Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-07-31
politifal,
Same Iuteresting Developments--Sey-
mour Alleged TO be Involved In n
conspiracy 20 Set the state OF New
York Out of the MON.

I Y0rk Out Oh the fAADAAs
From the Columbus tohioI Journal July lIth.l
We nublish to-day the affidavit of Capt
James Sidney Hill, to which allusion has
heretofore been made by u.s. The publ
cation of this important affidavit has been
purposely delayed, with the hope and ex-
pectation that Horatio Seymour would be
nominated for the Presidency by the Con-
yenfion at New York. & 1t viii be remem-
bered that when reference was nrst made
/ ~ the existence of this testimony, Govern
ar Seymour exhibited ungovernable rage,
and not only took occasion to vouch for
| his innocence, but to attack with savage
emphasis all officers and agents OF the Gov
eminent whom he suspected OF having
i been instrumental in making known to
/ the State Department the nature of his re-
lations with the rebel commissioners IN
| Canada. Tal 4l HaoicJa- +l0i
The writer. who, in 1864 was consul
of the United States in New Brunswick, hay-
ING been APPOINTED to that office by Presi-
dent Lincoln in September, 1861, had. coca
sion to transmit to the Secretary of State
| information concerning the movements OF
the rebel commissioners, Clement Y. Clay
and James p Holcombe, and 1t especiaily
became his duty to make known TO the
government whatever facts were known TO
the British Provinces concerning the ma
ture of the Emission" of these notorious
enemies of the United States. Application
will be made to the State Department for
copies of the full correspondence on this
subject, which, when obtained Will be
made public - -. -
| The important fact was then wei known
that the prime purpose that the Davis
government had in sending commission rs
to Canada was to array the state of New
York in hostility to the federal government.
Capt Hills testimony establishes beyond
question the fact that such was the eonfi-
dence reposed In Horatio Seymour, then
Governor of New York, TINT the rebel
| chic is did not hesitate to address him on a
subject which they knew was dear to his
1 reart-the triumph of the confederacy,
and opened confidential correspondence
with him, as with tried and trusted agent
of their own. ~ - 80 -. -, ~
Clement c. Clay, who organized the raid
/ ing and piratical expeditions from Canada
| into the United States, expressed his entire
willingness to visit Ogdensburgh, N. T.,
knowing that Seymour would give him
safe passport throughout his sovereign
State" 1t will be proved hereafter that
CLAW sent dispatches to, ana received dis
patches from Albany, while at Halifax.
| Quebec and Montreal; that messengers
were passing between the rebel Commits
sioners and the rebel sympathizing Cover
nor. for period of almost two months;
| and we believe also that the exact nature
/ of these communications viii, ere long. be
| fully made known 4t
The following isan exact copy Of the or
| icinal affidavit now on file in the State De-
partrnent of the United States Govern
ment:
AFFIDAVIT OF CAPT. JAMES SIDNEY HILL.
CONSULATE OF TIE UNITED srA1Es.l
ST. JozN, n. b. )
On the "a dayo June, 1864, personally ap-
pearcd before j. Q. Howard, United States
| Consul at st. John, \. B.. James Sidney Hill,
who solemnly made oath to the following
| facts: ..--- ~ --.-.f5
born in the parish of st. Bernard, La 1 am
the son of Jerome Philip Hill. OF New Or
leans, who has always been deyoted Uniou
man.. was educated as a civil engineer at
/ West Point, Va.
In the year 1861, IN the month Of April, |
was carried away by the intense excitement
| that prevailed, ana entered the rebel service
/ as captain of a company of volunteers; serv-
/ ed in the rebel army at the first battle Of
/ Manassas, at the battles before Richmond, at
4 the time OF McClellanE advance,
and also took part IN the battle OF
Antietam; was wounded in the seven days,
/ fight near Richmond; Was sent 10 Savannah
| as engineer on the staff OF Gen GUstavus w
| Smith and obtained leave OF absence to go to
Wilmington; from Wilmington | ran the
| blockade on the steamer Banshee to Nassau;
my object was to get out of the rebel service
and take the oath of allegiaRee; from Nassau
went to Havana, and there took oath OF
allegiance under Mr.. Lineoln's amnesty proc
| lamation; from Havana 1 went to st. Thomas
with & friend. who was IL dying condition;
thence to St. Johns, Porto Rico; could not
get g vessel at Porto Rico for New Orleans,
but OF tanned passage to Halifax, Nova Scotia,
where l expected more readily to get vessel.
/ had been in Halifax obout four days, when
happening to be at the wharf when the mail
steamer Alpha arrived from Bermuda, was
Gccosted at the landing by Hon. G. G. Clay, of
Alabama. whom / accompanied to the Wav-
erly Hotel. Col. Duncan, of Louisville, KY,
was in company with us. Mr. Clay said he
was on q little business for the Government,
and was on his way to Canada, said he had
great confidence in me. A day or two after
| this conversation came TO st. John. n. b.,
hoping to get to New Orleans by the way Of
Portland: and on the LIST day OF June again
met Mr. Clay at the steamboat landing. He
said he wanted me to come as soon as could
to the Wayeriy Hotel to see MIN; about
O'Clock he sent boy to the Lawrence Hotel
for me, and went up to the Waverly to Mr..
Claws private room. v Lsrfs5 !.
| He said, look here, Captain, want you to
| go to Canada; shall very probably 60 to Og-
densburg, and as am not AZ all we'll, need
some company: would have gone to Port
I land. Dut i am afr0lu some one WOufu feeOS-.
nize me. He proposed to take walk, and
after our return he requested me TO come up
to the hotel early in the morning this morn
| ing.) He sent for me at half past seven and
went directlyup. lie took me to hisprivate
| room and again urged me to go with him.
/ He took from pocket in the back Of his
4 inside coat package containing four or
| five letters or dispatches; / had one Of
these documents in my hand; it was adj
dressed to His Excellency, Horatio Sey-
| mour Governor of the state of New
nGndo Wood. New York; on each Of these
envelopes was printed, Department. OF State,
Richmond, G. s. A., and on the enselopes
was written name which 1 do not remember
| but have no doubt 1t was the name of the
present Secretary of State. Said Mr.. Clay,
/ vas sent on mission to deliver those let
ters to Gov. Seymour, but ! wish they had
chosen somebody else; said he, / shall stop
in Montreal few days, and then shah prob
ably go TO Ogdensburgh. If my (athant'sl
letters (which was expecting from New Or
leans) came, he would like very much
to meet me at Quebec or Montreal. 1
inferred from Mr. Clay's conversation that ne
wanted me to convey his dispatches to Gov.
Seymour. NY intimacy with Mr.. Clay arose
IRON the fact that his son, Robert Clay, was
First Lieutenant IL my company, Thirteenth
| Regiment Louisiana volunteers. Col IorE
command, Gen. Picket's division, Longstreet's
/ corps. 3si,- -
/ parted with him, saying that would meet
him in Canada, if possible. l.,-5a..'.
fSigned) JAMES SIDNEr Hills
Sworn before me b. said James Sidney
Hill and subscribed in my presence this
SIS rsienedJ J. @. HOWARD, ! +,
U. S. Consul.