Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-06-01


From the Montreal Gazette tpro rebeD 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 was crowded
out by the pressure of other news, In
the aflidayit of Mr., Cleary, a Southern
gentleman who was resident here some
time, in the capacity of Secretary of Mr..
Clay, we have for the first time, in our
opinion, any reliable evidence 10 connect
Dr. Blackburn with this affair. The ac-
counts with which some OF our cotem-
porarles have for weeks past been filled,
have not, in our opinion had sufficient
stamp OF truth in them to set against
the character OF DR.. Blackburn. and,
| therefore, we took no more notice of
the<l than of many Others of the absurd
| ncuons which have so long served as
| food for the g0be Roaches Dr. Blackburn
was for some time resident in Montreal,
but the writer Of these lines never even
happened to meet him, and does not
know him by sight. We do, however,
know the high 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 emlnence and his conduct in going
to Bermuda were both officially recog-
nized by the Admiralty, as the reader
may see from the following dispatch to
Vice Admiral Hope
ADMIRALTY Nov 1e 1894
Sir: Referring to your dispatch of
the 18th ult., No, 308, bringing under
the notice of my Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty the philanthropic con-
duct of DR., Blackburn the eminent ply
sician of New Orleans, who proceeded
to Bermuda, for the purpose of giving
the medical men there the benefit of his
great experience in the treatment of vel
low fever during the late prevalence of
the epidemic, am commanded by their
lordships to request that you will com
municate with DR., Blackburn and ex-
press to him how much gratifed nv
Lords have been at the reports of his
humane services, and inform him that
they are DESTROYS of testifying their ap-
probation of them in some way which
would be most agreeable to him.
My Lords have decided on making n
present to DR.. Blackburn of the sum of |
GlOO, and they would wish to know If |
he would prefer to have the sum of mon |
ey or some testimonial equivalent in
value to be chosen by their Lordships.
| am &C,
(Signed,) W. G. ROMANO.
vice Admiral Sir James Hope, X. G. b., |
&c, Halifax.
Such being the character of DR.. Black |
burn, and such his mission to Bermuda |
IL dld require something more than I'M |
supported statements, or the evidence of |
mere scoundrel, seeking to turn an i'll |
gotten penny, by trying to obtain, al |
ternately, the confidence of Federal and |
confederate, to serve as a spy, for the |
purpose of betraying either or both as |
might be found most profitable. But |
Mr.. Cleary is man of different charac
ter, and we see no reason to question |
his deposition. What it establihes the
reader may see who will turn to it in |
another column. 1t corroborates Hy- |
ans; and the same may be said of the
deposition Of Mr.. E. j. Hall. This evil
dence being accepted, DR.. Blackburn
must be held guilty of having attempt
ed to damage the Federal cause by intro
ducing yellow fever among the Federals
by means of infected clothing Such
an act cannot be held to belong to civil
lied war. 1t is an outrage against hu-
manity, calling for, and will receive, the
universal execration of mankind. Civ
1lized war implies an attempt to kill
ones enemy while he stands up with
arms in his hands, attempting on his
side to kill but it shrinks from seeking
the lives Of non-comsatants and wo-
men and children by insiduous sickness.
No puniissth,ment can be too severe for
such an offence For the rest, it is an
incident of human life to be most pro-
foundry deplored that man could fall
from so high position as that which
DR.. Blackburn held, into so deep an
abyss as this evidence seems to have
placed him. 1t was an evil hour for
him in which over-zeal for the cause of
his country, or desire to take revenge
for her injuries, or the temptation of the
devil, led him to commit himself to so
foul crime. He had better himself
have died.
RECONSTRUCTION AT THE SOUTH-At a