The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-28

show no symptom Of yielding Captain Giswth me and
eonndescc greatly rely upon his courage sseacit
We have about sixty escaped prisoners who are ready
ger ssn ee' enterprise many ''''' '' . - Ut
The above despatch was forwarded by private
hands July g. 1864, but owing to the difficulty OF
transmission through the lines was not received
for long period. Mr.. Benjamin writes complain
ingly of this fact at much later period. But after
tine failure OF all the plans to negotiate peace or
to obtain the release OF Confederate prisoners, Mr..
Thompson son slgained his desire to Withdraw tn
request was accorded, as signihed in
your correspondence OF Wednesdays HERALD. At
in obtaining primary Intelligence over those
parties who are diligent enough to unearth long
buried documents, that come Ike Banquo's ghost,
unbidden TO the feast, and whose profits may yet
turn, like Dead Sea fruit, into ashes upon the ips'
OF their acquisitive possess0rs.
The document adduced by your correspondent Of
Wednesday has its internal marks OF veracity.
Perhaps this review may not be wanting in demon
strating the fact that something more was cOntem-
plated In the mission to Canada by distinguished
politicians than mere incendiary enterprise
Under this view OF the conduct OF the Commits
sioners in Canada II is apparent from the action at
the Niagara Falls Convention that the South ear
BLESSING either BY arbitration diplomacy or political
influence; sufficient, however, Is made public to
show that the large amount OF money appropriated
pose, and not for any mere freebOOters expedition
on the frontier. To attempt to consider acts per-
formed belligerents as crimes against the law
OF the land will not meet with the sober Judgment
of posterity The great idea to be kept In mind In all
which among cyzed nations have been regarded
as justfable In war. The rules under that code
are so loosely drawn. so badly defined, and with SO
many eXceptiOnable precedents, that In viewing
the act OF an individual belligerent our minds are
liable to be biased from relations TO the cause
which he aims to serve. The mystery which Is
necessarily involved in the Secret Service Depart
ment leaves great deal open to conjecture and
intents that impelled actions In the absence Of
known facts everything also true is colored by dark
surmises. Besides, the principal representa-,
iva hnnn Ia
efforts OF isolated parties who have
no responsibility attached to their movements.
upon representative men. When the mind is
cleared from prejudice and the excitement OF the
arrived at than that when has hitherto been at
tached to these movements, and conduct, which
otherwise might be condemned will then be APP
prOved--evcn these abortivc efforts to sunder our
formerly happily united country. The period OF
warfare has passed away; recrimination should
cease. No good can result from the exhibit of long
buried documents, either as testimony of national
or personal wyongs and their use Is only allowable
In defence of those unjustly mallgned, and should
not be allowed in pandering to the malignant pas
sions that blind Justice and drive reason from the
sway Of her legal c0unses.
Non ig7dru ndt nliseyiS Succefe disco. w
Letter from Colonel John II. Pickett.
WASHINGTON, ID. c..
No. 1,I22 street, July 26, 1872.
To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD
A forthcoming work the diplomacy OF the
Rebellion" (so-called) being now very thoroughly
advertised, its editor has written to me with re-
quest to thank the press generally for the many
first rate notices given the book in advance 0! pub
LEGATION and thus aay the fears of all who seem
to apprehend that the existing administration
would fabricate documents to order With all the
shortcomings OF the Cabinet am satisfied its MEM
bers are incapable of so shallow and shabby an ex
pedient. 1t ought to occur to the mind OF any one
versed in public official life that record dupl-
cate Of every paper of the least significance must
exist in the hands of the agents who originally
penned the same Or If deceased, in the hands OF
their representatlves-the peculiar merit OF the
documents as delivered consisting in their con-
crete, comp endlOus form. And am now assured
that most complete copies Of all the papers at all
important have been made since the war, and are
in the hands OF compiler in Canada. That person
has slept with them-orginals and copies--for elk
years, and knows them oil, great ana small by
heart a.,
1t has not escaped my notice that not one OF the
| many who have most severely criticised my ACTON
| in this matter has intmated what he would have
done under the circumstances. Unaided and
| acting in the interest OF my client, cared
for and caused to De .heS Se sny
patriotic gentlemen to whom ! Appealed LOT
assistance would not contribute dollar. what
right had or any else to destroy the material
| by which history is writtenS Had done so the
! very men who revile me now would, upon inc
! inevitable change OF administration, have de-
nounccd the act as one OF unqualified Vandalism
and its perpetrator superservceable ass. prefer
their hatred to their ridicule. And had not the
writer delivered the documents to the actual
administration the holder OF them would nave
strashtway employed some other agent ana SO
they would have been delivered, nevertheless.
| One writer refers TO the archives as :" stolen"
documents. Stolen from whomY II ] have any
knowledge OF law logic or ethics, 1t would seem TO
that precisely the reverse Is the case or 80 lar
from being stolen, they have been most scrupulously
/ delivered to the rightfu ownerthe heiratlaw and
reslluary legatee OF the defunct conference.-the
United States to wit. IL Is surely not my ault that
many honorable gentlemen for whom have pro-
found respect personally should still think the war
has TO be fought over again. do not share In that
conviction. and trust 1t Is but sentiment on their
part, and being not blinded by partisan or sec
tonal hate, hope to see but one government In
| Tins country during my time. As to the inevitable
of races, IL is not subject OF proper discussion
! at the present time. May Heaven avert 1t!
The administration has fired or its Runs-the
Jacob Thompson report. 1t is bad enough; but as
/ didn't write 1t, the ''dishOnOr" Of giving IL to
history, after the lapse OF near full decade Is
not clearly apparent TO ny mind: AS wei might might
That Is the only paper In the entire batch at all
discreditabe TO the three or four men who ran
the Confederate machine. Incapaclty and plumbers
abound, no doubt; but that stupendous crime
against humanity stands alone. so, should any
| thing else Of disgraceful character appear. the
venomous Old spider who sits in his wellwoven
web up y0nder In Canada, would sally forth
wrathiully and annihilate the feeble humbug.
! Finally, ! am stu firmly persuaded 10 was the
duty Of the government to acquire the property, as
ii was mine to preserve and restore 1t. shall abide
personal or otherwise and only say to my assall
ants, III the language Of The great aud go0d Horace
Greeley, "Yon lie. Villains YOU heV' rue docu,
ments constitute part OF tile history OF the United
States. Let us respect them AZ such. Sh0nld they
afford the means OF defeating scalawag claimants
aud their carpet-bag attorneys shall be aad Of it.
Hinc iU0 incrpnlG. JOHN r. PICKETT.
CAM vynCw