Progress of the War.
The tyranny in Norfolk — a lady's account of her arrest by order of Mrs. Gen Viele.
A brief paragraph has appeared noticing the arrest of a lady in Norfolk by the wife, (or mistress, it is not certain which) of Gen. Viele, the military commandant there. The following is a letter from the lady herself to a friend in Lynchburg, giving the particulars of the affair. It is dated Portsmouth, Jan. 4th:Mrs. C--:According to promise, I will write you a correct account of my difficulties with the Yankees. On the 26th of December I went to Norfolk; on returning home there was a carriage on board of the boat with a Yankee woman and two children in it; while going over she hastily raised the carriage window and put a newspaper up, as much, as to say, the ladies should not look at her — Such unlady-like behavior drew the attention of all on the boat. She appeared to be very much enraged at something. My opinion is that her intention was to have a difficulty before she left the boat, to show her power. She called out for the Captain of the boat; a gentleman remarked that it was conducted by negroes. She replied, 'Do you intend to insult me, sir?' He said, "Oh, no, madam. " and passed on as quickly as possible, for fear of getting into a row. She called for the corporal of the guard to arrest those women in the cabin, intending to take them all up for looking at her. To my great surprise she addressed me personally, saying she would have me arrested and reported to General Viele; accused me of making remarks about her.--I said, ‘"woman, who has made any remarks about you? you are not worthy of notices." ’ She ordered the guard to arrest me. I went before the Provost Marshal in Portsmouth once, and the Provost in Norfolk twice, before it was settled. The charge was, I told Mrs. Gen. Viele she was not worth noticing. I replied, ‘"the woman in the carriage insulted me, and I retaliated"’ I acknowledged I did tell her, and, further more, I intended to resent any insult offered me, regardless of the consequences. She might be a General's wife, but I considered myself as good as she was. I did not recognize her only as ‘"the woman in the carriage"’ I told him it was no new sight to me to see horses and carriages. I had been accustomed to them all my life time. My aunt, who was in company with me, remarked, when I said that, not taken from Dr. Selden's stables, either. He said Mrs. Gen. Viele had a perfect right to order the guard to arrest me. I remarked, I did not know that it was customary for all officers' wives to command the guard; using his own language, ‘ "Madame, I do not wish you to put words in my mouth, I wish to try the case in my own fashion."’
I returned home with the restriction that I should not be permitted to pass to Norfolk. On that day an order was passed by Mrs. Gen. Viele that no female should pass over the ferry without a written order from headquarters, and a guard sits in the cabin of the boat to keep ladies from talking.
On the first of January, my son William was arrested by a negro girl, who belonged to us, and had left six months ago. She cursed him, and he struck her three times. Capt. York sent him to the guard house for all night. The girl was disguised as a lady.
I went to the Captain, and found him sitting with his back to me, and his feet upon a table, smoking; I thought of course that when I addressed him he would change his position; but he did not. I said to him, ‘"Captain, are you compelled to keep my son in the guard house all night?"’ he said "no," as if he was speaking to a servant.
I then said, ‘"will you permit him to sleep at home, and he will be at his trial in the morning?"’ He said ‘"no,"’ very abruptly. I then said, "what is all this for — because he resented the insult of a negro? He said it made no difference if she did insult him, he had no right to strike her. As I passed out of the office. I remarked, "our Southern gentlemen could not repulse the pleadings of a mother in that manner, but I could not expect any better of them." He ordered the guard to take me to jail. Miss M., who was in company with me, said, "can I say anything, sir, that I may go with her?" So we were both ordered to jail. It was a cold night to spend in a cell without a fire.--Our suffering while in that cold place were beyond description. The windows were all out, and a part of the floor was torn up.
Next morning we were marched to Norfolk by a guard, and carried before the Provost, and the case was dismissed. My son was sent to jail for seven days.
The proclamation of President Davis against Butler.--a call on Lincoln to Disown him.
The Chicago Times has the following article relative to the proclamation of President Davis against Butler, in the same article it pretty nearly foretells the result of Lincoln's 1st of January proclamation:The brutal tyrannies of Gen. Butler at New Orleans, recited in the late proclamation of Jeff Davis, will, if they be truly recited, amply justify the retaliation he threatens. It remains for our Government to disprove the charges or punish Butler. If it faits to do this, and fails to make restitution, and, so far as in it lies, reparation, to the victims of Butler's robberies, it is the abettor of his crimes. We are having numerous Courts Martial in different parts of the country, and brave, tried, and loyal men are called upon to meet the false and slanderous accusations of personal enemies. Fitz John Porter, at Washington, and Gen. Buell, at Nashville, are kept from the field to answer charges that every act of their as officers disproves, and which none but so Administration swayed by partisan hatred would have heard or ordered a trial upon. These men, if they have erred at all, have erred in judgment. Their hearts are above treachery, and their faith has been proved in the presence of death — while Butler, impeached by the united testimony of the people of New Orleans; by the inhabitants of all that portion of Louisiana west of the Mississippi which he has plundered; by all the Fortian Consuls within his lines; by the report of Reverdy Johnson, an able and upright Commissioner of the Government, and by his own illegal and inhuman orders, in ordered from New Orleans, with the fruit of his spiracles, to take, (as organs of the Administration announce) a more important command.
The Administration knew months ago that Butler was plundering. They knew it by the representations of foreign consuls and the report of Reverdy Johnson, and still they have retained him in command, and by that retention justified his course. The proclamation of Jeff Davis is a document that the world will not take cognizance of; and, if our Government shall attempt to pass it by in Silence, or treat it with indifference, or meet it by one of a similar character, threatening like retaliation, we shall lose, as we ought, the respect and sympathy of all civilized peoples.
The honor of the Government demands that the charges of murder, arson, robbery, oppressions, and attempts to excite servile insurrection, made by Jeff Davis against a commanding General of our armies, should be met as they are stated, fairly and fully. If they are false, let it be shown; and, if they are true, let no attempt be made by the Government to shield this wretched criminal from punishment. The responsibility of Butler's administration rests now upon the Administration at Washington.
There is not a man living to-day charged with greater crimes than Butler, and his conduct reflects directly not only upon the Government, but the American people, whose name he has disgraced.--Aside from all questions of policy, the trial of Butler is required by the people of the loyal States, that they may be freed from the suspicion of being his accessories.
There will be little difficulty in procuring witnesses. A quarter of a million of inhabitants stand ready to testify. They ask for justice, and such measure of vengeance as a fair trial and impartial law will grant. Shall they have it? Dare the Administration condemn a policy that has been in consonance with the policy it must itself pursue if the emancipation proclamation is issued? Dare the Administration condemn Butler for enforcing a policy demanded by the Abolition press and pulpit, to whom it has made a formal surrender of itself? We are now engaged in a war of extermination, if Butler be not punished. The proclamation of Jeff Davis relates to him and his officers only; but it is the forerunner of one that will apply to every officer of our armies if the proclamation threatened on the first of January is issued. The magnanimity of which Mr Seward assured the French Government would be observed by us toward the seceded States has grown small, by large degrees, under the fanaticism that demanded that the contest should not he a war, but a raid.
The Horrors of a Northern prison Described by a Yankee paper — the sufferings of political prisoners.
The Columbus (Ohio) Crisis, Gov. Mcdary's organ, which is a "conservative" paper, gives a description of the sufferings of those of its own party, as well as Southerners, who are arrested by Lincoln's minions as political prisoners. It says:‘ We speak wholly of the political prison of the State, as we know nothing whatever of what occurs in the prisons where " rebels taken in arms" are kept — that is, the prisoners of war.
It must not be forgotten that there have been from six to seven hundred political prisoners at Camp Chase at a time, and although several hundred have lately been discharged without trial, there are yet there some four hundred. One or two hundred of these have arrived there within a few days past from Kentucky and Western Virginia. These men are taken from their homes, some from their beds at night, some from their homes in day time, and a great many of them are picked up in their field at work, and never suffered to see their families before being spirited off to Ohio and incarcerated in the celebrated Bastile, which will soon become as famous as Olmuts itself.
Our Chains are put into the same prison with these men from other States, and from them we have learned some facts which the people of Ohio ought to know. Many of these men have been kept in this prison for over one year, a great many for five, six, seven, and eight months, without even seeing outside, or being allowed to communicate personally with any one, not even wife, child, father, mother, or stranger.
They are furnished with nothing but a single
blanket, even these cold night unless they are able to purchase additional comforts with money they may be able to command. Many are poor men, and unable to purchase. They were not permitted to bring along a change of clothing. Many had on when seized nothing but summer clothing, and that has become filthy, worn out, and scarcely hangs upon their backs. They have no bedding, and are, therefore, compelled to sleep on the bare boards. They have not wood gh furnished them to keep fires up all night, and hence the suffering is intensified by the cold weather. If they attempt after night to walk out in the yard to take the chills off the dreary night, they are instantly threatened to be shot by the guards, as ordered by those in command.
Dr. Allen, of Columbia county, Ohio, said he laid on a bare board until his hips were black and blue. The wood furnished them is four feet long, and they are compelled, mess to chop it up for themselves, and the provisions being furnished raw, they have to cook for themselves. Recollect, always, that these are political prisoners, against whom no one appears as accuse and no trial is permitted.
The prison has become filthy — awfully so — and the rats are in droves. If the prisoners attempt to kill one of these rats they are forbidden, and threatened with being shot instantly. Recollect, always, as we have said above, these are political prisoners, against whom some malicious negro worshipper has created a suspicion of disloyalty, but whose name is kept a secret, and hence there can be no trial.
The prison is perfectly alive with lice, and no change is given to escape the living vermin. A dead man (one of the prisoners) was the other day carried out to the dead yard, laid there over night, when visited in the morning, ther prisoners, who heard there was a does man there, they found the hair on his head stiff with lies and nits, the lice creeping into his eyes in great numbers, and as he lay with his mouth open, the lice were thick crawling in and out of his open mouth.
Not long since two of the prisoners got into a scuffle in trying their strength, and finally into a fight, as was supposed, and several other persons rushed in to part them, when the guards from the lookout above fired on them, killing an old man by the name of Jones, from Western Virginia, and a ball grazing the skull of another; he fell, and it was supposed at first he was killed also; another of the balls passed through a board at the head of a sick man in the hospital, and only escaped him by a few inches. The two men in the scuffle were not hurt.
We might go further, but God knows this is enough for once. It is enough to make one's blood run cold to think of it.
Now, if any one doubts this — if the authorities at camp or at the State House doubt — if the Legislature, when it meets, will raise a committee, we promise to name the witnesses who, if sent for, will, under oath, prove all this, and as much more, some of which is too indecent to print in a newspaper for the public eye.
’
A meeting of political Parsons in New York — a Fizzle.
A meeting of clergymen to adopt an address in favor of Lincoln's New Year's proclamation was held at the Cooper Institute last week. Cheever, Tyng, and their aiders and abettors, were on hand, numbering about seventy. The New York Express gives the following account of the manner in which the proceedings fizzled out:Dr. Tyng said he would not take any part in the proceedings except all who were not clergymen were excluded. He saw some ladies present, and he liked them in their proper places, but he thought they should not be present there.
[Some eight or ten ladies, who were thus made the target for the glances of all the clergy, then left the room — apparently indignant at their unceremonious exclusion.]
A minister, who refused his name, desired to know if the meeting was one of Protestant or Catholic clergy , and the Chairman replied that all clergymen were meant to be represented.
It is needless to state, however, that there were no Roman Catholic clergy present.
The minister then said it was the first duty of the clergy to come out and be separate, [laughter,] and he left the room.
The Rev. Dr. Ferris then entered and took the chair, and offered a brief prayer that the land might be redeemed from the curse of the rebellion.
On a motion being made, the Secretary read a report of the last meeting.
Dr. Vermylie said the matter was not a public one, and it was not desirous that other than the clergy should know anything of it. What had been said was intended to be private. He had respect for reporters, but he objected to the action of clergy being made known to the public.
Mr. Besson said he came there because he saw the meeting advertised in the papers.
The President said the announcement was un authorized. His brethren were not responsible for it.
Rev. Dr. Hitchcock said the committee had not inserted notices of the meeting in the paper.
Rev. Dr. A. B. Smith said he thought it would not be proper that any but those who were present at the last meeting should hear what was said then. It was essential, and he moved that the reading of the minutes be dispensed with.
A gentleman considered it highly improper that anything should have been stated about the action of the clergy in the newspapers.
Another minister inquired who caused the proceedings to be made public.
No reply was made.
Rev. Dr. Spear wondered the reporters present did not take the hint and leave the room. The meeting was intended for clergymen only, and they only received invitation to attend it. He believed it was highly improper that members of the press should be present. He knew he expressed the sense of many there when he stated that the reporters displayed great want of delicacy in remaining.
Several gentlemen applauded the latter sentence, among them Drs. Burchard, Vermylie, and others.
All eyes were now turned on the reporters, who had squatted on the edge of the platform, no table or seats having been provided for them.
"Why don't you leave?" asked a gentleman.--' They have no manners, ' rejoined another.
The reporters, however, remained stolidly, to the surprise and indignation of the clergy.
Some of the clergy were about to leave, when Dr. Smith said it was not their desire to exclude them.
Rev. Dr. Spear alluded again to the presence of reporters. They were not wanted there, and he moved they be respectfully requested to leave the room.
A reporter, who did not know the mover, asked him his name, but he refused to give it.
Mr. Besson said he came there in compliance of a call in the newspapers.
The President repeated that it was intended to be a gathering of the clergy, and he would leave if they went beyond the action of the previous meeting.
Dr. Vermylie here rose and made an important statement, which seemed to take the whole assembly by surprise. On behalf of the committee, he declared that under the circumstances he had no report to present.
Advices had just been received from Washington declaring that course was agreeable, and that there was no necessity, and probably no propriety in their taking any action on the question for which they had been convened. [Slight applause.] He moved that the meeting adjourn.
The motion, amid some excitement, was put and adopted by those present at the previous meeting. No others were allowed to vote on it.
Rev. Dr. Smith remarked that the committee would be empowered to call another meeting when they thought proper.
The members of the committee, as if by concerted arrangement, left the room.
Mr. Besson suggested that all desirous of recording an expression on the national crisis should remain.
Rev. Mr. Goodall said it was not right for these who did not hire the room to hold a meeting. He moved a final adjournment, which was carried amid loud laughter.
The room was soon vacated, but the clergy remained in the outer hall, some expressing their disappointment, and other their pleasure at the action of the meeting.
It was reported that the committee had proceeded to the house of one of the members to take some action.
The Abolition Senatorial Caucus on the
"State of the country."
The injunction of secrecy having been removed, the New York Tribune publishes the following paper, which it says was drawn by Senator Collamer, and presented to Lincoln on the 18th of December last by the committee of nine, causing the resignation of Secretaries Seward and Chase; A meeting of the Republican members of the Senate of the United States, at which they were all present but two, after full consultation, came unanimously to the following conclusions--one present not voting:
- First--The only course of sustaining this Government, and restoring and preserving the national existence, and perpetuating the national integrity, is by a vigorous and successful prosecution of the war — the same being a patriotic and just war on the part of this nation, produced by and rendered necessary to suppress a causeless and atrocious rebellion.
- Second.--The theory of our Government, and the early and uniform practice thereof is, that the President should be aided by a Cabinet Council agreeing with him in political principles and general policy, and that all important public measures and appointments should be the result of their combined wisdom and deliberation. This most obviously necessary condition of things, without which no Administration can succeed, we and the public believe does not now exist, and therefore such selections and changes in its members should be made as will secure the country unity of purpose and action in all material and essential respects, more especially in the present crisis of public affairs.
- Third.--The Cabinet should be exclusively composed of statesmen who are the cordial, resolute, unwavering supporters of the principles and purposes first above stated.
- Fourth.--It is unwise and unsafe to commit the direction, conduct, or of any important military operations, or separate general command or enterprise in this war to any one who is not a cordial believer and supporter of the same principles and purposes first above stated.
The Kentucky (Union) Governor Opposed to the proclamation.
The Northern telegraph furnishes us the following of intelligence from Frankfort:Louisville, Jan. 9--The Legislature of Kentucky met at Frankfort yesterday. Governor Robinson's Message recommends that Kentucky the President's Proclamation, and against any interference with her State policy as unwarranted by the Constitution. Re thinks the proclamation ing freedom to the slaves in the rebellious States, inflicts upon Kentucky a fatal though indirect blow.
He says that the and lost result of the proclamation will be to fire the whole South with one burning mass of inexhaustible , and destroy all hope of restoring the Union, which is only possible by adhering to the Constitution as it was; and, further, that in view of this act of military necessity, he advises the Legislature to place on record their protest against the proclamation.
The "State of Kanawha."
The law for the erection of the new State of West Virginia was signed by Lincoln on the last day of the year; but by the terms of the bill it does not come immediately into the Union. After the Constitution received the sanction of the people, the Convention amended one of the sections in such a manner as to eventually make it a free State by gradual emancipation. This amendment is ordered to be voted upon, and if accepted, Lincoln is to issue a proclamation stating the fact, and sixty days thereafter the new Commonwealth will take its place as the thirty-fifth State.
A touching Dispatch from the Gorilla.
The Ape has sent the following dispatch to Rosecrans:'Your dispatch announcing the retreat of the enemy has just reached here. God bless you, and all with you. Please tender to all, and accept for yourself, the nation's gratitude for your and their skill, endurance, and dauntless courage.
The Confederate success at Galveston.
The Washington Chronicle announces the capture of the Harriet Lane and the surrender of the garrison at Galveston, Texas. It says:‘ After a sharp fight, in which our troops defended themselves to the best of their ability, Magruder forced them to surrender. Magruder was aided in his assault by five gunboats, protected with cotton, who simultaneously made an attack on our fleet. The rebel crew was composed of Texas riflemen, and after these had killed Captain Wamwright and most of the officers and crew of the Harriet lane, they boarded and took possession of her. The crew of the Union gunboat Westfield determined not to surrender her, and they blew her up. Commander Kenshaw and Lieut. Zimmerman did not get off the vessel in time, and they were blown up with her. The other two gunboats escaped. Our loss is estimated at 150 killed and 200 taken prisoners.
’
Later from New Orleans--Hon. Mr. Bouligny in prison.
The Mobile Tribune has received a late New Orleans paper. From its summary of the news we take the following:Among the proceedings of the Provost Court we find the following item: "James Finland E. Bouligny had a row at J. Howkins's Bouligny shot three times at Finn, with whom he had been fighting, and who had knocked him down. None of the shots took effect. Both parties were arrested Finn was fined $25, and Bouligny was fined $100, and sent thirty days to the Parish prison."
This is the same Bouligny who, at the time of the secession of Louisiana, was a representative in the Federal Congress from that State and who, born in the South, went over to her enemies. At the recent bogus election in New Orleans he was defeated for Congress by a man with whom he would have scorned to associate before he became a traitor. Finn was regarded in New Orleans as a quiet, inoffensive man, but quite formidable as a "buffer" when aroused. He was a private in the Confederate service from the commencement of the war until within a few months past when he received his discharge on a Surgeon's certificate, and, being probably still loyal to the South, the affray may have arisen from some taunt, he cast at the recreant Louisianian.
Dr. Rossvelly, who figured conspicuously in this city two or three months ago, had put in an appearance on the streets of New Orleans.
Quite a number of persons, among them the James Finn mentioned above, were arrested Christmas day for "using seditious language and annoying loyal persons by hurrahing for Jeff Davis, Stonewall Jackson, and other rebel leaders."
Miscellaneous.
The Yankee dispatches from Fort Monroe say the Federals burnt a rebel baggage train at the White House and captured $50,000 worth of goods from "Jim Brown of Baltimore," a blockade runner who is now a prisoner aboard the gunboat Hatasken.Col. Ludlow, the U. S. agent for the exchange of prisoners, telegraphs that it is "highly probable that the rebel Government will rescind the order retaining U. S. officers."
Secretary Chase is in New York holding a conference with the bank Presidents.
Gen. McClernand has superceded Gen. Sherman on account of the Vicksburg disaster to the latter.
A. Malero, a bookseller in New Orleans, has been fined $25 for exhibiting a painting of Stonewall Jackson in his window. J. A. Mondelli, the artist who painted it, was fined $10.
The Washington Republican states authoritatively that 40 vessels have recently left British ports to run the blockade.
Col. J. B. Forman, 20 years of age, the youngest Colonel in the federal service, was killed at Murfreesboro'.
It is now certain that Burnside will retire from the command of the army of the Potomac. He insists upon it himself. Hooker will succeed him.
