davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-31


a Committee OF the Rebel Scrate
was engaged early in the present
year ia an enquiry into the condition
of the Contcderacy. Among the
witnesses summoned before them
was General Lee, and the following
are extracts from his testimony, ON
the oath January, 1860:
Question OF Senator Hunter
What is your opinion as to evacua-
ting Richmond, and Withdrawing the
army to North Carolina J.?
Answcr,-In my opinion, it would
he a bad movement. The Virginia
troops would not go to North Carroll
ma; they would 90 home.
Questionable you think we have
troops enough for the next campaignf
Answer-I do not. We cannot
last till midsummer.
Question,-What do you think OF
the policy OF arming 200, 900 negroesi
Answer.-If we are to carry on the
war. that is the least of evils but in
such an event the negroes must have
their liberty.
/ Question.-Do you think we could
succeed by putting the negroes into
the field?
Answer.-That would depend on
circumstances. We could at least
carry on the war for another year.
Question by Senator Hill.--What
is the sentiment of the army in rela
ton to peace ?
Answer.-It is almost unanimous
for peace. The men will fight longer
if necessary, but they believe we can.
not continue the war through another
campaign.
Question by Senator Graham. =
What is your individual opinion on
the subject Of peacep
Answer think the best policy
is 20 make peace on the plan proposed
by Mr.. Stephens. The people and
the country ought to be saved further
sacrifices.
Question by Senator Walker,-Il
peace be not made before Spring,
will you consent to take command OF
all the armi IS of the Confederacy,
with unlimited powers
Auswer.-I will take any position
to which my country assigns me, and
do the best / can, but do not think
] can save the cause now No hu
man power can save it, Had beer
assigned such place one year ago
i think l could have made our con
dition better than it is now.
Question BY Senator Orr -Yot
think then, G eneral, that the bes'
The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-31
General Grant oo the situation.
Commissioner.

General Grant oo the situation.
The following extract from pri-
vate letter from General Grant, gives
his view OF the situation:
We are now having fine weather,
and think will he able to wind NJ
matters about Richmond soon. am
anxious to have Lee hold on where
hc is a short time longer, so that |
can get hm into position where he
must lose q great portion Of his army
The rebellion has lost its vitality,
and II / am not nuch mistaken, there
will be no rebel army of any great
dimensions n few weeks hence. Any
great catastrophe to any one of our
armies would, OF course, revive the
enemy for short time, but | eXpe't {
no such thing to happen. | am IN
excellent health, but would enjoy q
little respite from duty wonderfully.
| hope il will come soon. / shall eX-
pcct to make yon visit the coming
Summer.
The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-31
BEGINNING TO .SEE Ir.n

The delusions which prevailed in
the beginning Of the war have ceased
No intelligent rebel now believes in
foreign interference, or Northern in
surrection, or national bankruptcy
or peace parties. AS consequence
the spirit of the South has sunk--thell
moral and intellectual vigor is gone.
Fhe decisive battle was fought at the
November election. With the whole
power of tue nation in the hands oi
those who would never yield hairs
breadth TO any rebel demands; with
indomitable armies in the field and
inexhaustible resources, and the
doors of the civilized world closed
upon them, none but madmen would
attempt any further resistance. But
another change has come over them
They are exhausted of vitality, and
no longer can fight but few briel
months. Every man (wlite has been
put in the army between II and 55
and many outside OF these ages
Those who are not in the army are
deserters or skulkers, who number
more than one third Of all on the rolls
OF their forces. The appeal made to
the people at home by insane editor:
and bowling politicians, have proved
'httcrly vain. Sherman's march ha.
demonstrated that there Is not par
ticle of strength or spirit left in til,
South. The only spirit left anon,
them consists in lying and bragging--
and 'ncither sorrow, disaster or ca
lamity seems TO have any power O
'Abatipg that. such is their situation
They will not Yield, but gradully dis
appear from the stage.
The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-31
.ctier from commissioner Lewis.

Letter from Commissioner Lewis.
An Assessor in Buffalo has receiv-
ed tue following letter from the Com
missioner ofInternal Revenue, whose
rulings are applicable to all sections:
TREASURY DEpARrMENT,
(Onlce of Internal Revenue,)
WASHINGTON, March s.
SIR: Complaints have been made
to this office as to the manner in
which income returns have been made
in many Collection Districts in the
United States, and concerning yours
among others. It is in the power of
the Assessor, and it is also his duty,
to require all persons who have filed
aflidavts that they were not in pos
session of 5000 income for 1862 and
1853, where he supposes the state
ment to be fraudulent, to appccr be
fore him and explain or rectify their
returns or aflidavits.
1t is reasonable that persons whose
family expenses were over $4,000
per year must have n taxable income,
and yet it is known that persons who
have lived at a rate requiring an ex.
pcnditure of from $4,000 10 $4,000
have made afll1avits that their in
comes did not amount to 5000 PEI
year in the years referred to. Al
such returns are presumptively erro
ncous, and in many instances are
prObablv V fraudulent.
Other persons engaged in trade o
various kinds, have assumed their in
, come TO have been some certain sum
without taking an inventory. Others
have made greater deductions thai
are allowed 10y law, such as expense,
of labor and machinery, aud new bull
dings. Where such returns are mad
under circumstances which show tha
there was a deliberate intent to mis-
lead the assessor or evade the pay
ment of this proper tax, they ough
to be rc-assessed by the asscssor.-
For though q mere mistaken return
after it has been examined and tn
= taN paid, may not be re-examined
any fraudulent return may he in
CURED INTO any time. NO man ca
benefit by his own wrong, and no tim
can cure what is void o. voidable b.
reason Of fraud.
Where taxpayer comes forwar
s and makes q voluntary amendmer
? Of his former return, with the stat,
b mcnt that he made an improper retur
2 under an honest misapprehension {
the law, and you are satisfied that h
was not melted to this course by fea
of fdctcction, YOU cau receive his RI
! turn if YOU are fully satisfied Of il
: correctness. without the addition {
!, any penalty. But when, upon il
. vestigatiou. Won find u person clcarl
: guilty of having purpcsely made sho
returns, YOU should. if the return W.
made since July. 1854, assess the OF
. hundred per cent. penalty for frau,
= and in addition report the case to Il
Collector for such action as he deem
it. Very respectfully.
JosEPu LEWIS,
Commissioner.
The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-31


The Tribune's letter from Kinston
on the 21st, says: My information
from the field is TO 10 A. NJ ofto-d dav
Sherman's advance is in the vicinity
of Boonsville, on the N G Railroad
between Smithfell and Goldsboro
He has ccrtoinly engaged the enemy
ct that point, and everything indi
Gates that Bragg is making q stubborn
resistance. The striking of the rail
road ut tic points indicated, places
the Union force between the column
confronting Schofeld and that de
rcnding Raleigh. SchofcId moved on
,Goldsboro early on Monday morning,
meeting thus far no determined re.
sistance in that direction. The enc
my were found in some force within
four miles of thatplace Fisherman
lie confronted bv any considerable
force. it will leave Schofcld to march
on unimpcded to cut the Railroad in
their rear. hut If Bragg considers the
holding of the line of Railroads run
ming into Goldshoro of more impor.
Itance than the former object, Sher.
man will make his retreat next to al
Iimpossibility.
1t is reported on good authority
that two full brigades of infantry are
roaming about the swamps adiacen
TO the Neuse River, seeking n favora
bic opportunity to enter our lines anC
lay down their arms.
The Times publishes letter cap
Iturcd during Sheridan's raid, purpor
ting to come from Gov. Smith, o
Virginia, and addressed TO r. c
Davis 1t is dated ut Richmond
Feb. 10Th, and says: At n time whei
the whole institution of slavery is il
peril, il is to he decided in the mex
90 DAYS whether there shall he slav
lin Virginia, or not Every eAOr
seems to he made to withhold then
from the last urgent calls Of the mil
Iitary authorities. What has got int
the slave ownersi Let me tell YOU
and You can tell Your ncighhors, nm
less slave labor to the full extent O
the required number is promptly fuI
Inishcd, Richmond cannot he held. -
If abandoned, slavery is gone.
A correspondent who accompanic
Sheridan, says It's now as dinlcnlt t
find openly-avowed Secesssionists a
is was a wear ago to find men talkin
Union He thinks the people of VII
GINA are ready to return to til
Union.
The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-31
THE SITUATION.

The condition Of military matters
Is the most favorable that can be i'm.
sgincd. Everything is working as
we'll MS could le wished
Sherman, Notwithstanding the as
severations of the rebels that he
could not, has formed junction Will
Schoiield at Goldsboro. This was
done in the face of the rebel army
under Johnston, and with but sligh,
Opposition and loss. The victory
that the rebels boasted Of, as having
put a severe check upon Sherman
turned out to be almost nothing. II
was undoubtedly the intention OF
the rebels to defeat Sherman while he
was cut loose from his base of sup.
Iplies and form junction with Scho
field. To do this, however, they sent
the wrong general. Johnson has at
tempted to compete with Sherman
before, in and around Chattanooga
and has always proved himself inf
nitely Sherman's supcrior-in the
way of retreating. His old trouble
still clings to him, and he retreats
Sherman in forming a junction with
Schofcld has materially increased
the strength of his army, gained Il
base of supplies, and is now propar.
ed again to 80 where he plcases, with
out the possibility of n failure. What
Sherman will do next, no one out OF
the inner circles can tell, but it may
be depended upon that he will not re-
man idle Whatever he does will
be to the point, and hasten the end
of the tottering Confederacy.
In front Of Grants lines matters
begin to assume lively aspect
Active preparations are being made
for movement of some kind. On
the 25th the rebels made an attack
on Fort Stcadmau and captured it
1t was re taken by our men, and {
severe defeat inflicted upon the enc
my. The attack was intended as {
fcclcr, to ascertain our strength and
the rnhcls felt too tar.
The rebel armies are gradual,
melting away by desertions and de
feats, aud their cause is in bac
way. Even the poor negro does moi
seem destined TO save them. The,
get him into the army, but he don
seem inclined to stay there. If h,
fights Mt all he prefers to fight on th,
side that will give him his freedom
The rebels, ms almost the last resort
determined to strengthen their ar
mics with negroes, and if we may
believe their admissions, il has prov
ed nearly an entire failure. Wha
the rebels will do next to fill up theil
depleted armies it is hard to see -
Probably they are at the ED of thei
resources.
The remark has often been mad,
that 1.-THE rebellion is on its last legs,
and we believe that no one will deny
it.
The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-31
TnE SPRING ELECTION.

THE SPRING ELECTION,
On Monday, April Sd, the citizens
of Hancock county will he called up
on to elect their township and cor.
poration officers for the ensuing year;
and, as the actual commencement OF
the political campaign ior 1865, it is
highly important TO consider well the
first movement. "To begin Alright is
half the BATTLE and if, in the coming
Spring election, Union men lay aside
all partisan chickering's, selfish feelings
and past jealousics, and are animated
only by desire TO elect such men to
office, as will prove an honor to their
official positions and their country,
we shall easily and smoothly glide on
in this honorable course, when called
on to elect OIL GERS for more impor-
tant positions. Let the bitterness of
former contests bc discountenanced
in our primary conventions. and good
men selected for the several Offices,
and all will he well; on the other
hand, il a contrary course be pursued,
we may not only fail to carry some
of the towns for the Union cause, this
election, hut succeeding ones also.--
We, therefore, urge Union men
Throughout the county to go into the
primary conventions, bering
only that they are citizens of the glo-
rious old Union handed down by
Washington, charged with the high
and holy mission of doug such acts
rs will promote--not the welfare of
any particular man, but--the pros
perity Of the country and the cause
they hold most sacred Actua;ed by
such motives, they cannot fail to
place in nomination such men as will
faithfully discharge their official du-
ties, and prove ornaments to our
cause and county.
There is nothing in the character
OF American institutions that requires
the occupant of any Office, whether it
be of little or great Importance, to
pursue a course inconsistent with the
requirements of an upright and hon
orable gentleman; and if, by past in
diligence, such q one has secured
official position; or if, by long contin-
uance in office, a public servant be-
comes oblivious to the fact that he is
only the recipient of favors from his
fellow citizens; or il he uses any in.
huence which his official position may
give him, for the advancement of his
own selfish purposes, rather than for
the welfare of those who conferred
office upon him, the greatest kindness
which the people can do to such q
servant Is to permit him to return
quietly and speedily to private life,
where he may have an opportunity
to learn that in this country no one
is born with wreath of honor on his
brow, or with an honorable title TO his
name--and that here, these can only
be acquired by talent, a laudable and
unselfish ambition, and a manly and
upright course of action. Let every
Union man bear these things in mind,
and take such action rs his better ma
ture and most patriotic feelingc die
t"so. Dy such a course, we shall aid
IN electing to office competent, faith
ful, energetic and honest men--men
who are proof against temptation
and we shall, moreover, add untold
strength TO the cause Of our country
and the Union party.
The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-31
FhAcrEIIING,

BY our exchanges from different
parts Of the country, we learn that
the prospects for large and increased
crops during the coming season were
never more ilattcring, The winter in
most sections has been propitious for
the early advancement of winter
crops, and the opening spring beto-
kens a rapid and healthful growth
with large crops here, which we have
every reason to anticipate, AND q par
tial failure in Europe, which is almost
Il biennial occurrence, we shall he able
TO bring the nationc fiom the other
side Of the Atlantic, gold IL hand, to
onr granaries, and, even without the
aid of cotton, to turn the balance OF
trade in our favor. Viue le Ame,tca !!
The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-31
Taxntirn iha' il Trxntinn

Richmond papers Of the Sth inst
contain the new tax law Of the Rebel
Congress. passed on the 7th. The
following details Of Il should 10 much
tow"rds reconciling the reorlc Of the
North to the comparatively light
taxes they are called upon to bear:
1t levies tax of eight per cent on
oil property not expressly taxed at q
different rate, on specie and hills Of
exchange twenty per cent. on cur
Ircncv five per cent, The interest on
! Government bonds is taxed rs income
under the existing laws Upon profit
made bv buying and selling merchan-
dive. on property Of snv lescription
during the Years 1856 and 1866. q
tax of ten per cent is levied. in adj
IditiOn 90 the tax on such profits ns
income. and upon oil profits exceed
4 inc twontv.f;e per cent The prop.
ortv, income and monies of hos
pitals. asvlums. churches. schools and
JcharHtahle institutions are excmpt
from taxation; olso. al property with
In the lives cr the enemy shall ne OK
emptod from taxation rs long rs II
remains within such lines.
The taxes arc made due. and ere to
he collected the fret dav Of June
lncXt-one half to he paid IN Treasury
notes, and the othcr halfat the ortiOn
Of the party. in certificates Of indeht.
edncss, without any allowance for in
torcst.
II is also provided that upon all the
subjects of taxation mentioned i'm
this act. and in the act approved on
the I7th OF February. 1864. there
shall he levied for the year 1865 an
additional tax equal to one eight the
IamoUnt or tax On the sAmo subjects
imposed for the wear 1865. winch tax
4 shall he PAYABLE in Treasury notes
of the new issue, and The money aris-
ing from it shall he first appropriated
TO the payment Ofthe increased com
'IpensatiOn Of soldiers, provided that
this additional tax shall not he CON
Istrued to apply to or increase the tax
; in kind.
Il Inc following important section
we quote at length:
i Congress having intended bv the
act Of the 18th of February, 1864, as
amended hv the act Of the 18th Of
June, 1864, only said act of the 18th
Of February, 1864, MS amended. in so
far as it can he construed to operate
otherwise than thus intended. shall
he md the same is hereby repealed
and all taxes imposed bv this act shall
! he paid without anv discount or credit
for the value Of the tax in kind or in
come tax, and oil taxes on income
specified under existing laws shall he
paid without any credit for deduct on
of the ad r0lOrfn taXr
The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-31
Guardian Sale.

L Pursuance ot an "tter of the Probate
4 Court "i Hancock County, Ohio: made on
III &Hu d.! NJ March. 4. d. lsGi; IN tie ease,
o.. Barbara Matthias, guardian ~ r. -niamin
=, Matthias. David Matthias aud Lewis MJtbtas
20. H.rs' her wards Hrl others, Ihe under.
sued " on the 2J'h day OF April, A. d
tea, al L u'C.ock. ~ tie door Ut the Court
H"u,a IN HurucE County. Oh hio offer at
uth.ic sac the following described real
state. situate In Hancock County Ohio
20 wit: The undivided three. .elevanths of the
N"t' Invest quarter " S'ctlpr No. Is and the
Northeast qu-rter of TIE southwest Quarter
ui .il srci .nu NJ l.. all in townshin No. l
Mouth IN range ~. East containing Is 62.
100 acres land Ia cac.I ward making in
al 50 O-.hu ."rtS ~ land, being said wards
interest iu The a"r'e de,oribad lands. sun.
Ject g. the lower ut said Barb tra Mathias,
uu tur,E acres ui sad quarter section in tile
SorthcHst CurucF tiNIeuf
EEAs Alb: Cash in hand N the day
%! sie. Premises appraised ~ $2.5Gl
BARBARA MATTHIAS
"uardian Of B'ujtpln r. Matthias, David
matthias and Lows ,IathIas,
MtrCh 3iS 4W.
The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-31
Vhc Constitutional Amendment
FucIauI


The news of the passage of the
Constitutional Amendment IN Con.
gress, reached England by the steam
er Canada, and the London Daily
News has the following editorial com
ments on it;
If the Canada had brought no 9th
er news on Tuesday than that the Su-
Ipreme legislature Of the United
States had decreed the abolition of
slavery over the vast area subject to
its authority, the act would have been
justly regarded as one of the most
Imomentous consequences of the war.
But its real Importance cannot be
diminished, although it may be OBJ
scured by the fact that the tidines
finds our minds preoccupicd with ex
citing thoughts raised by hopes of
peace, or depressed at their disap-
pointment. The policy which Mr..
Lincoln has steadily pursued from the
moment when he took the office-a
policy necessarily unintelligible to
those who have ignored all consider
ations Of constitutional duty in their
eagerness to see slavery abolished in
whatever way, or by whatever means
but clear and consistent when view
ed in connection with the political
condition under which every Presi,
dent of the United States exercises
power--has now reached its eulmina
tion. '''.'--'
The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-31

solution Of our difficulties is to make
peace on the Stepens' plan ?
Answer.--That is the best policy
now. | think the army and the peo-
pie ought to be saved if oil else is
lost.
The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-31

We have advices from Mobile,
down to the 10th inst. No advance
had been made against the city, and
rumors that have reached lis of the
capture of tue place were of course
unfounded. 1t was not likely that an
advance would take place for several
days.
A Tennessee paper states that the
venerable John Bell, of Tennessee,
has become quite inGrm, and is living
at present in Merriwether county =
He has lost all his property by his
devotion to the South instead OF the
Union, and is now a refugee from
home in his old age and infirmities.
The wife of the rebel Gen. Ewel
had, until recently, about 500, ,OO(
deposited in banks at st. Louis. II
was lately seized by order of the Gov
erDment, and Mrs. Ewell having gone
to see about it was refused payment
and afterwardarrested and sent Soutl
not TO return during the war.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-05-04

FUNERAL OF CAPT DRUMMoND. The
remains Of Capt. Drummond, of tho 5th
Regular Cavalry, will arrive at Wheeling
this evening. 1t is expected that the fu-
neral services will take place at St. Clairs,
vile on Friday. Adjt. General Cewen has
issued an order detailing Capt. Robinson's $
Company, Ohio National Guard, as guard
'of honor. The following gentlemen have
been selected as pail bearers Lieut. Col
j. r. Mitchell, Col. VIM. Wallace, Col. Q.
j. Poorman, Lieut. Col. D. d. T. Cowen,
Maj Henry West, Capt, l. Danford, Capt.
Amos Glover, Capt. WIN. Askew, Lieut..
Il. Il. Kennon, Lieut.. r. H. Cochran,
Lieut.. Walter Heyetson Lisut. Joseph A.
Harris. Marshall-Dr. John Alexander.
The remains will he inferred with mill
tary honors. Adjt. Gen Cowen has signi-
he'd his intention of being present.
Since the above was written, we learn
that the remains of Capt Drummond will
leave Wheeling at 9o'clock on Friday morn
ing, with military escort.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-05-04

I'VE SOLDIERS CAsRET This is a new
Monthly, in its third number, asking public
attention. 1t is, as its name indicates, a
Magazine devoted to the interests of sol
diers. and is well filed with facts and Incl.
dents ofthe war that will prove very inter.
esting to soldiers and theii friends. The
private soldier ::is the object of its attention,
and its columns contain the history ofmany
abrave deed performed by them on the
field of battle that has been overlooked by
correspondents who have been more intent
upon making great names for general off
GERS. Terms: Single subscription 81 90. -
Address Z. W. Alexander. l23 South
Third Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-05-04

HARPER FOR MAY is on our table and is
an unusually interesting number, contain
ing large amount of excellent reading
matter. No family should be without this
Monthly. Terms: Single subscription 81, 90.
Address Harper & Bro, Franklin square,
New York.