February 27.
John Gold and Elias Paulding were arraigned in the Mayor's Court, at Richmond, Va., for avowing themselves subjects of the Lincoln Government, and expressing sentiments disloyal to the Southern Confederacy. John Gold is an Irishman; Elias Paulding, the other prisoner, is a man about fifty years of age, and apparently an American. William Hammond, a McCulloch Ranger, and another member of the same company, were sworn as witnesses. Hammond deposed: I was taking supper last night at Ford's, and the conversation at the table turned on the late affair at Roanoke Island, and the subsequent treatment of our men by the Yankees. I said we had been treated about as well as prisoners of war could expect. Gold spoke up, and asked if any one ever had been maltreated under the Stars and Stripes. He said he himself was a soldier, and a member of the Polish Brigade. That he had been dragged to the recruiting office in New Orleans with a halter about his neck, and forced to enlist. He said he was a citizen of Philadelphia — that the Star Spangled Banner had once waved over this city, and would soon do it again. This man Paulding, at this, spoke up and said: “That's so.” I then left the table and went into the front-room, and when Gold and Paulding came out, I arrested Gold, and told my comrade to arrest Paulding, and we carried them to the watch-house. At the watch-house Gold repeated that he was a citizen of Philadelphia, and had a wife and four children there, and said he claimed the protection of the United States, and that he did not recognize the Confederate Government. He showed a medical discharge from the Polish Brigade, and a recommendation from some of the authorities here to the authorities at the Portsmouth Navy-Yard to give him employment. If he had said all this to me anywhere in the neighborhood of Greenbriar River, I should not have troubled your Honor with him — I should have shot him on the spot. Gold made no denial of having used the language imputed to him. Mr. Paulding said: “Whatever I said last night was but idle talk. I was drunk.” Mayor — Idle talk may induce idle fools to believe and act. You wish to establish a new banner in this city. If ever the Stars and Stripes, of which you speak, again wave over this building, it will be after the best blood of this city has been shed. If you do not keep liquor out of your mouth, it may cause you to be hung for treason. Both prisoners were turned over to the confederate authorities.--Richmond Examiner, February 28.
Mr. Ericsson's iron-clad steamer the Monitor, went to sea from New York, to-day, for some unknown destination. Mr. Ericsson is on board, and desires to test the invulnerability of his ship by engaging the strongest battery of the enemy which can be got at. The Monitor carries only two eleven-inch columbiads. Lieut. Worden, who commands the battery, is an officer of great experience and tried courage, and the sailors and gunners are picked men.
In the rebel Senate, at Richmond, Va., A. B. Hill and J. J. Pettigrew, were confirmed as Brigadier-Generals. A resolution was unanimously passed to entertain no peace propositions excluding any portion of the soil of any of the Confederate States, and declaring that the war be continued until the enemy be expelled entirely from the Confederacy.
In the United States Senate, Mr. Davis, of Kentucky, introduced a Confiscation bill as a substitute for that introduced by Mr. Trumbull. It confiscates the property, of all kinds, of those who have levied war against the United States or adhered to its enemies, during the natural life of the owners for the benefit of loyal citizens who have suffered losses by the rebellion.
The evacuation of the city of Columbus, Ky., was commenced by the rebels this day.
The Secretary of War appointed Major-General Dix and Edwards Pierrepont, of New York, Special Commissioners to examine into the cases of the political prisoners still remaining in military custody, and to determine whether, in view of the public safety and the existing rebellion, they [43] should be discharged, remain in military custody, or be remitted to the civil tribunals for trial. The examination to be ex parte and summary, and at such times and places as the Commissioners should direct.
Martial law was, by a proclamation of Jefferson Davis, declared to be extended over the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth, Va., and the surrounding country to the distance of ten miles from said-cities. The writ of habeas corpus was also declared suspended within those limits.--(Doc. 67.)
