters the position which belongs 10
them. Yankee is as abieci and humble 10 Il u
perior as he is tyraHnical and cruel 10 those whom
chance places beneath him. He is a slave of the
meanpst kind, and he Is now the slave of slaves.
New Years day was a great day with all negro
dom the celebration OF their freedom. poster
announced that, among the ceremonies of the day,
thanks would be given for the freedom of the
hlack-tO God, Abraham Lincoln, and the United
States Congress. What pair TO couple with the
All wise! An immense cOncuursc paradcd the
streets, headed by the negro brigade, bearius ban
ncrs, badges, and coffin, the latter having in
scrihed upon il, 's1he last of slavery" Large Y.
S. transports were in readiness at the wharf To
convey Them 10 Norfolk, where they were Inc; by
the Beast and his stan, his plant TOOL Gen. Barnes,
and his stah and headed by them, grand display
was the consequence. will not dwell In detail
upon the horrible and disgusting exhibition. Suf
hce 1t to say, that II was every way worthy the de-
based, thevish, and detested race by whom it was
inauguratcd AMI fostered.