The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-04-29
we'll known, anil the members of
ithaca ln,,,rt,f, 49,, t1.s.

these departments and thci,
agents were also known, 40 that
when the United Safes Govern
ment succeeded to the asscsts OF
the Confectionery the remnants of
these funds were surrendered to
it by those who held them. There
was one fund, however, Which c.
capped surrender because of the
mystery enveloping it and this
WIS the secret service fund of the
Confederate department of State.
At different times the Confedcr-
ate Congress, in secret session,
voted large sums for secret SER
vice. the intention being, of
courSc, t" apply this money in
foreign countries So as to aid the
Confederncy and cmbarrass its adj
versary. The fund was used to
influence officials rot other Cav
ernments in some degree to- aid
the State department III it's efforts
to secure recognition tor the Con-
fedsrate States; and occasionally
to assist other departments by
snfponiing the way for purchases
which we're difficult. The mem.
beers Of the secret service were
not known to the public. I have
been shown IA list of the p.inci-
pal ones, but am not permitted to
print it. Several were very prom
inent men identified with Con-
federate diplomacy, and bore high
characters. Others I had never
heard IF before. London and
Paris were the chief points of Sc
cret service activity. There was
an agent at Brownsville, Texas,
on the Mexican border. The
principal deposits Of secret SER
vice money were in London and
Paris banks. The funds were
placed to the credit of citizens of
Great Britain and France, who
were friendly to the South. The
understanding with them vas
that they would assume no re-
sponsibility. but would honor
drafts to the extent Of the money
in bank. At the close OF the war
there were large unexpendcd bal
ances Of secret service money to
the credit of these parties. There
wassone account Of nine hundred
thansande dollars,fwhich seems to-
ha&abekp overdrawn, us against
it@ @arged two hundred and
foEystwpS thousand pounds sterl-
inEss The balances oil differ nt
depositsEs at,the close Of the war
were az, follows: One Of less than
threa~hundred pounds, one of,
threeshnndred aud nine thousand
ponnds, lone Of fifty thousand
ponnds and one of five hundred
pohlids.t Then there was one of
two thousand dollars. one of q
hundred thousand dollars, one of
four hundred and t~ifty-eigl,t
thousand dollars, and IL huge one
of tbraa million, seven hundred
ands Hiaetsen tlionSaId dollars.
ThG total Balance lne1he Confed-
crate !G0RernHienti III. Tie time of
itGfaaI&as.SsBiDldtt' FIVE millipn and
eighty thousand dollars.
The men who had this money
deposited in their numcs were
honest. They did not make WAY
with the assets of. the dead Com
federacy, but. they were ln,,zzled
to Know what to d" WITH them.
Mr.. Benjamin, as secretary al
State Of the Confetlerarv. knew
these agents; Ahd dnring lis resi-
deuce in England consulted with
them ;s tosthe disposition of tn.
money. 1t was agreed that il
should not be surrendered to tin.
United States. The question wur
then, how to dishnrse the money
80 as best to benefit those emit
tied to it. 1t was concluded that
the people who had given their
means to the C"nfcticracy for it.
bonds were entitled to tiles. (tl,.
Copfederacy's 81 Mssasts.
The aggregateof tho funds wa.
sscertained, and IL calculation WA,
made 90 to how far it would 90
inuspaying the interest on tho
tronds, because, of course, it was
npracticsble tr declare a divi-
dend on the principal. Public
ity' Was to sbe avoided. Secrecy
was, Indispensable. 1t was dcci-
ded to- pay off the unhonored
coupon, beginning with those last
due by the C"nfctlcracy during
it's existence. These were tile
co9pohs falling due january lst.
1855. Then the balance was to
.lp applied to the payment OF tln.
next coupons falling due. The
bonds were adyprtisel for, To