Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-12-16
Latter From Washington,
.peeInl correspondence Of Tho Telegraph

special correspondence OF tho Ielegfhph'
WAsHINdT0N, ID. c., Nov. Z.
Washington is as full ofsensati0ns
as smaller places; but the difference
consists in tho nature of the sensa'
tons, To,day's paper for example
has several sensation items.
SENSATION no. l,-CoN pERATE
BONDS.
The opinion of the Attorney to
the Crown OF Great Britain that tho
property Of the late Contederacy is
bound for the obligations Of the de-
ceased, creates some stir among the
knowing ones. Whether this will
be followed by aiudicial decision we
shall see. 1t seems to rest upon the
question az to the belligcrent char.
acter OF the Government do facto
1t is not easy to avoid the sequences
presented by the bondholdors, and
the attorney whose opinion they
have sought and obtained Therea-
soning appears to stand thus:
The United States declared q
blockade in May, 1861 of all South.
crn ports, basing it upon the state
of war existing between the United
States Of the North and the South.
ern States.
Her Majcsty's Government, as q
neutral power had notice, and pro-
claimed proper respect for the
blockade, and proceeded one step
further to recognize the bclligerent
character thus implied.
That the belligerents maintained
q Government de facto for the four
years is undeniable, and hence n
Government capable Of contracting
obligations, and Of holding property.
Upon the dissolution OF the Gov
eminent, its property like that of
any other decedent is held liable for
the obligations. The United States
took possession Of the property,
thus rendering herself liable for the
debts contracted abroad to the cX-
tent of the assets of the deceased
Confederacy. This is the substance
of the logic Of the claimants.
No reply has been made that
seems to me more satisfactory than
this That the United States dis
owns aud ignores all Confederate
power and authority, and is able to
fight the British Government with
all her ordinance and logic.
SENSATION NO. 2.
For ten days past, the decision of
the Military Court that tried Capt.
Wirz for cruelty to Federal prison
ers, has been in the hands Of the
President, the wrctched man in ago
ny of suspense as to his fate. This
afternoon as / passed the National
Intelligencer,' office, crowd was
around the bulletin board, and l
went to see the cause Of the sensa-
ton. l read the manuscript note Of
the A. A. Gen'l saying "The Pres
idcnt mas confirmed the sentence Of
death passed upon Wirz, and he
will be hung on Friday morning,
the 10th, at ten o'clock" Three days
are given him for the contempla.
ton of that eternity which will pass
anew upon his conduct in this life /;
and the tribunal will be the one of
last appeal. The executioner will
not deprive him of many days or
much happiness in this world for he
nears his journeys end, Independent
of this mortal sentence.
We have not read the evidence
on his trial, except occasionally, and
can form no Judgment that antago-
nizes the sentence of the court
Would that all who have brutally
treated their prisoners on either side,
could be Justly dealt with. The pic
ture developed in the trial of Wirz
is horrible enough. The other side
never can be shown, except in a
private way, by the subjects Of the
terrible suffering and oppression to
which many of them testify.
The expression of people under
this sensation, differ very much
Many exult and express their glad
ness, and many feel very sadly,
without saying anything in his de-
fence. This would not be safe in
the city of Washington, The first
lady | heard speak of it, seemed
much oppressed at the news, and
could not recover her buoyancy.-
The next fairly danced with exulta-
ton and delight 1t is strange
thing for me to hear lady exhibit
joy at the idea of an execution. In
France the Revolution developed
this state of feeling or phrenzy, but
/ never expected it in America
This city, however. can produce all
phazcs of character and types of
feeling. Let us hope for more be-
nign sentiments than exultation at
the death of convict. Even
Beecher's sermon here over the body
of Dahlgren, pronounced all Con-
federates who fell in the war, as
"convicts in crime" still he ex.
pressed sorrow that they had fallen
| esneciallv SORROW for the sorrOwinp