A glimpse of life in Norfolk.
We published on Saturday some intelligence from a Yankee paper called "The Virginian,"--published at Norfolk. A perusal of its contents will show to what insult and ignominy the remaining citizens of that unhappy town are forced to submit. Not long since, Dr. Wright, a prominent physician, killed a Yankee lieutenant of a negro company, who had ordered his arrest by two of his negro soldiers in a public street. The following from this infamous Yankee sheet shows how they thirst for his blood.We understand that some of the coadjutors and fellow-conspirators of the murderer Wright are now engaged in getting up a petition to the President to pardon him or to commute his sentence. The dodge is to fabricate and forge names to this petition, and to represent that all its citizens are good Union men, and to promise great things in the way of conversion of rebels if executive clemency is shown to this red handed assassin.
Now let the Union men of Portsmouth and Norfolk go to work and checkmate this move. This is the especial duty of the Union Leagues and the Union Clubs. Let them get up a remonstrance against any mercy being shown to the murderer, and have it signed by none but Union men who have proved their faith by their works.--Then let the fact that the signers are such Union men be attested by the Provost Marshal and other officers here, and then let a committee take the papers to Washington and lay them before the President. Mr. Lincoln is proverbially a kind- hearted and humane man; but he is likewise a just man, and he cannot fall to do justice when the facts are all placed before him. But any one can see the danger which will arise if the murderer's lawyers are allowed to misrepresent the case to him, and to abuse his mind with false statements as to the wishes of the people. Speedy action should be taken in the matter. We call on the Union Clubs to do their duty, and not to let the murderer escape.
The Yankee advocates a draft in Norfolk and Portsmouth, and in all that por- tion of Virginia under Federal rule. He says:
‘ It is time that the greater portion of these men claim that they have thrown off allegiance to the Government, and only owe loyalty to one Jeff. Davis, who lives at Richmond. But the Government can recognize no such pretence. Every American citizens owes allegiance to the Government at Washington, and that only — and every one ought to be willing to fight for it. If any one is not willing he ought to be made to do it, nolens volens.
’ If the draft were enforced in these two cities, at least two regiments of troops could be raised. There is no place in the Union where the enforcement of the draft is more needed than it is here. There is no place where less hardship would be caused by its enforcement mean here. For the great proportion of the men here are living in idleness — doing nothing to support themselves, and affording no assistance to their families. The pay they would receive would, in all probability, in many cases, be the only money they have ever earned in their lives.
Every day we see squads of idle young and middle aged men lounging about town, talking treason and hatching plots. Let them be taken and put into the ranks. They are too cowardly to fight for Jeff. Let's see if we cannot make them fight for Abe.
Three companies of the 148th New York volunteers went into Norfolk on Saturday, and pitched their tents on the green near the military Academy. The remaining companies of the regiment, now at Fort Norfolk, and quartered in other parts of the city, were to join them in a day or two. The editor remarks:
This quarter of the town is intensely "secesh,"and we hope that the presence of so many loyal soldiers in the neighborhood, with the "old flag" constantly in view, and the patriotic music of the band every morning and evening, may do the inhabitants good. By the way, won't Col. Johnson do what the 19th Wisconsin proposed to do had they remained there — have a "liberty pole" erected at the corner of Catherine and Charlotte streets, something like the one Major Wentz has set up near the rail road station. It would add greatly to the appearance of the camp, and furnish the only possible means in that section of the city of conspicuously displaying the "starry banner."
The following is published in the paper, headed "important action of the City Council of Portsmouth:"
[adopted Aug. 1st, 1863.
- Resolved, 1st, That a committee of three be appointed to wait on His Excellency Gov. F. H. Pierpont, and represent to him that the Military Commander of this Department has interfered with the civil authorities, with a view to set aside certain acts of this Board and decide upon points of civil law, when the Courts of the Commonwealth are open to decide upon all civil questions.
- Resolved, 2d, That the Committee, in conjunction with Gov. Pierpont, call upon His Excellency the President of the United States, and the Honorable Secretary of War, and ask for the immediate removal of the Commanding General of this Department, and all other officers who have interfered with civil law; and also insist on a precise and exact adjustment of the boundaries between civil and military authorities.
- Resolved, 3d, That the committee be composed of His Honor Daniel Collins, Mayor of Portsmouth; His Excellency Lieutenant Governor L. C. P. Cowper, and James W. Brownley, H. D.
With the following item from the Virginian we close this glimpse of life in the unhappy city of Norfolk:
We learn that authority has been received from Washington, and certain gentlemen in Norfolk named as a commission, to ascertain the amount of property and the income of persons known to be disloyal to the Government. The report is to be made on or before the 8th of August, after which date very stringent measures will be adopted.
