Richmond, Dec. 19--Hon. Charles James Faulkner and Honorable Alfred Ely--one a quasi prisoner and the other a real one--had a very pleasant interview yesterday at the Confederate States Military Prison, where Mr. Faulkner called to see Mr. Ely.
We are told that there was great rejoicing in the prison, but whether it was confined to the breast of Mr. Ely, or shared by his fellow-captives, we were not informed.
The circumstances that induced the Lincoln Government to allow Mr. Faulkner, whom they had arrested without warrant of law and without a shadow of pretext to justify so flagrant a breach of individual right, to come here, are known.
The condition exacted was that he should procure the liberation of Mr. Ely in exchange for his own, or return and submit himself to the rigors of a captivity as hard as it is unjust.
So far as Mr. Ely is individually concerned, he has proved himself a man of kindly disposition and amiable impulses since here, and on his own account we could find no objection to his being returned to the “bosom of his family,” if he would stay there, and not attempt to influence the minds of the fanatics of the North by his harangues.
His own assurances have been given that he will not, but the question is, will Old Abe and his sable crowd allow him to keep so commendable a resolution?
We think not.--Fredericksburg Recorder, Dec. 23.
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