The New York herald., 1872-07-24

| The report as received In a Washington despatch
that had been paid for four trunks of papers,
| embracing the archives Of the late confederate
government appears an ambiguous, If not astound-
| ing rumor.
Tho HERALD sagely suggests that Judah p. Benia-
min honoraby DESTROYED the secret service vouch-
ers, and these documents now offered to the pre-
sent administration can only therefore contain
those military records and reports Of action in the
civil service that are interesting as historical
records
The writer proposes to explain certain matters
which have hitherto been regarded as mysterious,
and though he performed only a subordinate part,
yet he had access to those who were chief actors,
and, possessing their confidence, became familiar
with much that was done or attempted on the
Canadian frontier during our late unhappy civil
conflict. 1t is simple statement OF facts due to
those unjustly maligned. The brief recital will be
fortified by documentary evidence, drawn from
papers secured by the writer in Canada after the
war. They are used by permission. Every gov.
ernment has its secret service, and sometimes the
most important results are enccted through their
agency. The secret agent In the war OF 1872 was
Edwards, who had access to all the leading politi-
clans Of that PERIOD and through whose agency the
Hartford Convention was convened Daniel Web
stcr, when Secretary Of State made free use Of
agents In this service, and Lord Palmerston did not
hesitate to send his agents to America and else
where to secretly watch the political movements of
foreign Powers It is not surprising therefore, that
the Southern States in their late struggle for sep
arate political existence should use every means re-
OF 70 Is n
reason when these events have happily passed
away forever that the world should not know the
truth, and thus dlssipate the miserable suspicious
and unjustifable charges which mystery enables
partisans or jealous enemies to throw around the
unexplained conduct or those engaged In Canada
in the secret service OF the South.
The letters quoted were placed at the disposal Of
the writer, to be used at discretion and there is
therefore no breach Of confidence In their present
The HERALD has quoted certain damaging charges
against Jacob Thompson, and will he the object OF
the present article to give a statement OF facts.
Lnsprtnts: The writer first offers the following
letter from Judah P. Benjamin, addressed to Jacob
| Thompson IN Canada
DErARrxxyT or STATE RICHMOND, March 2, 1865
saI hase the honor to receipt of your
several despatches oi lh, sh and "a January swcll
The President insitncts me forward YOU the follow
s sss sssss s $
sum Of money not exceeding $1,000 as you may deem
% sf eS al sSs o ala Ia b a as @ o
iedSracy money is to be applied to any that do not
Sseosain regard to Dr. s, the Pr, President does not
thai amy q any M kind be unaertaksn By
compsn Of breach Of neutral rights by our authority or
the to
Sy him; SSoal he hersatteS need more money inform
him that will sond 1t to him on being notified OF his
onts Reserve IN your own hands such sum as You
f4ass & sn @ IN epo in to h nspSs
Service account Make this remittance as soon as pos
pressing need those funds already important mp
s r SssP ss Of sesn s0eys
BEGINNING % 3 the nai alemsn in Xppsia'e Court
SSr own to @ se as as to y % S
mode. would however, suggest Iiayana, thencs 70
route long but is the only one that can be considered
Issye this covers all points lam necessarily brief
h IN w am
ior ono week 81 "A; rs toows;L lava,
sorSsan price and TpJysSS SSeaso n
Fill up the blank before the. word 'acres' with the
deni servant TO- a ' very rSsissHRS 00e
| Secretary of State.
At about the time Of the reception Of this letter
the Confederacy was obviously extinct.
can only Judge ~ to the disposition of the funds
by the following extr act from a letter despatched
from Naples in the subsequent year by Mr. Jacob
Thompson to the compiler of this record:--
MY Ss J to % S for S,s.
shall go from here to Alexandria and cannot say when
Before nfEs s h1
pclon e a hat me ind to M and
and wishing @ obtain his receipt in iul turned over
,Sf ~ r; sssss' 81 a s 1%
pendent yet Go not wish 70 be slandsred and pursued
TG%d d
pssS sSGHS Montreal ss quite acceptable
are Hsy ne peopc s M think of ,srnns
Europe. Very truly yours JACOB THOMPSON.
These letters are offered as the clearest proof of
the strict fidelity with which he observed every
onicial order In his delicate position as Confederate
as TO the three most serious charges that have been
| laid at his door, and even now, when the dead
issues of the past buried II is sought 10 revamp
| eiete rumOrs by the production OF musty and
! long-buricd documents. The utter fasity of gratui-
tous charges can be conradcted by simple
| MIR. Thompson has been accused of aiding and
aocttng IN the assassination OF President Lincoln,
In having authorized The burning of the City of New
! York and OF being accessory to the st. Adams
| raid.
Let briefly examine each Of these charges IN the
| grade OF their enormity. First, with reference to
| THE 81. AI.BANS' RAID,
the testimony that has already been adduccd be-
fore the investigating committee In Congress
| proves incidentally not only that Mr. Thompson
| disapproved OF 1t. hut that he had ordered the
port himself FOR duty When this party showed a
| determination TO disObcy the order. he applied for
relief from TINS order to another ,a commissioner m as
| duccd before the Congressional Committee.
This makes II clear that Mr.. Thompson refused to
| sanction the raid upon st. Adams, because he was
| under the impression that the movement was i'm.
polite. IL istrue, however, that when these young
| men were arrested under the ExtradtiOn Treaty
| that Mr.. Thompson. in generous compliance with
the solicitations OF the friends OF the parties ar
! Ya,gned. stood by them in their hour OF need In
| order to save them from being delivered up to
enemies WHO, In their existing state Of cxcltcmeI,,
wo.id DO incapable Of giving Them fair triSi In
! 90 doing lie discharged simple act OF jrstice in
Difference TO impulses Of philanthropy apd dictates
| OF duty.
! rim BrRSISG OF THE NEW yosk HOTELS.
| And now TO- approach the present more serious
| charge "a to the burning Of this city. Many fair
| homes OF the South had already been dcsOlated.
burned aud razed to the ground. Irritated py
these wantcn acts OF destruction, Wild and dcspc-
rate young mon assumed an irresponsible license OF
| rctaiiati0p Mr.. Thompson never justified the tu-f-
Ing OF private property but In general o.,ier au-
tho lied the destruction OF federal stores wherever