, 1866-06-02

IRistorT Of 1t. Travels and Capture
The Attempt to Recover 1t Likely to
Prove Failure.

Prove Failure.
tFrom the n. T. Tribune, May e8tl
The efforts Of the Kichmoud banks to re-
cover the gold c*ptured after the evacuation
of Richmond, and now held by the Treasury
Department, are likely to prove abortivc
The facts Of tue case arc that in the middle
Of March, 1865, the rebel treasury bccamc re-
duccd to bccgarly ebb, and the banks and
other spccrlat0rsfn coin it WAS found must
be appealed to to supply resources for the
exhausted commissary department Of the
rebel army. The rebel War Department held
some cotton in tAo Southern States and at
Nnst2u. This, as collateral security for bonds
= the Confcderacy. Breckenridge offered to
Tie Richmon Il banks ior loan of 1901 900 in
coin. The loan. not because Of want Of SYM
kss1thy In the rebel Cause, hut because of legal
affection IN the charter laws Of Virginia bank
~ associations, was not tnkcu directly by
me banks, hut the STATE Of NIsginia came to
the rescue OF tho rebel War Department, and
Its Legislature, by act Of 1ith Of March, 1865,
provided for loan Of s,I0O, ,Oc0 In coin Tor the
use and bcnctit of the rebel Contcdefncy; aud
the rebel Congress. by act approved March
-, 1865, provided for Il loan by the rebel War
department, with provisions about security,
nor the State Of Virginia to indemnify her for
SSchdlt so loaned the Confcdcrucy, Thus the
applgrcss. the State or Virginia and her banks
slmgot into tie rebel bout and strengthened
rsN practically aidod aud abettcl rebellion
ebeether. The loan was contaminated by
.ahc banks Of Virginia contributing to the
-sanc rs follows:
Far1ne1s nauk o. Er2sn!a.....-.., .... Slna 900
Exchange M i'.nk Of Virginia al So1folk..... 3I0o1
Aan1 Of the comnonweaIlh - ........-.-. 31,003
A Exeh:ngs . bank e. K1chuonds as,0al
Bank OF ktchmont..- -........,,.. 8.O00
The bonds OF the State Of Vireinia were
issued for each or the above sums, made nav
able at the termination Of tho rebellion or at
pleasure Of the State, and the transaction
closed the Last week in March. On Sunday,
celebrated despatch In church from ten. Lee
announcing The necessity ot eyaeuatjus Rich.
mond that evening. This Information caused,
Of course, terrible CONSIDERATION In the Cabi.
seized the banks and not psetctrinc to await
q aud aral themselves Of the protection OF the
United States armies, incontfnenily skcdad.
died with Jet: Osiris and his rebel Cabinet
and armies. Two days previous, aud on TINT
same day, the gold which had been loaned tie
rebel War Department, and passed TO the
credit Of the State on books Of the
banRs, was paid out on order Of ne State
Treasurer and Auditor Of ireiuia to officers Of
the rebel Commlssary Department., aud they
tcnce for acc's army. The banks sen. the
gold they had left after tie loan, anl their
books and papers, away from Richmond By
the same train that conveyed the rebel Treas.
and hoping to make successful stand at
Danyille. The fmpetuous advance of Grant
and bis armies rom Petersburg caused the
surrender Of Lee Mt Appomattox Court
House. and, instead Of the officers Of the rebel
War Department coming forward In good
t3Mth, md surrcndcrinE {t!.c gold left on
!. handy in compliance with the terms OF sur.
render TO General Gran1, they conniyed with
The banks IN running the gold or to Georgia,
where part Of 1t Was stolen and part secured
by the banks, and the balance, about $40, ,00o,
ncnptured by United States mlll.ary force, Id
ttGeorgia, and turned over to the Treasur De.
apartment Is captured property. Some months
1.-THE President aud Secretary Of tue Treasury
1lor the release Of the gold - the private
Improperly Of these banks, and said not word
latabout the loan for the benefit Of the rehe
1aEovernmcnt; and the President and Sccre
Sfskary Of the Treasury, not being advised OF th'
.sToans to the State for rebelllous purposes, or
teadered its surrender to the banks.