Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-01-26
Arrest of Rev. 3. J. Graves.

As the arrest of this gentleman has caused
considerable attention in this State, we sub
Join the following account of the cause of his
arrest and manner of its execution. The facts
are compiled by the State Journal, from the
lie ter of the Secretary of War to Gov. Vance,
and are therefore reliable as we'll as off cial.
Mr.. Graves case is to undergo examination
before Judge Manly at Hillsboro', on the Sd
Of next month:
The communication from the Secretary of
War, alluded to in the Governors message,
is couched in the most courteous terms, and
at length, gives a full and satisfactory expla-
nation of the causes which led to the arrest
of Rev. RI Graves in North Carolina
When applying to Gen.. Winder tor a pass
port to proceed North. he represented himself
as a citizen of Nep York, DESTROYS to return
home, and ID that character received permits.
sion. After his return TO the South, he pub
lished a letter IN the Richmond Enquirer on
the state of public opinion in the North, which
gave a most unfavorable aspect to the Southern
| cause, and caused much comment and enquiry
as to the antecedents of the writer. Gen. Win
der received several let!ors stating facts which
gave good grounds for suspecling Graves 10
be a spy, or at least a disaffected person.
An exchanged prisoner from Fortress Mon
roe. heard Graves give the Yankee officers a
minute description of the War steamer bull
ding at Richmond, and upon being shown
diagrams of the Monitor, described where
| the Confederate steamer differed from her.
This charge was substantiated by Graves
himself, he having stated to a clergyman OF
his acquaintance that he had given such in
formation, but merely to facilitate his pass
age North. This and other instances of his
more than suspicious conduct and CONVERSE
ton, convinced General Winder that it was
unsafe to permit him to be at large. He &C.
cordlngly, without consulting the Gouern-
ment at Richmond, but merely on his own
authority, dispatched an officer to arrest
him, considering him on his own represent
tation when he asked a passport, asa North
ern citizen, and therefore liable to arrest as
a spy. General Winder was not aware he
was citizen of North Carolina, when he is
sued the warrant, and was led into the mis-
take by the false representations of Graves
himself. The Secretary acknowledges that
Gen. Winder was in error and expresses the
utmost respect for the rights of the sovereign
States of the Confederacy, and states that he
had issued orders for the prompt delivery of
the prisoner to such persons as the Govern
or should appoint to receive him.
From the above synopsis of Mr.. Seddon's
= letter, our readers will see that under the
t above circumstances, the slightest blame
cannot attach to General Winder, he having
!. good reason TO think that Graves was a Yam
kee spy, and acting under that impression,
e very property had him arrested by military
authority.
The Hillsboro' Recorder says:
We think we have knowledge of all the
evidence that can be brought against Mr.
h Gia4Afs and that it will amount to nothing
The principal witness, perhaps the only one
who & expected to give direct testimony, i:
: clearly mistaken in the most important par
2 ~ticp'arA He processes to have been presen
10 at Mr.. Graves's examination in Mcclellan
camp He says that "he heard a PROPOSE
ton made to him (Mr. Graves to take tn
- oath, but he declined, saying that all he ha
y was here, anG be wanted to save it if possi
bic. Now the reverse is the fact his proE
30 erty is at the North and when urged t
o take the oath, and reminded that if he di
III not he might probably lose his property, h
at reply was, he should not like to lose h
property, but to save it he could not take tt
oath Could such a man be a traitor
The Recorder had probably not been al
"a prised of the substance of the correspondent
between Gov. Vance ard the Secretary
h, War when he wrote the above. Howeve
ng the examination soon to take place, will d
eide whether Mr.. Gra7es has been guilty
nd improper conduct or not.
rs.