Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-05-24

a nold stroke Of the government
Seizure OF TelegraphIe Dispatches

A bold Stroke of the Government
Seizure OF TelegrRphIe Dispatches
sssTFRttOESt 10 be Unmarked.
The United States government has seis-
ed all the teleRrams received at allthe cUu-
siderable telegraph Offices IN the free states
during the last year.
The seizure was made yesterday aftcr-
noon at three o'clock, aud at the same
moment throughout the entire North.
1t is known that originals of all tele-
GramS are 6led away at the various teIe-
graph offices, and kept for at least one
year, and in many cases longer. For in.
stance, some of the Offices in this city had
the accumulated Dispatches of three years,
The secure in this city was made by the
United States Marshal. So profoundly
secret had the determination of the goY-
eminent been kspt, that no hint or whisper
OF 1t had escaped until, in aeEordane1sWiIh
orders, the United StAtes Marshals and
their officers entered every telegraph Office
In the North which was deemed to be of
sufficient Importance, and made the Stiz-
ures. as stated.
The object in making all the seizures at
the same time snPparent. 1t prevents the
destruction of kilograms which might occur
under other circumstances.
In this city the lelegrTms taken by the
government number many thuusandB.-
They are-in charge of officers Designated
by the government and will he read over
carefully by thesa Officers, In The. presence
Ola man designated by the Telegraph
Company.
OF course; very large portion OF these
dispatches are OF strictly private charlie
ter and of no service or interest to the
public. and all such will bE Immediately
1t is equally fser.ain that large portion
of tho dispatches are Of great interest-io
the public, and that they will be OF fnrhl.
csilaLle value and service to the governs
ment. In fact, 1t is quite impossible TO linz
ngine the tmpOrtauceTof the Information
which will be derived frJm this source
In these telrgntms tue government has
many of tile secret plaus and movements
of the rebels up tn the present time, as
well rs the names of the traitors in New
York aud other cities, who have Geen Civ
lug Information to the enemy.
Il has been regarded as certain that JEFF.
Davis hns had an army of spies and im-
formers in this city, some of whom were
sent on from the South, and some of whom
are citizens. These telegrGmS IrM e1Id6ligh
the truth of this BELIEF beyond a doubt and
'0tA also furnish The gopsrnmrnt nth thc
names Of many of fhGSe spies aud iHIormerS;
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 au-
thorilies have now clue to their proceed
ings, which will render it unsafe for them
to remain.
Nor are the spies and informers the on
y cues whose treason will be laid bare hy
these dispatches. Those WHO have been
supplying the South with arms and NUM-
tions of war will now De known, aud II the
government does not Obtain evidence to
convict such men of treason, it will ut
least be able to mark aud watch them
with Sigilaut eye, aud prevent them do
ing future mischief.
One thing is certain. Epery traitor tVho
has eorre9ponded tstLh The rebels 6y telegraph
during the last taVelVe months is nor kqOIvn
BY name to lie gorernmeRt.
The financial and diplomatic hopes and
plans of tue rebels-lheir negotiations for
arms and ammunitiun-the treachery of
army and navy OIEicers, Nnd other move
Inents of tue greatest importance, are by
this bold stroke placed within the knowl-
edge of the federal authorities.
There Gag he no doubt but one result
will follow Immediately. Hundreds of
secret traitors who are now 10 this city and
other cities of tue North, will deem il safe
to leave Immediately. and ne slinIl probn-
bly, see no more of them ia these parts
They will forthwith place themselves under
the projection of III. Montgomery govern.
ment.