The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-07-27

scattered through the country. Most of them
have returned to the Confederate States, but
few days since, Acting Master, Bennett G.
Burley, was arrested, and the trial is now
going on for his delivery under the eXtraditon
treaty. Ii we had Coles, Bealps, or his own
commission, l should not fear the result. Ad
1t is, they will have to prove that they actes
under my order, and that WILL in all probable
| TRY, secure his release, but it may lead to
my expulsion from the Provinces; at least,
l have it from a reliable source that this last
| proposition has been pressed upon the Cana
dian authorities, and they have considered it.
| Should the course of events take this direction,
unadyisCd by YOU, shall consider it my duty
to remain where | am, and abide the issue.
l should prefer, if it be possible, to have your
views ON the subject. Captain Cole is still
prisoner on Johnson's Island. In obedience
to your suggestion, as far as was practicable,
soon after my arrival here l urged the people
in the North to convert their paper money
into gold and withdraw it from the market
l am satisfied this policy was adopted and
carried into effect to some extent, but how
extensively l am unable to state. What effect
it had on the gold market, it is impossible to
| estimate, but certain it is that gold continued
to appreciate until it went to 290. The high
price may have tempted many to change their
policy, because atterward gold fell in the
market to 100, when it was about $50, and
expectation of gold was so small that there
appeared to be but little or no demand for it.
Mr.. John Porterfield, formerly banker in
Nashville, but now a resident of Montreal
was furnished with 100000 and instructed
to proceed to New York, to carry out finan-
cial policy of his own conception, which con-
| sisted in the purchase of gold and exporting
the same, selling it for sterling bills of ex-
change, and then again, converting his ex-
change into gold. This process involved
certain loss, the cost of the transhipment.
| IIox ioof Tod h. IT,,
| go on with his policy, until he had expended
$4,000 with which he supposed he would
ship directly $5,OO0,OO0, and induce others to
ship much MORE and then, if the effect upon
the gold market was not very perceptible, he
was to desist and return to Canada and restore
the money unexpended. By his last report,
he had caused the shipment of more than
two millions Of gold, at an expense of less
than ten thousand dollars, but it seems that
Mr.. Lyons, who had been former partner of
Porterfield, was arrested by General Butler,
on the ground that he was exporting gold
and although Mr.. Lyons had no connection
with Mr.. Porterfield in this transaction, vet
he thought it prudent to return to Canada
| and, while he retains the urexpended balance
of the S25, 900 to carry out his instructions, he
has restored $4,000. 1 must confess that
! the first shipment had marked effect on the
market l am inclined to the opinion that
his theory will work great damage and dis
trust in the Federal finances, if vigorously
followed up, and if no untoward circumstan-
ces should interfere with the operation.
Soon after l reached Canada, Mr.. Minor
Major visited me and represented himself as
an accredited agent from the Confederate
States to destroy steamboats, on the Mississip-
pi river, and that his operations were sus-
| pended for want of means. | advanced to
him $4,000 in Federal currency, and soon af-
terward several boats were burned at st.
Louis, involving an immense loss of property
to the enemy. He became supected as he
represented to me, of being the author of
this burning, and from that time both he and
his men have been hiding, and consequently,
have done nothing. Money has been ad-
vanced to Mr. Churchill, of Cincinnati, to
organize corps for the purpose of incendiar-
ism in that city l consider him true man,
and although, as yet, he has effected but little,
am in constant expectation of hearing of |
effective work in that quarter.
Pevious to the arrival of Lieutenant Colo
mel Martin and Lieutenant Headly bringing |
an unsigned note from you, all the different |
places where our prisoners are confined
Camp Douglas, Rock Island, Camp Morton,
Camp Chase, Elmira-had been thoroughly |
examined, and the conclusion was forced |
upon us that all efforts to release them with
out an outside cooperation would bring dis
aster upon the prisoners and result in no
good All projects of that sort were aban-
doned, except that at Camp Douglas, where
Captain Hines still believed he could effect
their release. We yielded to his firmness, zeal |
and persistence, and his plans were plausible. |
but treachery defeated him before his well |
laid schemes were developed. Having moth
ing else on hand, Colonel Martin expressed
wish to organize corps to burn New York |
City. He was allowed to do so, and most |
daring attempt has been made to fire that |
city, but their reliance on the Greek fire has |
proved a misfortune. 1t can not be depended |
on as an agent in such work.
have no faith whatever in it, and no at
tempt shall hereafter be made, under my gen.
eral directions, with any such materials. I |
knew nothing whatever OF the raid on ST.
Adams until after it transpred. Desiring to
have boat on whose captain and crew reli-
ance could be placed, and on board of which
arms could be sent to convenient points for
arming such vessels as could be seized for
operations on the Lakes, aided Dr. James
L. Bates OF Kentucky, an old steamboat cap
tain, IN the purchase Of the steamer Geor-
gian. She had scarcely been transferred
when the story went abroad that she had
been purchased and armed for the purpose of
sinking the Michigan, releasing the prisoners
on Johnson's Island, and destroying the ship
ping on the lakes, and the cities on their mar
gin. The widest CONSERVATION prevailed in
all the border cities; at Buffalo two tugs had
cannon placed on board, four regiments of
soldiers were sent there-two of them repre-
sented to have been drawn from the army of
Virginia. Bells were rung at Detroit and
churches broken up on Sunday. The whole
lake shore was scene of wild excitement.
Boats were sent out, which boarded the
Georgian, and found nothing contraband on
board, but still the people were incredulous.
The bane and curse of carrying out ANYTHING
in this country is the surveillance under
which we act. Detectives or those ready to
Or m oofin or hofo
Two or three cannot interchange ideas with
out reporter
The Presidential election has so democrat
lied the order of the "Sons of Liberty, that
a new organization under new leaders has
become an absolute necessity. This is now
going forward with great vigor and success.
The new order is styled the "Order of the
Star" There is general expectation that
there will soon be new draft, and the mem
bers swear resistance to another draft 1t is
purely military, wholly independent of poll
tics and politicians. 1t is given out among
the members that Stonewall Jackson is the
founder OF the order, and the name has its
significance from the stars on the collars of
Southern officers. There is no ground TO
doubt that the masses, to a Iarqe extent. of
the North are brave and true, and believe
Lincoln a tyrant and usurper
During my stay in Canada a great amount
OF property has been DESTROYED by burning.
Inc information brought me as to the perpe-
traitors is so conflicting and contradictory.
that am satisfied that nothing can be GER
tainly known. Should claims be presented
at the war office for payment of this kind of
work, not one dollar should be advanced on
any proof adduced until all the parties con- (
cerned may have an opportunity for making
out and presenting the proof. Several par
ties claim to have done the work st. Louis.
New Orleans, Louisville, Brooklyn, Philadel
phia and at Cairo. Within the last few DAYS !
Dr. K. l. Stewart, of Virginia, has reached
TINS place, and very mysteriously informs me .
that he has plan for the execution of some
thing which has received the sanction of the
PRESIDENT. He is in want of money, and
states to me that you gave him draft on me !
for $4,000 in gold, which has been lost on .
the way. He has sent back to Richmond for l
renewal. He has rented large house and :
moved his family into it. l cannot doubt his
word, but Of course do not feel authorized :
to advance him money without your author
lty or that of the President. l have. how l
ever, been constrained to advance him $500
IN gold on his written statement that, unless
the money was in hand the lives and liber
Ties OF high Confederate officers would be i'm
perilled. w LII {
Owing to the health of Mr.. CLAW we sepa-
rated at Halifax, and since then we have not A
an