Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-05-25
ernp ETs WORTH KNOWING.

The capture of Richmond and the abandon
ment of portion Of the archives of the Rebel
Government has led to many discoveries of
matters which had been Sedulously kept from
the newspaper organs Of the Confederate lead
ders. and which now will establish some facts
which were in doubt We have instances in
two documents recently found by Northern
visitors to Virginia, which have been pub
lished in different parts of the country and
which, nevertheless, have some relation to
each other One of these is form of, bill
offered to the Rebel House of Representatives
by Curry, of Alabama, about the beginning
Of the year 1864 The preamble is dia-
tribe against the Emancipation Proclamation
and the enlistment Of slaves. 1t AYERS that
these measures " are properly classcd among
uch acts as the right to put to death prison.
s. ers Of war without special cause, the right
- to use poisoned weapons, and the right to
assassinate, and, if persisted in will justify
:" this Government in the adoption Of mca-
surcs Of retaliation" In other words, the
liberation of slaves and making soldiers Of
them, to carry on warfare according to civlli-
zcd rules. is such an oilcnsc as will justify
putting prisoners of war (black ones mos.
certainly to death in cold blood, in using
poisoned weapons, and rcsorting to assassna-
ton. Starvation of course follows in the wake
of these atrocities This was the deliberate
opinion Of Curry; and his sentiments met
with so little disfavor. that his bill was per-
mitted by the Rebel Congress to be twice
read, and was honorcd by a special ASST On
mcnt to consideration in secret session. What
became of it there is unknown, but as it con-
tains no doctrine that has not been fully acted
up to by the Rebels during the war, it proba-
! bly, WAS passed
Another document, which is a corollary tc
the preceding, is letter also discovered i'll
Richmond, which bears the recent date, Feb
ruary II, 1868. 1t is a proposal by a per
son who is willing to undertake for a consldc
ration, by means of some secret inccndiar,
composition, to burn American vessels, ant
the Job was to be SO extensive, that it contem
plated the burning of vessels leaving foreigl
ports for the United States, all United State
transports on the sea coast, and the fleets an,
transports on the Mississippi. This letter i
endorsed by Jefferson Davis to his Sccrctar
of State, Benjamin, directing him to see til
man, {" and learn what plan he has for over
coming tie dibicu2y hcretcforc experienced.
In other words Davis alludes to former fail
ures in arson, and desires his Secretary to as
certain whether this new scheme will wor
the destruction promised. The burning {
some transports on the Mississippi may /
traced to incendiarics in the Rebel interest,
The plots to burn Chicago and New Yorl
S which failed, were attempts to carry out IL
f same policy. Davis was aware that they ha
not produced the results which were hope
for, and he wished to know how this new in
: venton would surmount the di0ic@ity. The:
# matters, which are leaking out daily, arc
# many combinations of the devilish spirit
the wretches whom General Hunter the 9th
day justly stigmatizcd as the humbug chi
Il airy of the South"