The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-09-08
Latest News.


IAOS cHSlnR SLOWLY
at Washington, before the military
commission. Comparatively few wit
nesses have been examined as vet. but
facts enough have already been elicit
ed to hang Wirz ten times. if he had
as many lives In fact, the testimony
OF rebel surgeon employed at Ander-
sonvlle proved the principal charges
as to the inhumanity of the prisoner;
and the added testimony of Union
officers and men more than substan-
tlates the worst of the barbarities that
have been related of this prison pen.
The government has $50 witnesses
that it can call on, but the court adj
loWned over from Wednesday to Fri
day. to give the prosecution a chance
to examine the witnesses privately, so
that those only need be brought into
court who have something really new
to tell without some such course as
this the trial would last al winter
and it is likely to be long enough now,
rs the counsel of Wirz threaten TO
bring $50 witnesses to testify in his
favor The line That the defense will
undertake is, that Wirz was not in the
chief command at Andcrsonville, and
Therefore should not be held response
bic for what took place there But it
is evident enough that Wrz perform
ed his work con amore; and with the
evidence of his damnmg guilt con
stantly accommodating, no defence, how
ever adroit can save him from con-
yiction aud hanging.
The trial of jeff Davis is now set
down for October, before United
States circuit court and new place
is mentioned for it to come of, Nor
folk, Va
From aud About thu south.
Somebody telegraphs from Wash
ington that all the provisional COVER
nors OF the southern States are loyal
and are carrying out the presidents
policy The proof Of a pudding is in
the eating, and we prefer to wait and
Judge of the actions Of the provisional
governors whether they are really 10y
al on not 1t is but Just to say. how
ever, that most Of the reports are of Il
more cheering character than several
weeks ago. The State officers seem
to be fulfilling their duties faithfully.
and the people realize better than
they did what is required of them, if
they would have speedy rcadmission
into the Union Most of the officers
Of the freedmens bureau also report
encouraginglv, and it is evident that a
majority of the blacks are doing well.
That the government is satisfied with
the state Of things at the South. is
shown by the Issue of a proclamation
declaring that after September there
will be no restrictions whatever upon
commercial intercourse with the south
ern States, and that articles contra
band Of war may hereafter be shipped
and sold like other articles.
The president has decided not to
authorize an executive bureau to at
tend to pardons and other executive
business, and will continue to wear
himself outWith giving personal at
tention to all details of his Office.
Secretary Seward has issued cir
cular authorizing passports to be
gwen to persons concerned In the re-
bellion. under certain conditions. if
they viii promise never to return to
the country, and it is thought likely
that Lee and other prominent rebels
VIII avail themselves of tins permission
to leave the country.
Army and Navy News.
The English pirate Shenandoah still
continues her rayages among the de-
ienseless whalcrs Of the Pacific. Ac-
counts of the destruction of fifteen
vessels, in addition to those previous
~ reported, have been received. eleven
of them being from New Bedford
The pirate burns the majority of the
vessels, after taking out what he wants.
and then, after robbing the officers
and crews puts them on board n bond
ed vessel by the two or three hun
dred, to make their way to the nearest
port the best way they can. It is
greatly to the discredit OF our navy
department that this pirate should
be allowed to perform its ncfarious
work thus uninterruptedly.
There should have been some fast
steamers put on her track at the first
notice of her presence; and it OUGHT
to Ie done now, if we would save anv
OF our whaling fleet.
The war department has issued nm
order honorably dismissing a lot Of
the generals whose services are No
longer needed But it is announced
that some of the officers announced
as dismissed will be retained while
Others will be added to the list SO
that there is very little to be learned
from 1t, as it stands at present.
1t IS denied that all or most of the
colored troops in the service are to he
mustered out, and the official returns
show that the number of white troons
retained in the regular army will be
but $4,000, instead of 100000.
The sale of government vessels and
horses has been stopped for the pres
ent, 1t is thought those now on banl
may be needed for service against the
Indians at the west. The officers now
stationed in the good berths around
Washington are trembling for fear
tney may be assigned to the same ser
vice.