Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-16
"REBEL ARCHIVES"
Attempt of the Radicals to Get Up
an ElectiOneering Trick.
Sanford COn0yer Comes Once More to
the 4id Of the Government.
Special to the Cincinnati Commercial.


WASHINGTON, July 13.-It is stated that
the Treasury Department, on yesterday,
raid to Col. John T. Pickett, formerly Of
The Confederate army, SIS, 900 for data from
the rebel archives, which he held in his pos
session as Attorney for certain parties in
Canada. H. is also further stated that this
large sum was paid by the special order Of
Secretary Boutwell,, who, in conjunction
with the other members of the Administra-
ton, is of the opinion that, besides the pri-
mary effect of protecting the treasury from
the claims of bogus Southern Union men,
they can also be used for political effect in
the Sauth during the pending campai u,
and In the interest of Gen. Grant.
These archives or department files have
somewhat singular history. When the
military operations in front of Richmond
assumed that threatening character which
finally ended in the evacuation of the city,
these archives were sent to North Carolina
for safe keeping. There they fell into the
hands Of some Irresponsible parties, who,
amid the CONSERVATION attending the down.
fall of thet Confederacy, escaped with them
ID Canada, where they have been kept and
used for various speculative purposes, until
the present time. Whatever these papers
may contain relative to Greeley's peace ne
gotiations, and which have not vet been
published, viii now be doled out through
the vsiDus Grant organs of the country,
and whatever effect they may also have in
intimidating prominent men in the South
will also be fully tried.
Special TO the Louisville Courier-Journal.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE pretended
purchase Of a new batch of Confederate
archives, telegraphed yesterday, is giving
rise TO good deal of speculation, and some
points are beginning 10 leak out which
throw discredit on the whole transaction.
Some time last winter the notorious San
ford Conover is reported to gave offered lack
Chandler the details of a scheme which the
two considered a good expedient for firing
the Northern heart. 1t was submitted TO
Grant and Boutwell, and held in abeyance.
Conover's idea was to 60 to Canada, find an
accomplice, forge lot of letters and official
documents, purporting to belong TO the Con-
federate State Department and to the de-
partment managed by Jacob Thompson,
and relating to the, burning of Northern
cities. 1t is known that there was quite a
laugh over tina idea. Morton msisfed that,
if it was carried out, Hendricks should be
involved, and Cameron swore that if Buck
alew was left ont be would not contribute a
cent. SO the matter passed as a good joke.
1t seems now that what was begun in jest
is to be carried out in earnest.
The story is that the Administration is
gradually preparing the country with the
announcement that it has come into pos
session Of new lot Of Confederate archives.
These forged papers are then to be artfully
put out, late in The canvass, so as to take
the country by storm before there is time
for investigation OF reaction. The best men
in the Administration are said to be against
the scheme, whilst others declare that it is
child's play. Gen. Grant himself has OPP
posed t al along as brainless and useless
app e. 1t is hoped that he wiLlget put
his upon it.
IA, urged letters are said by those who
have seen them TO be the most barefaced
frauds possible to conceive.