Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-06-14
MR.. JAMES p. HoLC0MBE
From the Lynchburg Vlrginian.

The name OF thiI gentleman having been in
troduced in the cons piracy trial at Washington,
in connection with his visit to Canada last sam
Iner, Ia q manner ca. culAted to create false i'm
preston and do him injIy, we have taken the
pains 10 ascertain the exact facts in regard 10 the
i1a.tey aud i. is due to hia that They should be
made Known.
Ne have been informed on the best authority,
that NJ. DO comhss business 10 the British Prov
iucss vas limited 10 two definite 0tiscts. The
iir.t and principal purpose Of bis mis4iop was TO
investigate tsg facts connected With the capture
OF the steamer Chesapeake, aud % demand the
vessel or her Sa.ue frUm ths British suthcriues,
If In his opinion she had not been legitlmately
captured. After fall exsuuiLatlsn VI ali the
circumstances, Nr. y. advised the Confederate
Governments that the eaPtors, with probably a
single exception, were al British subjects. that,
In his opinion, they had no claim % The vessel 4,
and that n IL had reen otherwise, the uAnsse'
ton was 10 discr-ditable that NO counteuAnee
ought 10 be gwen TO It. Upon this advice, no
furt- er action was taken GA the subject by the
authorities az Richmond.
The only other duty assigned to Mr.. Holcombe
was the appropriation of twenty-five Ia -usInd
dollars 70 sending home, via Halifax and Bermu'
la uch Confederate soldicls - had escaped from
the United States into Canada, and we're desirJus
og returning. In the execution of this duty, ID
visited All the points along the frOGtier here
money IN the hands OF few agents 10 be app led
10 this object exclusively. Where the application
for aid Was addr ssed 10 him in person, the only
inoViry he ever made, or VS. authorized to make,
was 10 ascertain the genuiueness Of the party's
pre;enson % the chaH ter a COME crate; and
lie purp5se TO eturn. With the subseq cent con-
duct OF the parties thus aided Mr.. IL had no
more concern or knowledge than any other CHI
zen of he Confed rate states.
Messrs. C. ey and Thompson were sent TO Can
ada on a wholly different mission, in which he
was not associated. He left Canada in August,
before the assembling OF the Chicago Conven-
ton and left Halifax for Wilmington by the first
boat which he thought safe.
The attempt Of the witness HyaTs to connect
tie name Of Mr.. HOlcOmbe With the alleged plan
of DR.. Blackburn 10 introduce the yellow fever
into the Northern cities, is simply absurd and
ridiculous. There Is no man in the Whole c9un-
try, North or South, less capable OF such an act
than he-Or who would have discountenanced
it more sterdly. A warm hearted and amiable
entem4n-reined, gentle and sensitive in his
feelings; high-ton3d and honorable to punctil-
Housness; elegant in ell his tastes; cultivated
in all the rehnementS and accomplishments OF
lfe-aad above H. chris liant is a moral in
possi bility that he could have cOuatenanced or
abetted, knowingiy, the neiarious scheme allu-
ded 10. Re may possibly have furnished money
10 Hyams but If he did il was with the be-
lief that he was Confederate soldier who wished
TO return to the South TO assist whom was a
part Of his business-and not with the knowl.
edge that he was an aeeCmplice Of DIR. Black
burn.