The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-31
Seizure OF Topographic Dispatches.

seizure or TeIegraPh1c Oespatchess
On Monday, the 10th, at three o'clock,
P. NJ, United States Marshals and Deputy
Marshals, in pursuance of orders received
from Washington, seized copies of all of
the Geographic dispatches received and
sent, from the principal Geographic offices
of the free States, during the past year. The
seizure was made at the same hour through
out the North. Of the seizure at New
York, the Evening Post says:
The number of telegraphic dispatches
seized by Mr.. Murray, the United States
Marshal, at the Office in this city was 255,-
500. There were 365 packages of 700
each. The dispatches have not been re-
moved from the telegraph Office, but the
room in which they are stored, is under
charge of two Deputy Marshals, who have
possession of the keys.
So profoundly secret had the determination
of the Government been kept, that no hint
or whisper of it had escaped until, in accor-
dance with orders, the United States Mar
shals and their officers entered every tele-
graph Office in the North which was deem
ed to be of sufficient Importance, and made
the seizures, as stated.
The object in making all the seizures at
the same time is apparent. 1t prevents,
the destruction of kilograms which might
occur under other circumstances. -
In this city the kilograms taken by the.
Government number many thousands. They
are in charge of officers designated by the
Government and will be read over care
fully oy these officers, in the presence of
man designated by the Telegraph Com
pany.
OF course very large portion of these
dispatches are of a strictly private charac-
ter, and of no service or interest to the pub
lie, and all such will be Immediately return
1t is equally certain that large portion
of the dispatches are of great interest to
the public, and that they will be of incalcu-
liable value and service to the government.
In fact, it is quite impossible to imagine
the Importance of the information which
will be derived from this source. In these
kilograms the government has many of the
secret plans and movements of the rebels up
to the present time, as we'll as the names of
the traitors in New York and other cities,
who have been giving information to the
enemy.
1t has been regarded as certain that JEFF.
Davis has had an army ofspies and inform
ers in this city, some Of whom were sent on
from the South, and some of whom are cit
liens. These kilograms will establish the
truth of this belief beyond doubt, and
will also furnish the government with the
names of many Of those spies and informers;
and if such regard their personal safety
they had better leave for the territory of the
rebels Immediately, for there can be no
doubt but that the United States authori-
ties have BOW clue to their proceedings,
which will render it unsafe for them to res
main.
Nor are the spies and informers the only
ones whose treason will be laid bare by
these dispatches. Those who have been
supplying the South with arms and muni~
tiOns OF war will now be known, and if the
government does not obtain evidence to
convict such men of treason, it will at least
be abe to mark and watch them with Wig
liant eye, and prevent them doing future
mischief.
One th ng is certain. Every traitor who
has corresponded with the rebels by tele-
graph during the last twelve months, is now
known by name to the government.
The financial and diplomatic hopes and
plans Of the rebels--their negotiations for
arms and ammunition--the treachery Of
army and navy officers, and other move
ments Of the greatest Importance. are by
this bold stroke placed within the know
ledge of the Federal authorities.
There can be no doubt but one result will
follow Immediately. Hundreds of secret
traitors who are now in this city and other
cities OF the North, win deem il safe to
leave Immediately ,and we shall probably see
no more of them in these parts. They will
forthwith place themselves under the protec-
tion of the Montgomery government.
The papers Of all the leading cities in the
North, contain similar accounts Of the seiz-
ure Of dispatches.
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