Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-02-19
From Harper's Weekly.1
The Rebel DISPATCHES,

The intercepted correspondence of ths
rope, lately published, is very amusing
and shows several things.
First, that Louis Napoleon may have
some designs upon Texas. But the French
policy in regard to this continent is still
merely subject of speculation.
Second, the correspondence shows con-
clUsively that the blockade is as effective
as any blockade ever instituted 1t take:
the dispatches Of the rebel agents some
seven months to come to hand, and The
rebel Secretary Of State naively mentions
to one of his e!nisssries that his No. 3 has
arrived, but that Nos. l, 8, 4, 5, aud are
still missing. The postal arrangements Of
the new nation do not seem TO be quite
perfect. .. .: .s
Third, the correspondence reveals the
fact thst Earl Russell is cold to the g Hon.
orabie" Mr.. Mason of Vlrgina-who sat
il the Senate Of the United States pocket
ing the money of Government against
whose existence he was plotting The
Earl was so cold, indeed, that the " Hon
orable" Mr.. Mason thought of withdraw
ing; but his cOnfederates urge him to re-
Ei,
the hope Of helping to lay the corEet stone
of the new nation.
Fourth, the correspondence diseloses
the Interesting fact thst when the Confed-
crate emissary LETT Madrid, he put his
books and papers il charge Of the agent of
the Rothschllds, showing the position
which the great bankers compel their
agents in every country to hold in regard
TO the rebellion, and, of course, Indicating
the kind of value which is to be placed
upon the suppors given 20 treason BY any
such agents, whose birth, training, sym
patbies, and interests are entirely foreign,
Fifth, the correspondence Informs Us
that Mr. James Spence, who has written a
book in favor OF the rebellion, which was
for a long time the handbook Of English
information OF American affairs, and who
perpe toally urges upon the British Gov
eminent the recognition Of the Contede-
racy, Is paid agent OF the rebels.
Sixth, it shows that great efforts are
making for the construction OF rebel feet
in English neutral" ports.
There is hlso much highly colored rhe-
toric from Mr.. Benjanin, about the suc>
cess of the rebellion, and the sure over.
throw of the Government, which is Of
equal value with the editorials in the rebel
newspapers, all OF which ere supervised
by treaty censors; AMI there is an ex-
tremely unpromisiDg system Of "cotton- Ger
tiicates'' developed by Mr.. Nemminger-
kind of painfully vague and operose
promise to pay, as basis for pecnniary
loans. 1t is the latest effort to extract
sunbeams from cucumbers.
Such a correspondence will not fail to
make due impression upon the common
sense of the world. Read in the light of
the acknowledged object of the rebellion.
it can hardly give much comfort to the
European friends OF American anarchy
and published with the addition of Mr..
Davis's speech in the Southwest, ia which
be calls Mr.. Lincoln a baboon, it would
be striking memorial Of the veracity and
dignity of the 'gentlemanly'' Government
OF the Confederacy.
The Richmond Examiner has the fol-
lowing on the same subject:
We gave yesterday review OF mass
OF correspondence, published in the north
ern papers, purporting to be the official
correspondence of the Confederate govern.
ment with its representatives and agents
in England and France, and which it is
alleged was intercepted by the capture of
a son Of Mr.. George N. Sanders, while at
tempting to run the blockade at Charles.
ton. 1t is to be regretted, and is sub
ject of wonder, that this correspondence,
when the vessel was taken, was not des-
troyed, or sunk to the bottom of the sea-
As it is, the enemy has been gjUen full
exposition Of our affairs, and as much has
been said of information being given to
the enemy by improper publications in the
newspapers, this single dispatch bearer Of
Mr.. Ben amin Eas furnished to the Yam
KEGS an amount of contraband intelligence
that could not be gained from all the
newspapers in the South for the next fifty
years.
1t ID also to be regretted that Mr.. Ben
jamin, in his correspondence, should have
lndulged in such weak and offensive spec
ulations relative to the Emperor Of
France. There was no occasion for it,
and its only effect can b. to offend and
estrsnge the friendly interest the Emperor
has evlnced in the success of our cause.
The whole thing is an unfortunate af-
fair, and The character of the information
disclosed shows with what singular want
Of Judgment the business of that depart
ment has been conducted.