davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-28
TIE CONFEDERATE COTTON LOAN

LErrER IRON HON. @ J. McRAE.
To the Editor Of the H,der;
SR-Taking advantage of It's present depressed coz.
don, the enc mics OF the Confederate Cotton Loan
thrown out various insinuatons intended TO shake
cor fdence Of the holders. shall be obliged 70 you
for 20 much of your space a. will enable reply 10
some of the objections raised.
the first Ilace doubts have been expressed whether
the Confederate Government owned the quantity OF
etton r, auisite to redeem Is bonds. Tas sufficiently
disposed Of by the following extract from despatch
received by me from the Hon. U. q Memmuger, The
Secretary the Confederate Treasury dated Richmond,
18Th OF September. For obvious reasons, leave two
blanks:
"Your accommodation thai you be permitted to
make such cotton as may b. asked for under the E;
LANCER Loan, deliverable in - or -, is approved.
The greater part Of our Gotten is in those two States
ard II would bs more nVenient for US 70 make
delivery in them At present have SUFFICIENT qusn-
tty of cot on to meet all our engagements The enemy
thus far have captured oft 20 600 tWeny taousand
bales and we have been ob iged to bu,n an "a much
more But as our stock reaches over 400 600 (Our
hundred tbousand bales, our capacity 70 pay has not
be- n seriously in p led"
Secondly there are hose who have not sorupled TO
saw that the Confederate Government, if not actcay
paei obstacles in tie way Of the redemption oil the
binds has refused TO the holders reasonable facilities
for obtaining the cotton. So far from this being the
truth, an arrangement has been made to relieve the
holders from the risk attending the transmssionot their
bonds through. the blockade. The bonds may be de-
posted with the Commissioners OF the Confederate
Government In London or Paris who will give certit-
Gates OF depes in quadrupeate and these certificates
have the same validity when presented at the Treasury
Depar. meut il chmoDd the original bonds them
selves Il il true, the Government decl ned pro-
D. siton give up 70 such claimants the one I'd iregh
room wheS Il reserges in private vessels clearing from
is ports This is foe the obvious reason that stpula-
ZION which is jus6able only on grounds of state neces
sty ard on these grounds is cheerfuny submitted to-
YOU become intoerabe if the sacrifices exaeted from
PARTY turned 10 the proht oil other parties IN
stead of be Stae / DO not hesitate however, to say
hat bondhoders exporting the cotton in their oWnv6s
sells, will be exempted from the condition impoted en-
Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-28
RIGHTS.
RICHMOND WH1G.
xsTHURsDAY MORNING, JAN. IS, 1854.
The Mestiug Of the Next Congress.

Al hough Congress has 6Ied the Grst MOrday in Nay
for the meeting Of the reKi Congress- IL Is evident that
the minds of members are not entirely satisfied re-
solution was yesterday submitted for remembering
the vote.
We are of those who incline to the opinion that it
would be better to have interval between the ad
iourumsnt Of the present and the assembling OF the
next Congress; or if any it shOu be much greater
than that provided by the bill which has just passed
If the present Congress cannot perfect all needfu mea
sures then the new Congress should meet Immediately
and complete its un6 lished business. But this Con
gress does its work thoroughly, then two months viii
be too short time in which to test the virtue OF its
measures and the new Congress will be no better pre-
pared in May to review those measures than it Is now
The probability ia that the present Congress cannot
do all that iI should do within the few weeks Of exist
ence left to It. The be and wiser and safer course
then, would be 10 assemble the new Congress mmsdi-
ately on the adjournment of this, say tie 22l OF Feb
ruary and leave it he option and responsibilities
which it would be the bes. judgs-Of Term mating or
ortl.rgrg its sessions.
Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-28
Food for the Army.

Gen. Lee C1holts bis tolders endure patiently tie
hards ps occlsoned by the reduction Of rations which
ae h-p-s will only be temporary" Toe general Or
der cont lining this e1horiaton is dated January 22d,
ls64-six d vs. ago. As Gen. Lee speaks until 1t
Necessary, We may be sure that his soldiers have
altered or are likely to suffsr unless people and
Government do their duty. We Put the Peop'e befOe
the Government because that the posi- ion which they
have always been called on to take in tim ole
gency, ami which they mutt take now.
What it Nortaropis thou ;bt oy the President land
by him only the bes: mai in tbs Con'ederacy
for Commissary General The Presidents mis-
AIKEN opinion does no: absoye Us from cur duty.
Wnat if ninety vessels id run into Wilmington harbor
,ithn the past four months and brought mean whisky
md Yankee notions instead OF meat enough to feed the
army for a year to cOns-Whlt Of thaIg Oar armies
ser none the less on acc Of this saisiacory e1-
oAnation Of the reason why they are suffering.
The truth is this if the is meat and bread enough
the country to feed the army the army must have i;
it no. enough to ak thu soldiers to shed their blood,
ose u cir lives sleep in null and snow, dis in hos
otals % barefoot and endure the inevitable hardships
o. camps, marches and blttles but must ask them
o starve in the bargainI Can not suffer very
little il or Ter that they may suffer not quite SO much
Jantwe live on halt rAtions oat they may at least
aavs quarter "a ions We trust SO, indeed.
Here il a fact for the consideration of the Govern
neat Every man who ha, plenty of money can always
sst plenty 10 eat. The Government has plenty Of
money Which is better, to hoard Memminger's notes,
,nd let the army slarve buy freely for the army,
aud le. the people pay the piper After all it is the
peoples matter, and not Memmnger's, AallOrys Sed-
on's or Davis. Buy food for the soldiers, no matter
lat it costs Give million dollars for loaf of bread
necessary. Let the people charge their own prces
md pay the own debt II is their debt and rot the
L. ,un1nnnan.ll
Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-28

CoTToS BUREAU IN Houston A cos, espondent Of the
Mobile Register, writing from Houston Texas, says:
General Riiby Smith, by the advice OF many of cur
leading citizens has organized COTTON bureau in this
city, composed of Lieutenant Colonel W. J. Hutchins,
assisted by George Ball, B. A. Shepherd, James Sorey
and W. j. Kyle. IL Is the design OF the beard to pui-
chase for the Government one-haf OF all Tho cotton in
the State giving certificates If exemption from mprese-
uent for tue other half Tuey propose to pay for it in
bonds the interest of which at fair per cent will be
paid in SPECIE provided they can secure an act of Con-
Irsfs tor the purpose. Cotton is worth here 46@65
cents per pound. This board expects pay from IL 10
10 cents and is believed tbs. one half OF Toe cotton
will b, chetriully sold to them at TIA prc. They wi
export the cotton either through the blockade or to
xico and in ample supplies Tor the de-
parment IL may DO thought shat the FEEDER posses
sion Of the mouth of the Rio Granle will prevet tbs
A ancs a. tie map will show tls toe Federas have
not men enous Oh in Tie Trans Mississippi Depsr ment 10
occupy the whole Rio Gfands valley; and il they have
they could not feed them. Once Mexican soil cot
ton can be faued at less than cent pound one
hundred miles Hence it is that the holding of Browns
vile was deemed OF so little Importance TO u.s."
Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-28
THE DARK DAYS OF OUR FATHERS.

The Mobile Tribune, re erring to tbs anniversary Of
the OOwpens-which we did not FORGET but omitted to
notice on account of pressure on time and space AMI
want of needed books at hand-gves the following ,um
mary, which should furnish much instruction:
Ia February, 1850, of the preceding year, British
laval and land force under Arbuthnos aud Clinton ap
pea ed before Charleston and laid siege TO it. The Off
Ger in command of the revolution airy forces at that
Mace va, Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, WHO was next year
appointed Secretary of War, and held that post for
three years. after which he retired 10 his farm His
means Of defence quite Inadequate but be made
gallant though vain ,sistlnce. On the forty second
day of the att ok be compelled surrender the
city aud his whole army.
In August 1850 si,er the loss of Charleston and the
Stare, Gen Ga es, with an army of 1000 men, was so
utterly routed by ConWalis that fourth of the
army could be got togeLrer again, and the Southern
States we lsft apparently defenceless. Sumter and
Marion, Shelby aud ver, however, kept up guar
rls warfare against the British, aud in October the
two latter chiefs defeated 1000 tories under Ferguson,
taking most of them prisoners, and hanging OF
them as traitors. In tee meantime the preced ding
month of September, that is-the treason of Arnol
vas discovered he having did himself to the British
for $50 600 aud Geaeral's commission, and under
taken to deliver up to them West Point and the othr
70 treses in the Highlands" At the North French
hset and an army blockaded at Newport by ST.
uetior British feet Want Of pay aud rations drove
some Pennsylvania regiments into open revolt, and
OopQvess had 10 redress of ter grievances set
rid Of this sad clement Then some New jersey troops
followed their examples and their attempts had to be
crushed, and few of the riDgeaders executed
But all this neither dsprited our ioreathers nor led
70 the Ultimate loss Of the for which they fought
the cause of freedom What is there 10 our condition
to compare with theirs although we have not yet TO
grieye TOR having bad an Arnold among US.
Aud vet the end of that same year $780, Gen. Greene,
who had succeeded Gates, soon made the British feel
how far they were from having accomplished the work
they had undertaken. They had got Georgia and
South Oaroioa, and now they made SURE OF getting
Virginia and North Carolina. TIE traitor Arnold, wi
900 men, mostly tories cent TO plumber aad de-
vsstae aud murder on the Chesapeake and The James
river H. vas af erwards joined by Gen. PHILIPPE from
New YORK. They. of course caused terrible suffering
but did Ii tie harm to the cause for the ncensed suf-
ierers then enlisted in it with energy which
tired or ceased until tbs surrender OF CORVALLIS
Yorktown, the virtual end oil the first revolutionary
war; The first svert Of note after Greenes ssump ion
Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-28
announcement to Fat Volunteers.

Many of the iaties, and bravest men in the COnfed-
sracy are afraid to 60 the army lest they should BIS
sicily incapable OF rendering service. This Is
Mistake. Some exceedingly fat men are now in the
ervice. Gs1. Humphrey Marshall served for two
years Bus 10 SO: tbs mater res need only cite
tne example of ChsPn Well, ons OF the ablest Gen
eral. who accompanied Ava to the Ne .herlands.-
SrOda says o. him. Z" He equally dstingu shed for
courage his cruelty and his corpuelce. The last
characteristics so remarkable that he Was almost
u,nstrOos in his personal appearance His prO.uberant
siOuach was always supported in bandSga suspended
from bis neck; yes, spite Of this enormous impsd-
msnt he wai personally active on the battle field, and
Performed service, only commander but as
subalt, m, lhAn many younger and lighter man"
Bs OF good cheer therefore, fat men; procure your
oandages, aud go in.
Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-28

MokI OF THE CAPTURE OF GESIRAL VAsct Toe
Ashvle o. c. News gives the fol owing, which con-
Irs more Of the particulars of the capture Of General
Robert vancs AMI portion Of Henry's battalion, than
any account We have seen
Some days sine. Gen. Vance, with part Of Henry
battalion aud fen men from Thomas Legion started
20 wards Seviervle TENNESSEE At Gstlnsburg left
h ast llery aad ali his men bat about one hundred
dashed into Sevierve, and captured Yankee train oil
seve2een wagons, with the ieamiters and wagon mas
ters SIX hund.eI Ya5kee cavalry were encamped six
miles below town. to whom Information was OF cours;
promptly commlnies ed oil "has G:nera vance n-a
done.
In the meantime Gen. V. pushed CT towards Coaby
with bis prize, stopping at Shuts Mill about an hour
having sent courier ordering the men at Galins6urg
to me It hin there Tnis they failed to do stating that
the ru was mpractcable for artillery A. the end oil
abou. an hour and whls Gen. VAnces meu were en-
tirey off their guard the Yankees swept down upon
them taking them comp etely by surprise. running
eight en- ueo scattering in evsry direction, and
making stand wherever few OF t1em could get to-
gevher Gen. Vance rallied little squad, aud after An
Inc fsctsal resistance sgapst Overwhelming numbers,
was captured with his Inspector Genesl Capt Lacius
H. Smith, aud about thirty others. Major Charlie
Roberts in the affair." also DR.. w. d. Murdoch,
but escape d, with many others. The Yankees recap
tured their wagons and also one ambulance aid about
& ty horses from Gen. VAnce's commspd.
COL Henry with his cavalry aud artillery, worked bis
way through the mountain and passed over the battle
ground the next day, and most OF the Information III
regard TO the capture of Gen. Vance be obtained from
people living the spot The Yankees did Lot tarry
long, but pushed of rapidly IS possible.
These are subst .ntialy the fac gathered from the
information received here by COL Palmer OF this unfor-
LILA e affair.
Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-28
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA
SENATE.
"WEDNESDAY, Jan. q, 1864.

WADAksDAi JAIL q, Aoof'
Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Shelburn.
House bill vacatng the commission of militia officers
Of the line, received from the House, was read first
and second time, and the RUE having been suspended
the bill was passed.
RESOLUTIONS
The following resolutions of inqui:y offered and
adopted;
By Mr.. LEWIS-Whether any, and if any, what
measures can be adopted 10 call in the outsau lng Vr
ginia Treasury notes either by funding the in il
per cent bonds OF the State Of Virginia. or in some
othes mode.
By Mr. CHRISTIAN, of Middlesex = or AMENDING and
enlarging the provisions Of chap 2l4 Code of 1862 70
as to apply the penalties of said chapter to free negro
convicis hired upon the public works. sze3
Mr. GRICE offered the following joint rrsouions:
RESOLVED By The GENERAL Assembly, That no con-
stitutiona power exists in the Confederate States 10
forfeit coufscaie seqlester lands belonging to alien
enemes any other persons lying within the Ii otis
Of the Commonwealth; nor to acquire or convey title
to any lands whatever SO situated except to suc1 ex
tent and such Objects specified in the 18th clause
of the Sth section OF the lst article of the Confederate
Constitution.
2 Resolved That our Ser ators in the Confederate
Congress be instructed and representatives therein
requested to use their bCt. cplsaNors to obtain re-
peal of the act Of the said passed on the SOth
OF August 1851 entitled "aI for the sequesraon
OF the esates property and effects OF alien enemies,
aud for the indemnity Of Citizens of tho Confederate
Safes aud aiding the same in ths existing war
Nth the Ua:d States" and to effect just settlements
with the Confederate authorities OF the claim of this
Commonwealth to the lands proceeds thereof hereto
fore or he eater seized held disposed of under the
provisions Of the said act.
The bill for the relief Of George Arnold was taken
up, and being upon its passage, was rejected.
Mr.. KEEN moved that the vote be reconsidered, Wncn
Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-28

ether oxportOrs aud bAVs strongly rsoommended this
10 the Treasury can further state with pefiect Assn
rance that every fsc y for bringing the co TON 10 ne
seaport VIII Oh does not actually Interfere Win ne ne
cess tea of military transporst on, will be everywhere
accorded nv the military and civil officers OF the Gov
eminent 10 such claimauts The great interest which
the avernm ntmust naturally feel in sustaining screo
IN Europe is an abundant guarantee Tor this assurance
You viii observe therefore, that the emily rea on Why
cotton in redemption OF bonds has not neretoiore eoue
IN Rurope,n markets is because the holders OF the
bonds have not made the effort Up 10 recent period
the impression was prevalent among them that the war
vonld not be of much longer duration, in Hhch case
was sound toicy not to convert the bonds The Ioan
was. In this point Of view, simply seven per cent
STERLING stock based on the national faith, and lctua
ting with heycsitudes of war It's cotton basis could
opiy come into play when il was apparent that the
strneele would be protraoted. Up to this une only
abort SIS 900 (eghteen thousand pounds) have peen
depos ted Tor conversion, and the cerhhcas were MOT
sent for ard until LIST November last so that suclent
time has not vet elapsed to bring out the cotton Ihat
the blockade will not seriously obsuct this transaction
on the largest scale on which it may be undertaken,
amply proved by the statistics Of the Liverpool lotion
Market from which il appears that tue receiP's oI
America cotton at that port from the lst OF January
last the August, amounted In round numos W
100 600 bales and since the lSt August to about eOVoO
baes Il is plain that 10 be equally ces1ul IN Ding
ing out cotton under the loan, depends solely on the
will Of the bondholders ,.,
A third objection is made against the Loin, which,
though not actually true has yet greater force than the
proceed n.y. II is sA that cotton may be purchased AZ
he present rate of exchange cheaper in the Oonede
rscy with terlng than with the bonds Of the Loan'
repy TO this lave to state that it is now under the
confederation of the Government at Richmond TO pro-
hibit altogether the expectation of cotton, except such
as i pledged by its obi gAtiors have every reason to
believe that this necessary and sanitary mea.ure will
promptly De adop ed. The total of such obligations
other than those OF the Seven per cent Cotton Loan
does not rtA,b e200 600.
remain, very respectfully,
@. J. Mc2AR,
Financial Agent of the oOnfe1. Gov. in europe,
4s, Avenue Gabriel, Paris,
ID cember lb
Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-28

Plan To RILIKvE THE PRISONERS Capt. Ben. Lane
Posey PROPOSE through the Mobile Register, the fol-
lowing plan for the relief OF Confederate prisoners in
the United States:
"That all those who wish to send money 10 their
fends AID able to do so, unite ;hsir Efforts aad
select discreet and reliable sgent, who shall 60 in per-
son to hese Northern prisons, the prisoners, and
purchase for them there suc1 cloth ng and o her com
or,s as they may need This person must, or At least
should be q won an. Such a person can With little
d fIculIy pass the enemy's lines, and go wherever
necessary | will give - the person Eelected such
advice as may be necessary in getting through Their
lines.
'BIttLe great difficulty will be to get money current
in the North. The premium gold is too higl and it
wcud be a dangerous burden to carry through Bills
On Europe though moro cos ly would be be ter, but
either would high premium that some cheaper
mode of Transmission should be adopted. suggest that
the money be invested in cJttsn and that it be sent out
on blocks de-ruBner The late OF it will soon be known,
and the rson selected can then draw the consg
and e the bills in the North at high premiu n Thus
will the fund be decreased rather than diminished. IL
the first venture fails send another, until one gels
through l. is presumed that 20 ne blockade-runner
will Lave patr Otism charity enough TO take tie
cotton If not Government compel him TO lake 1t,
or refuse him clearance.
"Bat this relief must bs general. May Of these
poor also, and unable to send them any )ney. Lee Al
appeal be made TO the people to contribute tum
sufficient for their rel CT.
IL hope that this appeal, which make in behalf Of
my late .eowprisoners, may Tot be in yaln We shall
see them no more PROBABLY, until the war is over.
know by experiences the suferngs which they are en-
curing Their condition is sad, cheeres aud suffering
enough at best Let tnot be agg,rated By the bitter
thought that they have not the sympathy OF the
government or people,"
Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-28
Annrsr In BIL,no.E.-The Baltimore sun, Of the

ARREST IN BlLIMoRE.-The Baltimore Sun, Of the
l6!b, says: "Mr. Is. G. Harris, Of the firm OF Ntae,
Harr & Co., commission merchants, No 26 Commerce
street. was arrested Thursday last BY Brig General
TYLER The arrest took place cd a passenger train Of
cars and i. stated, usdef the following cireum-
aocee: Mr. Harris and Mr.. Clinton AcCully, OF the
firm Of Mes srs. Poumairat & AcUully, were in com
pany, ana lie. Moo, being an acquaintance of Gen.
Tyler introduced Mr. Harris to him, remarking that he
was lot as loyal as be would wish him, &c. Mr.. Har is
also stated he not as loyal TO the United States
0oyerumens as hs was to the other government
Gen. TYLER at once arrested him. and sent him to the
tice Of Col Fish, in this city, where he was paroled
TO report next Sunday. After the arrest Mr.. Harris
planned that he was English subject which was oos-
roborrated by Mr.. hcOully"
Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-28

LkoruRn OF FsEn. DcvaLAss--on the eveaing OF the
lib slant Fred. Douglas The vel known colored
speak r. delivered the fourth Of series # lectures b.
fore the womans Loyal League of New York City. at
the Cooper Institute. sdbjsc: 1.-THE Msson Of the
War; From sketch Of bis remarks, published in the
New York papers, we extract the following:
he did net like the proclamation Of Mr.. Lincoln, be-
cause Il gave auhori take T. slaves from the trail
tors in the South but TO leave them with loyal men.
He did net like that He bad tried TO impress the
Presid mt but it did good de bal been 70 see him.
(Chetrs and lau Shter) IL no Greek m etinz Greek
when they met Ignore augher) but 1t was the rail-
splitter meeting niger. (Boistsrous lsugher) Pro-
baby 81 me OF them would like to know how "the b
man was received at the White House." BE received
me- continued the speaker, for all the world Just as you
tea one gentleman receive another Shouts oil laugh
ter)-wi the hand aud the 70 &c OF ~elecm; net 700
cordially ror too coldy but Just the right thing; and
made myself quite home in his presence. One thing
toll him then, which tell you; aDdit was that II
were ciled upon to point cut the most discouragpg
Of the present situation, il would not be any oil
the eIperierced by food and field by our forees
but Il would be the hardness and hesitation and vasc-
| laton Of the President OF the Unied Safes
| Mr. Lecoln did not Of course admit that this came
| from me, but went t. defend himself fom
the charges broughtand there char e. he cid
not defend himself from at ALL He admitted tiat he
was SLOW tu would not allow il 20 be understood that
be was vsclatng. He said to with great earrest-
ness, "Ar Douglass, don't think that cba'ge be
susta ned" Think OF the Pre- ident of the United
| States addressing black Mr.. Douga ass -
daughter He moved his hands back and forth as he
said "Vascila ion" says be, 81 dont think that can
/ be sustained sr" daughter SIys he, when / take
position think 10 man can say that ever retreat"
| (Ohesrs Bu his warm heart and high feelings, the
speaker continued say, did control Mr.. Lncolns
utterances. Il was policy, policy, prudence prudence
| With him. So it was, we're trying TO crush every
noble utteraDce, tu. doiIg ffcm nee ssiy what we
knew in our heart OF hearts bee grea. virtue, and
as such was demanded to be DONE TIE speaker urged
the necessity Of defining the AbolItion war,
and not sbrkng he question, only 10 hat setse An
it be successful We NAV admit it to be Tor the
Constitution ard the Union, but only in the that
toe lesser are included in the greater Abolition in
cudes both the Coz luicn aad the Union of these
| Sates