Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-04
Affairs i'm Charleston, =. G.
AFFAIRS SMVIRGINIA.
Pastoral Manifestoes from Metho-
~ dist and Episcopal Bishops Of
}@ the South to their Churches.
ETC, ETC, ETC.

New YORK, Sept. 4.-The Trbunes Wash.
| ington special says, G. H. Emerson, bailiff Of
the Wirz Military Commission, has just re-
the Government to summon witnesses for the
defence. The names of about 60 rebel officers
and men were furnished by Wirz
Considerable difficulty was experienced by
Mr.. Emerson in finding the witnesses, as they
were scattered over the States Of North and
South Carolina, Alabama, Florida and Geor-
gia, and a number were found to have gone to
Texas, Mexico and Europe. Out Of the list of
60 but 81 were found, all of whom are now on
their way to this city
Many Of the ex-rebel officers were fearful
that if they came to Washington they would be
| arrested and placed in confinement by the Gov.
ernment, and it was not until they had received
due assurance, that they would come out from
their hiding places.
Ine INST OF those subpnened embraces the
names of officers Of all grades from the rank of
Colonel down and also number of private SOL
diers. Most of those summoned served with
WirZ while he was in command of the An(er-
sonville prison pen. The Sutler, Commlssary
and Quartermaster of Andersonville are also
among the number.
During his sojourn in the South, the differ
ent military commanders cheerfuly co-opera-
ted with Mr.. Emerson, and gave him every as
sistance in discovering and summoning the wit
nesses.
The contracts for mail service in the South
, now made with railroads and steamboats, are
| taken at an average of so per cent. lower than
before the war. In one case S27 900 is now
paid for the service, which the government
gave $3.50 five years ago. In another case
81, 200, a year ago, was paid for carrying the
mail to small posto1ice, when the receipts
were but 50, 400 a year.
As evidence of the usefulness of the
United States Sanitary Commission in the graf
uitous collection of soldiers bounties, back
pay, pensions, &C., it may be stated that Of
half the claims filed at the pension Office and
presented by the agent Of the Commission, at
the Central Depot in this city, up to the 10th
of August last, 5, 600 claims were filled fol the
collection of soldier claims.
The total number of naval prize claims pre-
justment in the month of August last, were
800, of which ,736 were duly settled by the
payment of S183, 532.
The amount Of currency issued by the
Treasury Department. for the month ending
September the ID, was 50, 23l, $50; the grand
total issued up to date was SIT, ,4S7, 220. The
total amount of certificates of indebtedness, re-
deemed az the Bureau Of redemption in the
Treasury Department, for the week ending
September the I'd, was Sc, 978, 920, and the
amount of mutiated currency destroyed in the
same period was 2,2O6, 775.
The Heralds Charleston correspondent says,
Gen. Heath has retired from the command of
the Military District of Charleston, and has
been temporarily succeeded by Gen. Bennett,
the Post Commandant in the city
The election for members of the State Con-
vention is to take place to-day, and tAe South
Carolinians were considerably animated by
| their preparations for the event.
Gov. Perry, in the letter which he has re-
Gently written, states that in cases where rebels
take the amnesty oath and receive his recon-
mendaIion to tile Presdant for pardon, it's pre-
sumable that pardon will be granted and that
they are therefore, entitled 10 serve as MEM
bers Of the convention on this presumption.
The Worlds special says the recommends
ton of the late Mass Meeting, in Rlchmopd,
that similar meetings should be held through
out the State-of Virginia, is being carried out.
They have been called in several counties
One held on Friday, at Halifax c. H., passed
resolutions accepting the abolition Of slavery
| as an accomplished fact; pledged their efforts
| for a full restoration of tie Union, and en-
! dorscd the reconstruction policy of President
| Johnson.
! The uerald's New Orleans correspondent
saws that Mr.. Wells, Of Louisiana, has appoint
ed an agent to proceed up Red river and seize,
| on behalf and for the benefit OF the State, all
the cotton purchased by Henry Walker, Tor
/ merly the rebel Governor
Capt. Semmes, of Alabama pirate noto-
rietv and his son are still in New Orleans.
Concerning the difficulties between Cover
nor Sharkey of Mississippi, and Gen. SlocuTn'
this correspondent says that to the Governor
remonstrance at Washington that the military