The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-10
Reconstruction In virgfnia-Opposi.
fiOn of General StOneman-Perse-
custSou of IJniOu Men. H=s 15.-
Correspondence of Forncy's Chronicle.

l
G RICHMOND, August 3, 1868. Y
| The prosecutions of the Union men of
| Virginia still continue. Almost daily new
accounts reach the public ear Of outrages
t committed by the demoralized chivalry Of
this State. About three weeks since a
| teacher of the freedmen (Mr. w. w. Lewis)
| at Lawrenceville, Brunswick county, organ
| lied a Union League at that place, under
| instructions from the State Council. Some
of the prominent rebels Of that county
among others, DR.. Powell and Mr.. Tlghman,
| the latter a justice Of the peace, who had
previously declared that Lewis should be
| driven out Of the county-secured his ar
rest upon a charge Of attempting to
incite an insurrection among the negroes.
Lewis was thrust into Jail, bail was
refused him, no intercourse allowed
him with his friends, and fer some
time he was fed on bread and water.
A presentation of the facts Of this case to
General Stoneman failed to secure redress.
! Lewis still remains in jail. 1t is not be-
cause they desire Office for the sake of the
office, as the Richmond Dispatch intimates,
that the Unionists OF Virginia request Gene
raj Grant or Secretary Schofeld to enforce
the provisions of the reconstruction acts
and the fourteenth amendment for the re-
| moval of disloyal men from office. They
| desire that change that they may be secure
| in their persons and property. That secu-
rity, from sorrowful experience, they are
convinced they cannot obtain until Union
men wcld the power of the State. For the
past two years in Virginia loyalty has been
disgrace, and treason honorable. Powha-
tan Weisiger, a hatmaker in this city, who
claims social position equal with any, said,
few days since, that before another year
had passed there would not be Republican
left in this city. John L. Marye, Jr., who
was q member of the constitutional con-
vention of Virginia, and is now the rebel
candidate for the position of AttorneyGe-
neral, declared that when the Democratic
party swayed Virginia, freed from military
rule, they would make the State too hot for
Yankees. Your correspondent heard an
ex-rebel soldier say, in the presence OF
several gentlemen, that if the military
were removed, the streets Of Richmond
would run with the blood Of negroes and
| Yankees. Andrew Jenkins, clerk Of the
Hastings Court for this city, said this morn
ing that Jefferson Davis was the purest,
most honest, noblest, and best man that
lived in the world to-day. These are the
sentiments of the several classes Of rebels
in the State, and the Union men know
that, with the control of the State in the
hands of such men, and the military
Withdrawn, they would not be safe one
hour they, nor their families, nor their
property. Yet complaints to General
Stoneman in cases of outrages upon
Union men seek an inattentive and indif-
ferent ear. Is it to be wondered at that
an indignant cry should come up from the
! loyal men of this State when the COM
mander sent here to protect them ignores
their complaints and evidence, while lend
ing ready attention to the misrepresenta-
tions Of revengeful rebels-of men who, i'm
mcdiately under his eye, are exerting their
energies and employing their official posi-
tions to oppose reconstruction. VII. Mac
farland is now President of the City Coun-
Gil of Richmond, and at every session
indugurates measures that tend to the sub
version Of tlS reconstruction acts. 1t was
the same Macfarland who, as a member OF
the rebel Congress, with the boastful spirit
! Of this Virginia chiyalry. swere he would
never consent to limit the territory Of the
| Confederacy this side of the Susquehanna.
! In this same Council, Mr.. Saunders, who
endorsed notes and bonds Of the city OF
Richmond during the rebellion to the eamount
| of half million, and which arc now, OF
course, as valueless as the bonds of the ex-
| tinct Cenfederacy, has presented an ordi-
nance to effect the funding of the indebted
ness of the municipality. This ordinance
reads very quietly, but if it is passed by
this Council it will secure the payment of
the rebel debt of the city-$500, 900. Gene
raj Stoneman, it is feared, will scarcely hold
| that he has right to interfere. He always
! says, when any case is presented by the
Unionists, that he will consult Schofeld
and abide his decision. Certainly those
| consultations must be rare, for Stoneman
avoids all action. A case has recently oc-
Cured peculiarly illustrating Virginian
ideas Of honor and morality. II. L. Wigand
was appointed City Collector by General
Schofeld. Before entering upon the per-
formancc of the duties of his office
Wigand gave the bond required by
Law. Mr.. Clopton, member of the
City Council, was detected in the act of
inducing one of the securities to withdraw
his name from the bond. Clopton told
the surety that if he withdrew his name he
should have the contract for certain work to
be given out under the city. By combined
persuasion and intimidation the surety
finally withdrew his name. Raleigh 7.
Daniel, the city attorney, DISTINGUISHED
under the reconstruction acts, and disqual-~
ified from holding office under the four
teenth amendment, thereupon volunteered
to inform these city fathers that Wi
gand's bond was invalid, although
the remaining sureties were good for
thrice the amount of the bond. a,
committee of the Council declared the
collectorship vacant, and ordered Wigand
to transfer all his books to the pos
session of the committee. Wigand OBJ,
fiected until time were allowed him to settle,
his accounts with the city. The committee
(ex-rebels) waited upon General Stoneman,
who, after hearing them, and only them,
put Wigand from his office by military
force. The committee then proceeded to
examine his books, and, without any COM
munication with Wi gand, proclaimed him a
defaulter in the report they made. After
this, they permit Wigand to gogoyer his
books. Satisfying himself and the COM
mittee of the amount due, Wigand promptly
paws the amount. Stoneman appo1n1s
WHINE, who takes the oath but Winnie ap-
points for his deputy Hobson, who was re-
moved by Schofeld. Hobson is virtually
collector. He had previously admitted
that he was behind $4,000, which he
could not return to the city unless
raAppointed; but no committee examines
hobson's books, a neat Virginia trick !. I!
General Milford il censured for allowing,