Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-06
RICHMOND WHIG.
SATURDAY MoRNING......,.JAN. {, 1866.
TRIAL OF THE LAMARS AT SAVANNAH.
An Important Case-What are the Charges ana
the Evidence.

The trial Of G.. B. Lamar is progressing before
military commission in Savannah, Georgia; u D.
Lamar was formerly President oi tie DAM ol | 'iie
Eepublic in New York, and has been considered one
e ibe most apacOus business men OF TINS country
b- i q native of Georgia and TO INN is accOrueu
the credit of having first brought an IRON vessel 10
this rountry. lie imported in pieces, from England
the iron steamboat John Randolph ana hau he'
rive ted together on the wharts Oi savannah.
H. tterSarls sold out all his interest IN the steam
boat line 10 a company, which was organized under
the title of the Iron steamboat Company:
Mr. Lamar met with terrible family afilction in
ls3s while en- route North, or pleasure excursion
an hoard the ill-iated steamship Pulaski. by tins
cotast roph. Mr. Lamar lost his wife, most estllla-
bIe and accomplished lady, together with very IN
terestinr fsmily-Mr. Lamar and MS son ChalleS
being the only survivors Of his family alter the
5rea'jful disaster After most miraculous escape,
MIR. Lamar and his son Charles were rescued IN an
exhausted condition, and taken to the house ot
MIR Cazeueau. living on the coast Of North Carolina
near Wilmington, where, owing To the assduOus at
tpntiou bestowed upon them by the family OF that
gentleman they both recovered from the enects G G'
their accident. Mr.. Lamar then proceeded North
and in the following year returned and married one
of NJ CaZeneau's daughters, aud came to Savannah
to r. De with his family.
lie afterWard removed to Augusta ana Dullt
uagnifrent residence on the sand Hills near that
city He subsequently embarked in the cotton bus-
ness rs merchant, which by his energy he increased
to a large extent, realizing an immense fortune, but
the climate not agreeing with the health OF Mrs
Lamar he took his family 10 New York, where he
2cated himself, and was soon elected President oil
l. Ne Bank of the Republic, one of the best moneyed
in ,ttutions OF ts character in the city. This posi-
tio he occupied until the .reakng ont oi the war
non the commencement Of hOstllltleS between
the North and South, he was compelled To nee from
Nav York 10 save his life, which had been repeatedly
tbrro ,ened by mObs-the fact of his being southern
man If somewhat ultra principles making mn Il
promiL ent object Unpopular aversion; and IN leaving
ppn,.T lch circumstances he sacrificed large PEE
runi,ry interest in coal stocks, real estate, etc
After n aching Savannah, he was chosen President
or the RAJ lk OF Commerce in that city, and held in
addition Il post OF agent for the state 0l Georgia,
and was ais appointed paymaster OF the state. lie
nfulord AT blS time, on his own personal account,
in very extens i've cotton SpeculationS.
During the var, about the year 1868 Mr.. Lamar
was President II 4 Blockade Running Company
which had been Established by the State of Georgia
for the purpose of -unnng cOnraband goods through
the Federal blockade.
amer the capture of Savannah lie took the oath OF
allegiance TO the Government with the ueterhlna,
tion 10 become Il Ilw-abiding citizen. The trial
which is now in progress involves an immense
amount of property v&riOuSly estimated from one to
tyo millions dollars worth of cotton. The larger
norton of this property formerly belonged 10 the
blockade Running Company, ana IS thereiOle SUD
iect 10 coufScaton by the agents Ol government
IL is to recover this cotton, and Investigate certain
CHARGES of bribery and corruption made, that this
action Is brought against Mr. Lamar in connection
with several Government ohcalN
Tbe Counsel of MIR. Lamar denied the right to try
hin, on the charges before Military Commission, but
tLi, was ovcr-ruled and the case proceeded
The evidence on the 26:h and 2hh December
mainly consisted OF correspondence between Mr.. La
mar aud his nephew, AN agent who was attending
10 his interests. In these there are suggestions rom
fine latter OF dOuceurS TO Federal officers aud how
NECESSARY It is to submit to bcedng to get out cot
tnp bnt there was no evidence Of bribery.