The New York herald., 1864-11-28
The Late Incendiary Plot and enc Fobel
Press OF New York.


Press OF New York.
A few weeks ago tue Richmond Whig, in
commenting upon General Sheridan's operations
In the Shenandoah valley, suggested scheme
oil retaliation, which. according to its pro-
gramme, was to result in burning, to quote its
own language, .'ona OF the chief cities Of the
enemy" The IVhig observed, 'nothing would
be easier;" that "the men to execute the work
are already there's" that "twenty men, with plans
ell preconcerted and means provided, selecting
some dry, windy night, might fire Boston in o
hundred Places" and "if the Yankees retail
late, it is game at which we can beat them.
Neao York is soorth t,centy Richmopds.' The
same paper Furthermore recommended that a
million Of dollars be appropriated by the
rebel authorities for tho 'hring Of q gang Of
trusty and intelligent incendiarics," for the
above purpose, and in conclusion sad "If the
Executive is not ready for this, we commend
the matter to the secret deliberations OF the
Congress about to meet"
That rebel Congress has already met,
and had It's stormy secret session, and
New York has been fred In nearly twenty
places, and, as it were, by spontaneous action.
The men to execute the work" have appa-
rently been found on the ground, and their
dabolical scheme only failed Of success in
consequence Of the bungling manner In which
it was put in execution, and the excellent
police and fire arrangements Of the hotels
and Of the city. Thus have the apprehen-
sions Of Mr.. Seward, mentioned in his late
letter to Mayor Gunther, been fully realized
and our own admonitions, in view of the
threats Of the rebel papers, not uttered in
vain.
Now we come to the consideration Of very
important question. We have seen that . sys-
tematic plan to burn the city Of New York has
been long time in contemplation among the
rebel leaders, and 1t is simply impossible that
any such daring scheme could be carried out
without the connivance Of parties resident here
in the city. These parties must have been,
and no doubt still are, the active and conf
Dental co-laborers of the rebel agents and
emissaries in our midst. How fur these local
confederates who are involved in this atrocious
conspiracy, may be associated with the New
York city rebel press will probably never be
known. What we do know. however, is that
for many months the rebel press OF this city
has been as actively, openly and earnestly
devoted to the cause of the rebels as any Of the
months past these rebel organs have been
fomenting all the revolutionary and rebel ele-
ments to the psint OF insurrection. They have
done this by misFepresenting the acts Of the
government; by disparaging the victories Of
our armies; by exacgeratiDg every little rebel
success, and by showing in every possible way
that our own government is the great offender
against the rights of the people, and that Jehf
Davis and his associate rebels are prosecuted
innocen.s and entitled to the sympathies OF
every individual opposed to Mr.. Lincoln's
administration. So fragrant has been the
course Of these Now York rebel journals in
these respects that i: hSs led to very general
suspicion that the conductors aud managers
OF them have their secret understandings with
the encmy-a matter which it would be right
and proper for the government to ferret out
II Is believed that the conductors OF these
rebel organs in New York are as completely in
the confidence Of the rebel junta at Eichuiond,
and are a. cognizant of their schemes and
dcsigns against the North as are any Of
their rebel co-laborers In the South.
We suggest, therefore. to Gen. Dix that, for
the purposes OF thorough investigation OF
this diabolical business. that he may find GER
tain witnesses connected with the rebel pres.
OF New York who, II put TO the test, may give
him q great deal OF valuable information
General Dix will be joined heartily by the
great mass Of our community in any steps he
may think proper TO take to secure the apprc
hension Of these secret and evii-minded con-
spirators.
SHERNAS's IGNORANCE or MILITARY STRA-