The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-01-19

concluded to take the chances Of passing
Rappahannock andget out again. Taking
circnitous route, they crossed the river
in safety, and on January 7th they ar
rived at Dumfries.
Norebel force was believed to be north
Of there; and they considered the dan
ger over, and Mrs Foote destroyed her
papers, fearing to fall into the hands Of
some of our soldiers.
On Sunday they drove to Mr.. Ham
mers, near the Occoquan, where they
hoped to be able to get across the Poto-
mac, upon the Maryland shore. Ar
rangements had been effected. and, un-
der the pilotage of some slaves, they
were to cross the river on Tuesday, but
two rebel cavalrymen rode up to the
house and arrested both.
1t appears their movement had been
reported to Richmond by the rebel fer
rymen; and on Sunday last JEFF. Davis
telegraphed to the rebel provost-marshal
at Fredericksburg to overtake them and
bring both back to Richmond. Finding
it impossible to get Mrs. Foote backthat
night, she was paroled to remain there
until sent for, and they set out with Mr..
Foote for Richmond ON Wednesday morn
ing They went towards Fredericks-
burg, from whence he would be sent by
rail to Richmond, probably reaching
there last Thursday or Thursday night.
Information reached Colonel Welies,
at Alexandria, that Mrs. Foote was at
Occoquan, and he sent out cavalry force
to bring her in. She arrived in Alex
andria on Friday morning, and Secretary
Seward, heariag Of her arrival there,
drove down, brought her up to Willard 8
and ordered that she should be well
cared for. 1t is understood that Mr..
Seward expressed the opinion that Mr..
Foote was in our lines when taken by
the rebels; that he had renowned his
faith in their cause, and was conse-
quently under our protection, and his
safety will be looked after by us as much
as though he were at present member
of our Senate.
Mr.: Foote has resigned his seat in the
rebel House of Representatives, assign
ing as reasons, "the suspension Of the
writ of ha1eas corpus," "the passage of
acts in secret session against the inter
ests of the people, 'that the Senate
and the majority of the House are in the
interest of jeff Davis, and have passed
such laws as tend to extinguish the libcr-
ties Of the people and disastrously affect
their interest"
Instead Of starvation, Davis and his
friends live as we'll as they ever did in
Richmond, the rebel Treasury footing
the bills.
Mrs. Foote is middle-aged lady, not
over forty five, and in excellent health.
She is accompanied by her youngest son,
of three years, the rest of her family be-
ing in Nashville.
Mr. Foote is thoroughly Disguised with
the Confederacy, which, instead of being
an Independent government, as he set
out to attain, it has come to be a question
of dictatorship for Davis, who is central
izing the entire power of the Confederacy-
in himself. In league with him are all
but Trenholm, Secretary of the Treasury.
lie is boldly pushing for q dictatorship,
and he is determined to carry on the war
to suit himself. He will never make any
peace, but will continue to grow more
barbarous as he grows more desperate
by the apparent hopelessness of success,
and if he fails, is determined to involve |
the whole country, if possible, in one
ruin.
Mrs. Foote does not think the Blairs' |
mission, if intended for peace, will avail
Many of the people of the
South are weary of their burdens and
losses, and would willingly quit and
make peace if they could be guaranteed
an amnesty and secured their property
and slaves.
1t is intended, by Davis, to arm and
equip two hundred thousand slaves for
The next summer campaign.
Had Mr.. Foote reached here, it was
his intention to try and mediate for his
oppressed people, Independent of the
'ebel chief, and failing to make peace, to
ravel in some foreign cline, and end his
lays in calm review of his past life.
The New York Times rather opposes
he idea Of protecting Mr.. Foote. 1t
avs:
photographic dispatch from Washing
on ascribes to the President the threat
hat, if the rebel authorities charm I"
heir fugitive member of Congress, II. S.
cote, he will retaliatc upon !" fivc Of
he most distinguished rebel prisoners
4 our hands," This strikes us as simply
bsurd. What have we to dowith Foote
nv more than with any other adherent
the rebel Government? True, he has
ecome disguised with secession, and
7as trying to secure his personal safety
y escaping within our lines. But that
ives him no more claim upon US than
- oAho,, dnCn~tn,. he's cd ~. |