Year: 1865

ESPIONAGE THE TYRANT's wEA-


PON-IT SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.


Espionage is the agency employed by ty-
rants at all times. 1t is necessary in Repuh-
lies, If at all, only in times Of actual war,
and should then be employed only under the
surveillance Of men knotOn to be honest as
well as able. The doctrine that ait takes
thief to catch thief" which has too often
been procticed upon in the police arrange.
ments of many of our large cities, is dis
grace to any municipality, and, above all,
such theory and practice should not be tol.
Grated by national authorities, or any of
their subordinates, especially in country
and under Government like ours.


The rebellion made II necessary that the
detective and spy systems should be eIten-
sively organised in this country. War always
requires such agencies; civil war more than
any other, because the rebel not only speaks
the same language, lives in the same city
and town, but often resides in the same
house, and sits at the same table with the
loyalist. During the rebellion, first and last,
thousands of men have been employed as de-
tectives and spies, at an enormous expense,
in the service Of the Government; some by
the Provost Marshal General Of the Army Of
the Potomac; others in the Army of the
James; others in the Gulf; others under
SHERMAN; others under SHERIDAN; under
Mai Gen THOMAS in short, wherever there
was an army, especially as large as a corps,
detectives and spies were deemed necessary.


In Washington a detective corps, under one
head, has been in existence during the whole
of the rebellion. This organization was al
control of Col. ALLEN, during McCLELLAN's
time, and afterwards under Colonel and Gen.
eral BAKER, but under the constant sur
reliance of the Secretary of War. 1t was
we'll supplied with " shadows" by which
means it frequently overshadowod many per-
sons employed in the different armies as de-
tectives.


Very bad men have found employment in
these organizations by reason of their knowl-
edge of criminals and crimes committed.
Some men known to be State prison convicts
have been employed, and this since the re-
bellion broke out. In one instance we
learn that one of this dangerous class of men
was employed to decoy a female into the
performance of legitimate business trans
action, which she never would have under
taken otherwise, evidently in tho hope, on
his part, Of involving a high Government
functionary. The rascal was not only de-
feated in his infamous purpose, but was
caught in the very trap that he set for an
other, as the sequel will show.


But it is not our purpose to make com
plants There are many excellent men in
the detective force. Much of their service
is not only hazardous, but is honestly and
cheerfully rendered, however unpleasant,
and is frequently remuneratcd with curses.


We do not sympathize with those who in
discriminatory denounce the whole detective
force of the country as an organized band of
nor with tho other extremists,
who behold angels in detectives, and view
their labor as the work Of the Lord. We
have as little faith in the Wholesale denun-
citation Of Gen. BAKER, for instance, as we
entertain profound contempt for the insult
ing statement made yesterday in a daily
print of this city, that mo officer in the
army has done more than Gen. BAKER to
maintain the honor and purity Of the SER
vice"


The armed rebellion is put down. There
are consequently no more lines throug h
which goods oontraband of war can be Snug
glcd. Southern ports are now all open to
trade. The Federal armies are nearly all
disbandsd. Bounty jumpers have playe d
out Martial law exists nowhere in all the
land. Rebels are penitent, and are asking,
in sincerity, for pardon. Prisoners, held in
durance vile for months without a hearing,
some justly and some upjuStly, are being
daily released by order of the President, pre-
liminary, we trust, to the restoration of the
writ of ha6eaS eorpu'' States late in rebel,
lion are organizing civil governments pre-
paratory to. a peaceful restoration of the
Union. The President is anxious to substi.
tute civil law for military, from the British
border to the Mexican line.


In view of all these facts, then why should
the Government continue an organization in
times Of peace which should only be tolerated
by free people as one Of the stern necessi,
ties of war; Is the detective force now in
existence necessary to protect either the
honor or the life of the President, or either


of his Cabinet members? We think not. On


the contrary, recent events indicate that the


business of some Of the detectives at present