The New York herald., 1872-07-23
THOSE CONFEDERATE ARCHIVES" I"
The Letter of Colonel John 7.
Pickett.
The Curtain Unveiled and the Whole
Mystery Solved.
How Political Roorbaolxs Are
Manufactured.
1,422 F STREET, WASHINGTON, D. OIL
July IL, 1872.

+
July II, 1871
To TIE EDITOR OF THE PArRIOr:- ~
That pleasant old confabulator, Esopus tells m
how that once upon time hungry vol, prowling
about in search Of his SUPPER was attracted BY 9
cheerful light streaming from the window OF hut.
Peeping In he discovered a company Of shepherds
regaling on mutton. "zoundsr quoth he Q.a Fon-
taine hath 1t "Tu Dteup' but as that expression
were blasphemous shall not use ~, "what pre-
cious row there would be were caught at that
business"
Thus every hungry gentleman who didn't have
the energy. enterprise opportunity OF preserv-
ing the above-named priceless history is Of course
virtuously indignant at MIN who did.
Yes, am he who, through years OF toll tribula-
tiOn ana at great expense, has caused to be pre-
served and delivered to the common government
Of common country the aforesaid common his
tory. f
1t were o long story; but in response to your
very judcious article In t0-day's Patriot shall
what lengthy Journeys periormed; sH what atV~ OK
pense and trouble incurred in searching for the
"missing Confederate archives'' need not now be
related. But they were at length found safely
stored away In Canada: I 'bought I'M" obtained Q
certain control over them, and shortly after Pres
Mr. Seward under date, Toronto January 20, 1885,
Mr. Seward replied that he did not doubt that they
would prove, Of Importance; but but before undertak,
hither and examined. The bona Jlde holder Of them
replied to ton nae that ..he would see Mr.. Seward
negotiation ended and thus nothing was done until
the administration changed. Then, after consult
Wse Of opons condg with
notions, l offered the documents to President
Grant In person, and reference was had to General
Rawlings He was warmly In favor OF acquiring
the property, and named heavy sum as proper
compensation ier their preservation. But Just
then he sickened and died. and with him died
well, more than need say
Consulting friends again, and the policy Of the
new administration not realizing its promise nor
boundless lberality, but without success what
other efforts made to have the papers preserved
by political friends, how negotiated with his
torlans, publishers &c, in vain need not now re-
late. Here VIII make the gratifying Statements
{ssrs. tssS s have kept my confidence and shall keep
Time passed inactlvely until about year ago.
authority of nigh functlonaries endeavored to open
negotiations with me. "fought shy" but finally
was induced to deliver them copy Of the original
one OF their party had heretofore seen. This
whetted an appetite, and alter the nomination Of
Judge Davis for the Presidency, deeming 1t GER
tain that he would he endorsed by both the
Conservative and Democratic COnyentions-and
to 3 TO "a IN hs
inspection. This we did in April last, and were
some two weeks engaged in that business. His re-
port was favorable, as must be inferred from the
The Cincinnati Convention nominating Mr.. Gree
ley anu leelng cOnnuenC baltimore WOulu 40 Lno
same, and being then, as now, certain Of his cleo
tiOn, and all rebels (sO-called) being amnestled-
except few, who have only to ask for It
l consented to endeav0r to persuade my
principal, the holder Of the archives, to deliver
them TO the government, and which transfer we
four yellow trunks wended their way to the White
House and certain pile Of greenbacks wa was lait6-
dian Of the property pocketed hs price, reimbursed
my advances to him, paid my fees as his attorney
and agent, and went his way rejoicing. He ia Is
when reveal the secrets 6f the prison house-nOe
before.
unknown to me but as 1t has done so feel myself
absolved from any secrecy on the subject and most
lic aud in due time shall give On elaborate history
OF the affair." should interest In 1t survive the pres
ent hour. 1
IThen follows the portion of the letter which was
The truth IS these now famous archives have no
pOtcs, ana
citizens and are Interested in them in the
who threw up their caps for Jefr Davis and shouted
"Death to the Yankees" during the war, aud now
souls BY swearing they we're always rooy o" sas
have no sympathy with SUCH The conquerer
stripped me 81 every dollar reducing my children
Ing me to insgnl0cance and endless TOLL but ii
tneE Of at the part
cent with compound interest would
scorn,. with scorn unspeakable, to receive
it on those terms l do not pretend to have been
troOiy lo. But, as | labor under the impression
that the war Is over at last, am willing to take
fresh departure and endeavor by the arts OF peace,
to relieve the party now in power from the care OF
administering the common government any longer.
l have omitted to say that the person who spirited
the papers away, and who had them IN his grip
lately swore that II 1 shouldn't dispose Of them
without delay he would; and thus would have
lost all reward for my attention to seemingly
interminabe and most laborous piece OF
business. In short, I had a very voracous
white elephant on my hands, and was
very glad indeed to turn him over to Uncle Sam.
That the person referred to Is not myth can
most feelingy declare, for he hid the greater part
OF the money forever from my sight and took tho
first Il ain.
Finally while am not so Quixoto as to under
take to enghten all those who grope in the dark,
will say that II there be one in our broad South
ern land so imbued with the spirit OF the Caph
Omar who is cumulative OF ''the ambitious
youth who fired the Ephesan DOME" as to have
counseed the destruction OF these precious ar
chives ten years after hostlities ceased, him,
Indeed, have offended.
JOHN T. PICKETT, Attorney-at-Law.
Confederate States diplomatic agent near the
government OF Mcxico.)