Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-03

1 -FEiNRb VI. w. fsA-NDOLI II.
releasing the parties. in which actions
was always sustained by the superintend-
ent OF the prison. and indeed. after
awhile by General Winder himself. as
I have stated.
General Winder's creduilty and reliance
upon reports founded upon mere suspicion
may be better illustrated by a personal
, incident which I may be pardoned for
narrating. Before the war I was an old
line Wing. When William l.. Yancey
and other distinguished orators I'm 1850
were firing the southern heart by seces-
sion speeches, / was opposed to their
doctrines and thought they would lead
TO what afterwards they did-the most
terrible war OF modern times But this
opinion was not held by the southern lead
ers, even after the Confederate Government
was established at Montgomery. At that
place II was asked Of Mr. Memmenger
Confederate States Secretary of the Trea-
sury. by Mr.. Heating, the gentleman.
who was employed by the government to
engrave the Confederate notes, that he
might be authorized 10 go down 10 Mobile
and charter vessel and sail for Halifax
and thence go down 10 New York. where
he could obtain all the necessary mate
rails and skilled workmen for engraving
purposes as they were not to be found
In the Confederacy. Memmenger would
not consent TO the proposal, because he
thought IL was not necessary to incur the
expenses. as the war would not last over
three months. And this, 1 belive, was
IN general the sentiment Of all the leaders
and men who influenced public
opinion in the South. When the Virginia
convention assembled I'm 1861 a majority
or its members, as well as a majority OF
the people. were in favor OF the Union
VIRGINIA JOINED HER SISTERS.
But the pressure Of the Southern Sc
ceded States upon Virginia to Join them
was so strong that, after exhausting every
effort for peace, when Mr.. Lincoln is
sued his proclamation for the States to
furnish 1900 troops to coerce the seed
Ing States, Virginia no longer hesitated
TO unite with them. The Wings OF the
State. true. loyal men, sorrowfuly de-
plored the cruel strife which they saw
would soon begin. But they had to
meet the alternatives presented. VIII you
obey the voice of Virginia and fight for
your Southland? or will you leave the
homes OF your fathers, your kindred.
and friends, and fight under the Star
Spansled Banner. emblem OF the Union
you have loved so well? Actuated by the
same spirit which breathes in the letter
or Robert T.. Lee when he resigned his
Federal commission and came to defend
his native State. with almost unanimlty
they responded to Virginia's call, and in
the dreadful battles which ensued no
man doubted their loyalty or yalor.
With such true Wings as General Lee.
General Jackson. General Early, General
Wickham, General Imboden, and many
others leading the armies Of the Con-
federacy, the rank and file OF the grand
old party followed wherever they led.
Iney were loyal to Virginia and were
determined 10 obey her vofca ~ the ard
But now having done this and having
our honor sustained. we rejoice TO come
back to the Union, and 70 rest under the
protection Of that proud banner rendered
immortal by the eloqusnce OF Webster.
Clay, Prentice. Crittenden. Choate. and
other distinguished orators OF the past
THE TERRIBLENESS OF WAR.
When the war was in full progress
l went down to witness the battle of
seven Pines. The carnage and terrific !
slaughter which I saw-men scattered |
everywhere, wounded. dying, and dead |
gave me a most vivid idea of the terri
bleness Of war. I was filled with sympa- |
thy Tor the suffering which our people |
endured, and under the inspirat ton of |
such sentiments. when I returned TO |
Richmond and was giving an account at
Castle Thunder of what | had seen on |
the battlefield. among other things. | |
II thank my God | had |
nothing to do with bringing on this war,
/ never believed in the constitutional Sc |
cession Of State, and l do not believe |
In IL now"
Two OF the detectives reported this
language to General Wnder. with such
comments. I suppose, as induced him to
believe that l was dsloyal. He made the
detectives swear to the statement. and a