The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-11
THE NEWS.

court communication from the pri- |
soner was read, asking the privilege of |
being allowed to receive the visits, for
spiritual consolation, of two Catholic |
clergymen, formerly chaplains at An
dersonville. The members of the court
expressed their willingness to grant the
request but, not having the power to
do so, the matter was referred to the
War Department. Only few witnesses
were examined, the important feature
of the proceedings being the reading of
rebel documents showing conclusively
that the horrible treatment which the
Federal soldiers received at Anderson
vile was inflicted with the knowledge
of the Richmond authorities. These
comprised reports of Howell Cobb, Gen.
report was addressed to the rebel Adiu-
tant General Cooper, at Richmond, and
testifies to the crowded condition of the
prson-pen. He said that he presumed
the character of the prison was well un-
derstood at Richmond. Judge Advocate
Chapman intimated that the object
of the prosecution in introducing
this documentary evidence was to show
that. though no doubt is entertained
that Wirz Is an atrocious criminal,
others of higher rebel position shared
his guilt.
At the Wirz trial yesterday Col. Chip
man read to the Commission letter adj
dressed to him by Capt. Wirz asking,
although he was conscious of his innO-
cence, that he might have religious COM
fort, and suggesting that Fathers
Wheelan and Hamilton might be per-
mitted to visit him in their PASTORAL Ca
pacity. The prisoner not being in the
care of the Court, the letter was referred
to the War Department for its action,
there being no doubt that the request
will be granted. Lieutenant Prescott
Tracy testified to Captain Virus cruelty,
and among the acts mentioned was the
shooting and killing of man who had
slipped over the dead line while endea-
voring to obtain water. Some import
ant documentary evidence, including
letter from Howell Cobb, and an official
letter from Wirz, whilst in command of
the prison at Andersonville, were placed
in evidence.
In reference to General Slocum's or
| by Provisional Governor Sharkey of
Mississippi, of State militia, letter,
written to the latter official, by Presi-
dent johnson, is published. In this
! document the President expresses his
belief that there can be little danger to
the national authority in the formation
of this militia, and thinks that the
| movement is proper one. He says that
| the people must be trusted with their
| government, and his opinion Is that if
| they are trusted they will act in good
faith. He also states that the main OBJ
ject of Schurz's mission to the South,
was to aid in carrying out the govern
ment's policy for the restoration of the
Southern States to their proper position
| in the Union. Ns E5z.E ,zSF
A despatch from Sitka, dated August
18th, via New Westminster, September
9Th, gives us cheerful account of the
operations of the Overland Telegraph
Expedition, in the explorations they
| were about to make. An exploring
party was about to leave at once for Ana
| dyr Bay and Behring Straits, taking the
route from the Anadyr river to the
| Amoor, Another party was to sail for
| Fort st. Michaels and the Yonkon river,
and also proceed to Anadyr and the
Straits. Everything pertaining to the
| great expedition was progressing favora-
bly,, and the Russian officials at Sitka
had extended every aid in their power.
The health of the expeditionary corps
was excellent.
| "The United States Marshal" says
| the Montgomery Advertiser, 25th ult.,
| yesterday arrested Hon. William G.
Jones, who was in this city, on the
| charge of treason and conspiracy. Judge
Jones was the presiding Judge of the
| District Court of the United States for
the State of Alabama at the time of Sc
| cessiOn, and was continued in that posi-
ton by the succeeding regime. He en-
tered into bond of twenty thousand
dollars for his appearance at the court to
be held i'm this city in November next"
Later advices from Mexico confirm
| the reported disasters to the Liberals OH
| the frontier border. Their retreat from
Chihuahua to Ell Paso is said to have
| been the result of stragetic combinations
Oh the part of the Imperialists, who
have lately received large reinforce
| ments, and are i'm much better condi-
ton to operate successfully than they
have been heretofore. 1t is thought the
continued resistance by Juarez would be
impossible without foreign aid, even in
his stronghold at Ell Paso.
General Asboth, commanding at Bar
| rancas, has issued an order to the follow
ing purport: AS there appears to be
some misconceptions relative to the parole
given to soldiers of the late so-called
Confederate army, it is hereby announc-
ed that the spirit of this parole was
to obey the laws of the United States,
and any violation of those laws, as we'll
| as the proclamation of the President OF
the United States in regard to slavery,
| will be met within this military district
with speedy punishment"
The election returns thus far received
from Vermont are still meagre, but they
already show general and heavy fall
ing off in the vote of both parties. Out
of fifty-three towns there is not single
one which gives a majority for the
Democratic candidate. The Republican
candidate for Governor is elected by
about Is, 600 majority, The Senate will
again be unanimously Union as last
year. The House will likewise be about
the same as its predecessor.
The Republican party in the States of
Minnesota and Wisconsin have just held
their conventions. In the former State,
they swallowed the Chase platform, ne
gro suffrage and all, and directly voted
down resolution approving the admin
istration of President Johnson. In
Wisconsin there was sharp contest
over universal negro suffrage and the en-
4 Of thQ procidpnffS 1,0Iicv