The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-31

I'm b Role Of Phtla1thros
pts1s-ReeOgnfffOn Of his services by
the British AdmfraIty-Letter from
Viee-AdmiraI HoPe-"Over ZeaI' and
ssThe Temptation OF b Devil"
[FrOmt , Montreal Gazette, (prO-rsbeI.) May 81
The evidence respecting the yellow
Fever Plot" which we insert in other
columns, was intended to be published in
our last impression, but it was crowded out
BY the pressure Of other news. 1nthe sfi-
davft Of NJ -Cleary, a Southern gentleman
who was resident here for some time, in
the capacity Of secretary of Mr.. Clay, we
hsve for the first time, in our opinio Il, any
reliable evidence 70 connect DR.. Blackburn
with this affair. The accounts with which
some of Jour cDtsmporsries have for weeks
past been filed, have not in our opinion,
had sufficient stamp Of truth in them toset
against 7the character Of DIR. Blackburn,
and, therefore, We took no more notice OF
them than of-many others Of the absurd
actions which, We soaong served as food
for the 0o6e HuouchSs. DR. Blackburn was
| for some time resident IN Montreal, but the
writer of these lines never even hspPened
"a meet him. and does not know him by
SIGHT We do however, know the hlgn
reputation in which he has always stood
and We did announce his going to Bermuda
As an event in the interest of humanity,
from the great skill he was reputed to have
from long and particular study of yellow
fever. His eminence and his conduct in
going TO Bermuda were both officially
reooQnized BY the Admiralty, IS the reader
msv see from the following dispatch TO
Vice Admiral Hope:
J ADMIRALTY, Nov. 16, 1864.
SIR; Referring to your dispatch Of the
18th ult- No. 3OS, bringing under the notice
of nv Lords Commissioners Of the Adml-
ralty the philsnthrOpie conduct of DR..
Blackburn, an eminent physician OF New
| Orleans, who proceeded to Bermuda for
the purpose of giving the medical men
there the benefit of mis- great experience IN
the treatment of the yello~ fever during
| the late prevalence Of the epidemic, 1 am
commanded by their Lordships to request
/ that you will communicate with DR.. Biscs-
| burn and express TO him how much graft
fed my Lords have been at the reports OF
his humane services, and inform him That
they are DESTROYS of testifying their sPpre-
citation Of them in some way which would
be most agreeable to him.
Ny Lords have decided on making q
present to DIR. Blackburn of the sum of
Eloo, and they would wishto know wheth-
er he would prefer II have the sum Of mo-
ney or some Testimonial equivalent in value
TO be chosen by their Lordships.
I am, Sc
(Signed) w. e. RoMAIEB
Vice Admiral Sir JAMES HoPE, K. q. B.,
Sc Halifax.
such being the character of DIR. Black.
burn, and such his mission 20 Bermuds, it
4 did require son eshiDg more than unsup-
| ported statements, or the evidence of d
mere s~coundrel, seeking to turn an ill-got-
ten penny, by tryisg to obtain, alternately
the confidence of Federal and Confederate,
to serve as 3 spy, for the purpose of betray-
ing either or both, As might De found most
o ohrable. But Mr.. Cle4ry is a man of
1 different character, and We see no reason
to question his deposition. What it estsb'
fishes the reader may see who will u tc
it in another column. 1t cOrroborotei
Hysms; and the same may be said of the
deposition of Mr.. E. J. Hall. This evi'
hdence being accepted, DR.. Blackburn must
be held guilty of having attempted Il
dSmsge the Federal cause by introducing
yellow fever among the Federals by meani
Of infected clothing.
Such an act cannot be held to belong tc
civilized war. It is an outrage against hu'
manity, calling for, md will receive tbs
~univerlaI execrStion of mankind. Civilized
var implies an attempt to kill ones enemy
while he stands up with arms in his hands
attempting on his sidet to kill but it shrink
from seeking the lives Of n-On-combattant
and women and children by insidious sick
ness. No punishment can be too sever
for such an offence. For the rest, it is al
incident IN human life 10 be most pro
fUundIy doPlOrod that d mHn could Isl
from so high 3 position as that which DR.
Blackburn held into 80 deep sn abyss q
this evidence seems to have placed him
Il was an evil hour for him when over.zes
for the cause of his country, or desire II
take revenge for her injuries, or the temp
tation of the devil, led him to commit him
self to 50 FOUL 3 crime. he had bette
himself have died.