New York Daily Tribune

A DEEP VEIN OF TREASON DISCOVERED.

From The St. Louis Democrat.

The United States authorities at the Arsenal, and the United States Marshal of this District, have for weeks past been advised of attempts to enlist in this city recruits for the rebel army. It was chiefly this fact that led to the detention of the steamer John H. Dickey, on board of which Capt. George and other well known Secessionists had embarked. The mass of the recruits, however, who it was then hoped to intercept, had left the previous evening on the I. M. R. R. Since then the vigilance of the officers has been increased—and the result was the information that a party of recruits, some twenty in number, were to go down the river on the steamer Platte Valley, Monday night. This vessel was the same from which six horses, suspected as destined for the enemy, were taken by the Government a day or two since. At 10 o'clock Monday night the Platte Valley was brought to while about passing the Duncan's Island battery. The first gun from the battery is said to have been at once answered by the boat's whistle; but the response was not heard, doubtless on account of the violence of the storm which was then raging. A second gun, a shell, was then fired, and a third before it was perceived that the boat was heading in shore.

From some two hundred passengers on board, the United States Marshal and his deputies selected sixteen against whom there was believed to be such evidence as to warrant arrest. They were taken in custody and removed, with their baggage, to the Arsenal steamer Iatan. The Platte Valley was then subjected to the most search for goods contraband of war, but none were found. The vessel was then permitted to go on her way, and the prisoners proceeded on the Iatan to the Arsenal, where, at about 10 p. m., they were placed in the guard-house.

Their names are as follows: J. H. Lewis, John Schmidt, Benjamin Bruttas, D. C. Barbridge, Jeremiah Wetzell, William Cannon, W. H. Rhodes, F. C. Martin, John P. Bull, Edmond A. Pignero, Charles B. Smith, Edward Blennerhassett, Col. Wm. J. Preston, John Conv, Frederick Baner, and Thomas Bennett.

The baggage of these parties was, yesterday afternoon, searched on board the Iatan, and whatever documents tended to implicate the owners in hostility to the United States Government, were retained. With thirteen of the prisoners, nothing of a sufficiently positive and pertinent nature on which to base a legal prosecution could be found, although most, if not all of them, evidently sympathized strongly with treason. They were, therefore, offered their discharge upon condition of swearing, in good faith and without mental reservation, to obey the laws of the United States, not to give aid or comfort to the enemy, and not to bear arms against the United States during the civil war. They readily agreed to the terms, and professed to take the oath with honest and sincere intent to live up to it.

Colonel Preston, Blennerhassett, and Pignero were detained, and will probably be subjected to an accusation of treason. Each of them is well known in the city.

O. W. Barrett, brother of the late Congressman Barrett, was arrested yesterday in the city by the United States Marshal for alleged treason. It is said that proofs against him are strong, and that other prominent individuals are seriously involved in the same charge. Up to last night Mr. Barrett remained in special custody of the United States Marshal. At 11 o'clock this forenoon he will be brought before United States Commissioner Hickman for preliminary examination. The other prisoners will be brought up from the Arsenal, and arraigned at the same time.