The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-21

TER!IaIE CALUNSV AGAINST TIFF SOUTHERN
CHIyAlRr RI AN LID. OF TIE LONDON
TMEs.-It will be seen, b. telegraphic des
patch in another column, that ". Fl. Russell
LID, formerly correspondent OF the London
Times in the Crinean war, and now cores
pendent Of that paper from the theatre OF war
in the United States, had, in the discharge OF
bis professional duties, arrived from the South
at Cairo on Wednesday last, and then and there
complained that his correspondence had been
tempered with by the secessonists, his letters
detained altered, and some not sent from
Southern post Offices at all.
This is q grave and serious charge against
the honor OF the Southern chiyairy; but we
will not believe it without some stronger eyi
dencc than the mere ipSe diGn of the accuser
The leaders of the. secessionists are all big
thieves, who rob and plumber on q large scale
They have no hesitation in appropriating
fortress or an arsenal, or navy yard, or vast
quantities of gunpowder, shot, shell, cannon,
muskets and MIME rifles. or ships-of-war and
revenue cutters, or even merchantmen and
their cargoes, to say nothing Of the minis and
the public moneys in the sub.treasuries, Gus
tom houses and post Offices Of Uncle Sam
Their polished Floyd, of the type of
Claude Duyal in the reign of Charles the
Second, makes q clean sweep, but he does it in
the open day All that he does is by whole
sale, and nothing in the retail trade. Six mil
lions of bonds at single haul, and the trans
fer at one fell swoop Of all the arms, ammuni
ton and strong places of the government to
the rebels, are transactions worthy of the
courtly viIginian, Petty larceny is beneath
the dignity of On F f. V. The chivalry make
no scruple about robbery when it is on large
scale. But that they would descend to the
meanness OF stealing The private letters of "
Fl. Russell in the post Office il Incredible
To charge then with such picayune bust
meas is a calumry Of the deepest dye, and one
which the cslu,nDiatcr did not venture to inter
till he put his foot on free sol, and stood unde
the guns of federal fort,
From Russell cwn description of the Chi
valry, it is impossible ttey could 20 guilty OF
tarnpering with HI: letters. # there was any
tampering in The case i was with himself they
tempered. They showed him their fertidcs
cations, they diaed hin and Hiced hin, aud
fefed him aud administered some delicate
touches of Southern tlasaey to his natiou
He Represented than as gentlemen of the fest
water, like the ''due old English gentlemen, all
| Of the olden tirne;" excellent boon compan
| ions, whose wines Of the choices. brand flowed
| freely for their guest, while the glorious
| anecdotes they told far surpassed those
| Of Lincoln. Where is the gratitude of Rus
| sell for such hospitality Where are now the
fumes of the Burgundy and Tokay. Did he
! not portray them as men OF untarnished honor
| and lofty aris.ocrai.o ideas, who only needed
q prince of the blood to reign over them in
order to pe1feot their political and social stairs,
and place them IN the highes. grade in the
scale OF nations. Blythe By, Alfred is now a.
Ottawa, and it would be 4 good idea on the
! part of tie born gantlsLe, Of The first fami-
les to send hin deputatio1 (of course in
Gliding Floyd 10 invite LIN TO Richmond to
arrange the prelini,ar:as, with the aid and
counsel Of Lord Lyons.
As to The charge Of opening or altering the
letters Of NJ. Russell, L here is any truth at
all 10 It, We have nc doubt :. can be traced to
| enc Dlachteg AIA.G- IApilet u "uich ''oru
Palirer:ton Is tAe htad; tor opening private
letters IN The pos: clice IS nothing new to The
British gcverIment. Witness The .eats OF Sir
James Graham i .hat tire: which resulted in
t.ihe betrayal and execution Of the Italian
patriot bro.haIs, tie Ban6iera. Or it is quite
possible that tie letters MAJ have been doc
tered at Printing House square, in the Office Of
Tic Lt1don Times Itself, TO suit the sinister
designs Of tie administration. Such practices
are unlLrcTr to American statesmen and jour
nal;sts, North or South; bat they would be in
perfect keeping with toe antecedents of the
| T. ;,-,r ~