Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-08-06
History OF the Great Conspiracy.
From the New York Post.

Iectiug an object which will become OF
great Importance by and by. We mean
the collection of facts and testimony By
which to display to the reople of the Uni
tedSStates-Of the SOuihas well as of the
North-aud to all the nations of the world,
the secrets of that deep aud wicked con-
spiracy by which lew ambitious slave
holders thought to destroy the Union, dis
grace tree popular government in the es.
teen of other nations, aud set up over half
this continent n rigid despotism, founded
on martial aristocracy and an ensiaVed
working class. ...
Many witnesses there cannot be to tell
the story of this plot; some have probably
already disappeared in death, Yet some
are left, no doubt. The conspirators were
a numerous body, and took into their
couusels here and there man who was
shocked at the great crime :hey meditated
and refused to be concerned with them
Some of these have already spoken out;
they tell their secrets cautiously but they
tell enough to show that this possage OF
history, lift could be fully revealed, would
stand before the world as the most wicked
and most iuexcusable treason that ever
the human heart conceived.
A few days ago we printed letter,
written by nn East Tennesseean of charac-
ter and trustworthIness, to Mr.. Maynard.
in which he relates, upon information o!
one who had been taken into the councils
of the cOnspirators in Washington, before
the Presidential election of 1850, that it
was their intention, in case they secured
the election of Mr.. Breckenridge to the
Presidency, to use all the power of the
Government, which would then be in their
hands, to effect their purpose-the destruc-
| ton of the Union. With the army aud
| navy at their command; with the keys OF
muts, arsenals and treasures in Ihelr
pockets, and, what is of more account than
all in dealing with law. revering people,
with the supreme authority of the law in
their hands, they expected to accomplish
their designs easily.
Here we see reason for their intiexible
determination to select, at the Charleston
| Convention, II Southern mao, aud one OF
their own company, as the Democratic
candidate for the Presidency. No Northern
man would have dared to act the necessa-
rp part; from Mr.. Douglas, in particular,
they could hope for no help in such II de-
sign. Therefore, when the Charleston
delegates proved refractory to their will,
they broke up the Convention, and met
again at Richmond TO nominate John c
Breckenridge, then Vice President, but
| there is no reason TO believe, fully inform
ed of the conspiracy against the Union and
| one of its active members.
Failing in the election of Mr.. Breckin-
ridge, Mr. Maynard's correspondent writes,
it was intended to make the election OF
another candidate II pTeteucc for breaking
up the Union; and South Carolina was to
lead the way IN secession-as she actually
did.
A correspondent of the Washington In
l5.J in, he nf
| 1861, the fact that meetings of the conspi-
| rators were held in Washington in the
winter of 1901, where their plans were
debated and received their final shape
The public has not forgotten the letter
discovered in an obscure village in Florida,
written 10 December, 1860, by The then
Senator Yulee, TO Il friend, to which are
evidences of a well formed purpose to in
tiate revolt. Perhaps among the papers
of Jefferson Davis, recently discovered in
Mississippi, may be found still other and
more important documents.
The importance of making public this
dark secret cannot be overrated. The gov
ernmeut should carefully search for and
preserve every scrap Q: evidence which
! can help to reveal it. Certain political
demagogues iu the free states, who were
too long the dupes or the tools of the con-
| spirators are still endeavoring to deiuue
their followers iuto the heliet that
the chiefs of the rebellion were down
to the last moment loyal citizens,
and that the rebellion was a hastily con-
ceived measure, arising from irritation at
the supposed intentions towards them OF
the Republican party. 1t is necessary to say
that this would not excuse the rebel lend :
ers, however 1t might mitigate the crimi-
naIity OF their act But there is every
reason to behave that their revolt was a
crime coolly and deliberately planned, care
fully arranged in all its parts months be-
forehand, and carried out with the same
malignant determination which inspires au
assassin when his appointed victim walks
into the trap set for bin.
1t is of great Importance to our future
peace that these facts should be made clear
and plain to every mind in the country
II is almost too much to hope that this gen.
Grafton shall ever know this wicked plot
in all its details but whatever uutring
vigilance can bring to light, this govern
ment owes it to the nation to secure, aud
at the proper time and in the most solemn
and effectual way to make public.