The New York herald., 1862-02-11

- "AAV0sS~ SvAutAAn Wo PuVAA0A oA VAo0h Va
the Secretary Of War ordering the arrest and
confinement in Fort McHenry, of Mr.. Ives one
of our Washington correspondents, for intrud-
ing himself into the Office of the War Depart
ment with view Of obtaining information
about military movements prohibited 10 the
public, and for threatening the department with
the hostility of the HERALD in the event of such
information being withheld-a course of con-
duct which has led the department to the con-
olusion that Mr.. Ives, under the cloak of being
correspondent for New York paper, was play
ing the part of q spy 10 the Southern confede-
racy-a conclusion which derives some color
from the fact of Mr. Ives having brother an
officer in the Confederate army, who, previous
to the rebellion, held commission in the army
of the United States.
All the knowledge we have Of this transac-
tiOn is what is contained in the order Of Mr..
Secretary Stanton; and. If the information
upon which that order is based be cor
rect, we have no hesitation in saying that
the Secretary of War has acted with prompt
tude which we highly approve, and with fideli-
ty to his trust which is worthy of imitation by
all others in authority. If Mr. Ives has impro-
perly sought for military secrets at the War
Department he has transcribed his duty to the
HERALD. We need not tell our readers that we
have never left any stone unturned to procure
for them the earliest and most reliable news.
But to accomplish this we have never adopted
any means not strictly legitimate and in accord
ance with the rules Of propriety and since this
war began we have never published line from
which the enemy could gain any information
respecting the future movements Of the army.
While we witnessed in other journals the pub
LEGATION of such intelligence, we withheld il
from the public, though in possession of the
facts long before, because we would not permit
our columns, in any shape or form, to give aid
to the enemy. All the military and naval com
manders can bear witness to the truth Of this
statement Our invariable instructions to our
correspondents in Washington and elsewhere
have been to obey the orders of the depart
ments, and not to write anything in their
dispatches or letters about the future move
ments of troops or the destination of naval ex-
pedtions, but to send us the best and earliest
intelligence Of what had been done-inteli
gence of which the enemy was already in pos
session. If any correspondent should act other
wise, that is his misfortune, and not our fault.
AS to the threats referred to in Mr.. Stanton's
order we need scarcely say that such were not
authorized by US, and that il is not our habit to
threaten. If any correspondent should so far
forget himself as to pursne such a course, he
must know that his threats could not be carried
out, and that he only makes himself ridiculous.
If Mr.. Ives has done so, he deserves punish
ment, though perhaps the severity Of that now
inflicted exceeds the measure of his offence.
That he attempted to act the part of a spy is
scarcely credible, and the suspicion seems to
be based entirely on two grounds, neither Of
which is sufficient to sustain it. One OF these
grounds is entirely untrue, and the other is q
non seqtetm. II il stated that Mr.. Ives is
Southern man. This is not fact He was
born and brought up in the city of New York,
and is q son of DR.. Ives, professional gentle
man Of high reputation, and well known in this
city thirty-ive years ago. AS to the other
point. about his brother being in the rebel
army, we hold that, though it may excite susp-
cion, it does not really amount to anything.
One of Mr.. Crittenden's sons holds command
in the Union army, and another lately COM
mandsd the rebels at the battle Of Mill Springs.
At the capture Of Port Royal, one brother,
Drsyton, gallantly commanded gnnboat in
the naval expedition, while another brother
commanded the insurgents on the land. In
stances Of this kind might be multiplied. and
the same thing occurs in all civil wars. Too
much stress, therefore, ought not to 10 laid on
such circumstance as this.
As yet we have heard only one side of the
story and the other Ssason for arrestng Mr.
Ives az spy may be as grouudlcss as that
which assigns that he is Southern man. II is
possible that Mr.. Stanton may ha We acted upon
erroneous information But If he has not, we
have not only no fault to lind with his decision,
but heartily wish that little more vigilance
and viger had been exercised by the govern
ment before 10 preventing the publication Of
accounts in other New York papers Of the
Sherman expedition, the Burnside expedition.
pont subsequent TO his capture of the rebel forts
at Port koyai--inteliigence which is known 70
have put the enemy on his guard. and TO
have prevented important successes which
might otherwise have been achieved.
LEGISLATION UPoS OFFICES WITH PERQuI.
snEs.-We believe that it is proposed in the
Legislature 10 make the Shrivalty and County
Clerkshp Offices of salary, and TO deprive the
Sheriff and Clerk Of their immense perquisites.
This is u move in the right direction. and all
The public Offices should be conducted upon the
same just principle Every agent and empIoye
Of the government should receive a fair, stated
Salary, and be independent Of perquisies.
Perquistes or fees are simply necessary tax
upon the public in return for the facilities the
Offices afford. So. like any other tay. they
should be paid into the treasury for the benefit
of the public, and not diverted into means for