Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-06-15
Seizure OF 1Telegraphic DispRtohes-A
. Disclo. uge. - l.- ..

The Richmond Examiner, referring to the
seizure OF oil the telegraphic messages In the
North for the last twelve months, makes the
revelation of the way In which telegraphic
operator In Washington City worked out the
schemes Of the Southern traitors:
The grand place, the central point, where the
reasonable, Southern, accession, rebellious tele
graphic dispatches we're written, sent and filed
last winter and spriDg, was the Washington
City Telegraph Office. There was work enough
done there las, winter to have hung any quant-
ts Of rebels now figuring In the Confederate
armies and Congress. prepared now to do lit
tie hanging of their own when occasion shall
Justify or q Yankee deserve it. From Wash
ington accounts were sent giving early accounts
of all the hostile steps Of the Buchanan and
Lincoln Governments, of the projects Of inva-
sion, reimbursement, supplies, trickery, fraud
and rascality of every description. Our friends
used the telegraph to some purpose. They did
not spare money, or time, or trouble. They
kept the authorities and the people OF the South
constantly on the alert. They advised hostile
steps whenever those etops were headed to pro
tect our people. They counseled prudence and
DELAY, when to acs might have jeopsrded q
great cause. They took responsibility freely,
and fought the good fght Of the South 10 the
e. emy's camp with halsers around their necks.
| When IL became necessary for the South Car.
olina Commissioners to send their first dis
patch announcing the perHdy of Buchanan and
Holt his intention to reinforce Fort Sumter,
and their advice 10 their State to resist it by
force, me.senger came to this city to send it
With certainty and secrecy. This was done about
the lst of January. But soon after 1t was found
that there was one man In the Washington
Office who could be trusted implicitly by our
people, and We are glad 70 record that it was q
Young Vrginian, William Coiwell BY name
| This young man, by private arrangement, re.
ceived the Southern dispatches, cent them him
self, and fled them away in private safe. No
one saw Them but himself and the parties to
whom they were addressed, AL through JAM
uary, February, March, and part OF April, this
gentleman acted for our friends. Through him
tne dispatches were sent giving the movements
oi the Srar OF the w West. and also dispatches 70.
| yealipg the real object and destination of the
expedition to relieve Fort Sumter-so carefully
sought to be concealed BY the enemy.
| Mr. Colweli one day In April got word private
| " that the Black Republicans were coming %
seize the office q He quietly took all these treas
enable dispatches and burnt them. They have
thus resolved themselyes into their original ell
emsnts. Divine power can alone restore the
character and signs py which the secessionisti
| Of Washington fought che enemy, incurred trea
! son, defied the halter, and saved their country
i The dispatches being burRr, Colwell remained a
| his poOt with philosophic composure. Mex
! night the Yankee troops came into the Office
! with musket and bayOnet, and he politely In.
| formed them that he surrendered st discretion
4 and that all he had In the telegraphic dispatcl
line was az their disposition.