Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-05-19
The Conspiracy TO Burn Northern Cities.
JEFF. Davis shown 10 have been acce>-
sorry 20 the attempt 70 fire New York
and Chicago.


and Chicago.
From the Chicago Tribune. May lO.l
Rev. W. H. Ryder, D. D.. pastor of the
First Universalist church in this city. paid q
visit to the doomed city of Richmond im-
mediately after rs evacuation by the rebel
hories. lie found everything IN tie direst
confusion. Heaps OF papers Jay scattered all
around the State House, and even IN the
streets. He picked up great many, and
had others given him hv friends. tie had
not time % make a careful inspection al
he thought Of was that be- might Pee able TO
ind something which would add 90 the at-
fractions OF tie Great Fair. Arrived home.
Friday last. he examined the mas, % piTer-.
He found among them several very interest
lng documents, many bearing she sign mani
ual of JEFF Davis. Anon. them wa- une
document Of startling Importance.
II was letter written in Bic moud dated
February II, 1865. addressed % DAVIS a-k-
Ing hls attention 10 a matter about which ire
writer had formerly held a conversation with
bim. 1t was a plot TO burn and destroy fed
eral vessels WHEREVER found. The wri-cr
states that the secret of tire comp H-irilu
previously spoken OF by hm) was known
that it could he used with entire safety. ana
by per-ons unacquaintei with be use
that men in the military service need not Pa,
sent into the "enemy's country To DO the
work. but that it could be performed iv
agents; that by it, use they could
FirSt-Burn every vessel leaving foreign
port for this country.
Second-Buru every transport zen, Il. Us
Northern ports 10 the South.
ThUd-Burn every vessel on the Mis,is-
sippi river, and carry CONSERVATION into the
ranks Of the enemy everywhere
The writer further requested that the
"President" would see, ami obtain tie re-
CURED information Ii closed with the mist
profound assurances oi respect 10 the recipi-
ent, and faith 10 the issue of the rebel
cause On the back Of the document was
the following endorsement-we suppress the
name -
Secretary Of State, at his convenience please
see -, and learn what plan he has for over
coming the difficulty heretofore experienced.
FEBRUARY %. !. D.
Heretofore experienced 80 TIE thing
had, then, been tried before and failed [ l.
doubtedly an attempt was made 10 burn the .
city OF ChlcagO In NOFemDer last, ana q /
liberate the rebel prisoners. Failing IN that .
the eonspirators turned their attention 70
New York, and two or three weeks alter .
wards we heard Of an attempt 10 burn that .
city. with the ships in the harbor, bat they
scarcely succeeded in Overcoming the diff
Guilty heretofore experienced" 1t was all of
a piece with the raiding into 81. Adams and
the seizures on the lakes, except that it far
exceeded those last in atrocity. Ii was tins
plan which found Its elimination in the
murder of our beloved President, and the 10
tended assassination of every member of the
Cabinet. Be it never forgotten that all this
had the approval OF the archfend DAVIS. ard
that 1t was done after consultation with him.
and under his directions. The damning spot
Of the pirate flag Is on his brow; It cannot
be washed out, not even in his own vile
blood.