Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-02-28
A REBEL NAVAL OFFICER DE.
SERTS WITH HIS WIFE TO ES.
CAPE HANGING.


Another deserter from the enemy in
the person of Young Lieutenant an aid
on the staff OF Lieut. Col Robert D..
Minor, commanding the Navy and Ordi-
nance Department at Richmond, came
into our lines on Sunday morning last
accompanied by his wife. The young
man is native Of Savannah, Georgia,
aud confesses that he left Richmond ia
avert the penalty of death, which would
no doubt have been awarded him for the
oilense of running mon into our lines, a
business which he had followed for several
months, and in which ho states he had
been making from $4,000 to 1000 in
Confederate money weekly.
Much of his story, which is full of in.
terest, ii would be improper to publish
lest it give to the enemy information
which would lead TO the apprehension Of
the parties engaged in passing men into
our lines and the closing of the avenue
through which they escape.
Being nm officer on the staff of Col.
Minor, ha operated in conjunction with
his conicderates for long time before
suspicion rested upon him. The night
preceding his arrest he had sent of
small party to onr lines, but by some
accident one of them was apprehended
and returned TO Richmond, and on his
arrival there made confession, implica.
ting the Lieutenant referred to, which
led to his arrest on the following day,
Thursday.
Having always sustained reputation
for loyalty to the Rebel Government,
Major Darlington, Provost Marshal of
Richmond, ordered his detention at the
Soldiers Rest for day or two, In which
time it was believed he would be able to
establish his innocence of the charge
Knowing his inability to do so the young
Lieutenant at once set about means to
escape before incarceration in Castle
Thunder, which was sure to follow, and
on the same night, endeavored, but in
vain, to bribe his guard
On Friday night he was more success.
ful, and on escaping from the Rest re.
paired Immediately to the house of
negro whom he.knew TO be engaged in
the business, and giving him 5000 de.
spatched him with his wife In a carriage
by circuitous ronte TO our lines As
his wife had few days previous received
a pass to visit her relatives living outside
of Richmond, she found no difficulty in
passing the outer deiences Her husband
followed her by shorter route reaching
our lines seven hours alter her arrival.
Ilo states that negroes and others have
during the past six months amassed large
fortunes in the hazardous business Of run.
ming men through the Rebel lines.
UNION SPEECH IN A REBEL LEGISLATURE
NswDEHH, N C., Feb. 10 The great speech
Of Mr.. llaines delivered in thr iouse of
Commons Of North Carolina on the 20 h ultimo,
is attracting much attention. His argument
favorng a restoration Of the Uuion is az fearless
as it is abo. The irrespon.ble representatives.
IN the rebel Congress from Kentucky, Missouri
and other States, who have no constituents, and
who are assisting to bind the letters upon North
Carolina, ore severely handled by him
lie holds that North Carolina has d perfeot
right to dissolve her allegiance with the Con
federaie government, mud enter into a separate
negotiation with the United States for peace.
lie proves secession to be a failure. and saws
that Sherman is moving forward through Soutb
and North .rolina to cooperate with Grant in
the reduction Of Richmond and the CAPTURE of
Lees army; that great as this undertaking NAV
seem, y is not hall no great as was that of bis
march from Dalton to Savannah
The NORTH, he said, being in the bsst possible
spirits over their present brilliant prospects,
will speedily furnish the 300, 900 men called
for by MIR. Lincoln, who will 20 to the field with
the greatest alacrty, aud soon become excellent
soldiers, inspired as they nre with the hone Of
speedy success. lie said:
"Can We prevent the success of our enenies
Can we recover back the majority Of the Confed.
crate States which have been taken from us Inv
The armies ot the United States? Can we hold
our remaining territory! Can we even prevent
the iall oil Richmond, aud the capture or de
sirnetion of our only remaining army, recruited
to the full extent of our white pOpulationl
"Sir, these questions have already bOen
answered by the government itself 10 the negative
by its leading organs, the Richmond Sentinel
and Richmond Enquirer. who have declared the
contest to be too unequal to be longer main.
tanned, unless We arm our slaves
''lle was opposed to arming the slaves, and
on this subject said-"We have ten male slaves
at home to one white man. Excite them 10
frenzy by passing law to conscrpt them, and
we would have an lmn ediate insurreclion, which
to put down would require the Withdrawing of
our armies thus leaving The fed to cur eaen'iss.
II no nsnrteotion took / ~, they would either
go over 10 the enemy ln body or turn their
guns upon us with bold oOnscripts for their
lead rs.'
On the subject Of a reconslruetion he said -
There are those who think, after so much |
strife and bloodshed, that reconstruction ia i'm |
possible. This Is mistake. All history refutes
the idea The case Of England and Scotland.
Wn,en was 10 some respects similar 10 ours,
divided as They were into kingdoms, and at war
for centuries, effected o reconciliation. and
scotland started on new career of prosperity
anu glory Her people, from being one Of the
most turbulent have become one Of the most
quiet and rcfnod, as we'll as one Of the most
eontenied aud happy In the world. This Ia
0tcause nature never intended the island of
Great Britain should comprise more than one
nallon. aud suoa will prove to be our own case"
Upon the subject OF a divided country be
said: "When we take view OF the connttv
which composts the United STATES. il ia d,flIcni,
10 resist tue conviction that nature intended il
to contain but one great nation. Nature never
Intended the mighty Mississippi to water or
IRAN more than Que nation, Close this river
o tue northwest BY transferring Its mouth TO
mother nation, and they become the most oom.
1lo'ely land-loosed country in the world Were
hey 10 consent 10 this they would sign their
'Hn death warrant
rms country can never be divided 50 as 10
separate the northwestern States from tho Gulf
states, without reversing en- inexorabe ban of
ia'ure The only hope have ever seen of
ueeess IN this struggle vas that tue north.
western States might be induced TO Join our
The manner in which those States
'oiei in the lato Presidential election has dis.
leheu mat hopc forever and iu my judgment
ias sealed the fate Of tue confeieracy.h
Mr' Hines is distinguished lawyer and tho
~ sne ~ aye letlers which appeared in the
ialeieh IN. C.) Standard over the signature of
'DanisOn'" which attracted so much attention
n the north in 1868.
InH nnu:a ntAnrnnA.l .---