The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-04 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 4, 1862.

AMERICA.

(riot out semi'. col

NEW YORK, Ocr. 22.

I see that some of the English sympathisers with
secession in Liverpool and elsewhere are getting up
a " Southern Club" for the purpose of collecting
subscriptions for Confederate prisoners at the
North. It may save some trouble and some money
to the humane enemies of democracy to know that
there are no Confederate prisoners at the North,
and that there are not likely to be any, at least for
more than a few days at a time. The practice of
liberating the prisoners on their signing a paper
pledging themselves not to serve again until ex-
changed has been generally adopted now by both
parties, and as it saves the captors a great deal of
trouble and provisions, and relieves the captured
from wearisome confinement, it is not likely •to be
abandoned, unless it should be found that either
side fails to keep faith. I may add here that the
stories so current in newspapers, both North and
South, of brutal treatment of prisoners, are in ray
opinion in a majority of cases either gross singe-

no prisoners of war were Jai: so well fed, sTall
lodged, well doctored, and well taken care of in
every way, as those taken by the North in this war,
because in no war has government organisation
been so well supplemented by private charity,
and in none has there been less vindictiveness gene-
rally
felt towards the enemy. There is no effect
of democratic institutions so well marked upon na-
tional character as their influence in rendering
people humane and sympathetic; and I may add,
that I believe in no country in the world is there
leas chance of a man's suffering from hunger or
disease unaided or untended than in the Northern
States. Moreover, there has been no feature of
this war more remarkable than the small amount
of hatred or dislike of Southerners which has
accompanied this tremendous expenditure of force
in fighting against them. And I will even go so
far as to say that I think much of the failure and
disappointment undergone by the North in their
contest has been due to the good nature or boa-
hommie, the reluctance to push matters to extremes,
the teuderness for Southern feelings, the disposi-
tion to regard the whole affair as only ato rary
falling out amongst friends with which ' been
carried on. Bad they hated more t y, the
operations in the field would hay more
vigorous. But one good result of it eakness
41ic or virtue, whichever you please to ilt /has un-
questionably been the extension of • unusual
amount of tare to the prisoners, and hilly the
wounded prisoners. They have shared everything
the hospitals afford on equal terms with the Nor-
thern soldiers, whether furnished by the govern-
ment or private individuals. As far as the con-
duct of the South in this matter is etiterned, I
think that it too has been maligned. p IfdiAnot be-
lieve any order or regulation has latefAlorced by
the Confederate government, eitfferYidbiimau or
vindictive in its operation. But eigsame time
there is no denying the fact that tred of the
Southern populace to Northerners is intense, and
when directed against Federal soldiers it boxanes
doubly intense. If the clamour of the newspapers
and the mob had been attended to, " the black
flag " would have been hoisted long ago, and the
barbarous tastes and tendencies which slavery
always develops would have had full play. There
is no doubt whatever that Yankee bones have
been carved into rings, and other ornaments,
and Yankee skulls used as drinking cups,
by various individuals in the Southern army. I
have had proofs of the truth of these stories from
divers quarters too strong to be gainsaid ; and
there is no doubt, too, that Federal prisoners have
been insulted by mobs, and in remote prisons have
been badly fed and badly lodged, and generally
neglected. But in a state of society in which an
anti-slavery man is looked on as a demon, in which
in our own time mobs, headed by the sheriff, burn
men alive in open day, in which shooting people
down unawares in the street is a recognised and
legitimate mode of avenging insults, and in which
a bishop of the protestant church is at one and the
same time a alaveholder, a drunkard, and major-
general in the army, it need excite no great wonder
nd no great indignation if enemies taken in battle
are not very hospitably entertained. We do not
expect the refinements of civilised hostility from
semi-barbarians, and semi-barbarians the mass of
the Southern people undoubtedly are. But the
leaders are men of a different stamp, and
are fully aware of all the demands which
civilisation and humanity make in our day
upon belligerents, and I believe have done all
they can to comply with them. They have occa-
sionally humoured the mob in the orders and pro-
clamations, but no further. For instance, after
Pope issued his foolish proclamation directing the
army to find subsistence wherever it happened to
be quartered, the Confederate government re-
sponded by an order directing that any of Pope's
officers that might be taken prisoners should be
put in irons and held as criminals, to answer for
any outrages committed by the corps to which they
belonged. I have it on the authority of one of
those officers taken prisoner at the affair of Cul-
pepper's Court House, that his treatment and that
of his companions in misfortune, considering the
condition of the Confederate army, was excellent—
no irons, no humiliation or unnecessary restraint
of auy kind, and it was well understood that the
order was a sop for the Richmond mob. I have no
doubt this is the case in all places under the
control of the Central government, and
that moat of the ill-treatment complained
of byFederal prisoners has occurred at the hands of
local authorities iu remote places. There has cer-
tainly been nothing like a cruel rule or policy in the
matter. We must remember, also, in listening to
these complaints, that they are Blade by both sides
in all wars ; and that, nevertheless, the cases are
rare in which it has proved possible to fasten the
responsibility on the government.
The country, meanwhile, is apparently in the
highest degree prosperous. I see no trace of
distress or suffering anywhere. Wages are unpre- 1
cedertetlly high, farm-labourers having been paid
this summer iuNew England as much as two dollars
and a half a day. The two leading jewellers in
New York have sold, I am informed, more goods
during the past year than they ever remember
to have done ; the haberdashers tell the same story.
The theatres are filled every night—the trains on
all the roads crowded. The exports from New
York are extraordinarily large.
This rise in imports, in spite of the new tariff, and
in spite of the high exchange, is one of the most
remarkable incidents of this extraordinary crisis.

CRYSTAL PALAOR..-011Z SMELLING DAT.—MoN-
DAT, NOV. 3. AM:mamma oe payment* MOO ; ditto by
meson tickets, 816; total, 1,716.

DERRESS IN THE COTTON DISTRICTS.

*lamed meeting of the Central Committee
he Mb Relief of the Distress in the Cotton Manu-
factories Districts of the North, wee held yesterday at noon,
in the Meyor's parlour, Town-hall, Manchester. The NATOR
(Mr. l'hernas Goadsby) occupied the chair, and there were
present Karl Derby, Lord Edward Howard, Earl Wilton,
Earl Moo. Mr. Richard Cobden, M.P., Lord Egerton of
Tattoo, Colonel Wilson Patten, M.P., Sir J. P. Karp-Shnt•
Dewar*, Bart., Mr. Saunders, High Sheriff of lancashins;
the Mayers of Salford and Blackburn, &c.
.The. . • • ary business having been despatched, the
Edit ilton, the Mayor and ez-Mayor of Lancaster, and
W. Peamon,.were elected members of the central
A lion was made that the Earl of Wilton should
be to the executive committee, but upon its being
47
sinned that by the rules of the committee) the number of
the executive was limited to 24, and that that number
already existed, the resolution wee withdrawn. At • sub-
sequent stage of the proceedings Lord Wilton thanked the
meeting for their kind intention, but maid that even if •
bad occurred, he should probably have declined it,
' that every member of the executive committee
should regular in his attendance—which regularity ha
would be unable to ensure. Mr. Cobden's name was also
added is the general committee.
Mr. J. W. M. Claim, the Hon. Sec., read the report of
the oor
Mr.

& Faniratt, said that, in reply to various in-
Yver4. iPixisitetP PFic of.* coaxial_

,
:mow where the preseureexisted to the greatest extent, what
the amount of pressure .was upon the rates, and a variety
of other information of a similar character, which the re-
port probably had not hitherto carried upon the face of it.
He had therefore endeavoured to bring these facts out in
the following manner :—" To the Central Executive Com-
mittee, kc. —Mind:meter, Nov. 3, 1862.—My lords and gen-
tlemeo,—A reference to my tabular report, on 24 unions in
the cotton manufacturing districts, will show you that, on
the 25th ult, there were 208,621 persons receiving relief,
and that in the corresponding week of last year
there were 45,437 persons so relieved. There is, there-
fore, eihincresse of 163,181 paupers, or 359.1 per cent.
The u s referred to are Ashton-under•Lyne, Barton-
upon-trwell, Blackburn, Bolton, Burnley, Bury, Chorley,
Chorlton, Clitheroe, Glossop, Haslingden, Lancaster, Leigh,
Macclesfield, Manchester, Oldham, Prestonm Prestwich,
Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Todmovden, W:rington, and
Wigan. Jt will be remembered that, in my first report to
you, which was for the last week in last .A.iiilistated
that the number of persons then receiving relief
in these unions was 140,165 ; but on the • ult. there
were 208,621 persons so relieved ; therefore, in eight weeks,
ve. 58,456 as have become paupers in the anima adverted
to. This has taken place almost wholly in the fol-
lowing unions:—ln Ashton-uoder-Lyne the increase is
11,358 Blackburn, 6,058 ;in Burnley, 2,970 iin Bury,
3,731; i otlton, 3,568; in Haalingden, 5,912 ;in Oldham,
4,C/22 ; Maochester, 10,343 ;in Prestos, 5,837 ;is Roch-
dale. 2,386 I 'in Todmorden, 2,083 ; in Stockport, 2,438 ;
making a thllirilicreue of 60,088 paupers. The average
per centage of pauperism on population in the above 24
unions is now 108 per cent. ; in the corresponding week of
last year it was 2'4 ; but, while 10'8 is the average per
centage, the per centage in the union of Ashton-under-
Lyne m 201 ; in that of Preston, 17'8 ; in that of Black-
burn, 17•1 ; in Manchester, 158; in Glossop, 14.3; in
Haslingden, 13'1 ; in Tudmoden, 12'8 ; in Stockport, 11'5 ;
in Rochdale, 11•2 ; and in Burnley, 11'1. The total weekly
Wit of out-door relief in the 24 onions is now 13,158/.
19s. Bd. ; in the corresponding week of last year it was
2,2881. lle. 3d. ; there is, therefore, an increase of
10,868/. tis. 5d., or 475 per cent. • but this increase has
taken place almost wholly in the following 14 unions :—The
increase in Ashton-under-Lyne is 1,6061. per week ; in
Blackburn, 55/. ; in Burnley, 5331. ; in Bury, 501/. ' • in
Chorlton 467/. ; in Glossop, 233/. • in Haslingden, 622/. ;
in Manchester, 1,6321.; to Preston, 1,2681. ;in Rochdale,
6391. ; in Oldham, 4311.; in Stockport, 6571. ' • in Todmor-
den, 2221. ; and in Salford, 4224—making a total weekly
increase of 9,1081. The total weekly cost of indoor and
outdoor relief alone in the last named 14 unions is 12,937!.,
or at the rate of 3s. 71(1. in the pound on their net rate-
able value of 3,702,11111!. per annum ; but it is to be re-
membered that this is the cost of relief alone, and does
not include any other charge for which the poor rates
are liable ; it is also to be remembered that fully one-
third of the poor-rates cannot sow be collected in the
chief towns of tame unions, and that therefore thb
pressure on the solvent ratepayers of those towns is
heavier than that on the ratepeyen of the unions generally.
I take the liberty of adding that the boards of guar-
dians are, as it seems to me, meeting the crisis with pru-
dence and humanity, and that the scheme of your committee
for aiding the unemployed workpeople through your own
watchfulness and authority and through the medium of re-
ardent local committees, is the best and most benevolent
means for mitigating the trying calamity.-1 am, my lord.
and gentlemen, your obedient servant,
"H. B. FAZNALL.
" Special Commissioner for Government."

The Hos. Swazi... Lay read the following letter :—" Pen-
dletoir Colliery, Mancbeater, Oct. 29.—Bir,— I am instructed
by the firms below-named to offer to the central com-
mittee 2,000 tons of small coals, to be distributed by them
to the various committees for the relief of those in dis-
tress :—Meru. Andrew Knowles and Soca 1,400 tons ;
Messrs. Knowles and Hall, 300 tons ; Means. Knowles and
Stott, 300 toes ; total, 2,000 tons. I also forward you a list
of the places where we are wishful they should be given,
stating the quantities to be obtained from the several col-
lieries and wharves. The intention is, that the amount
should be divided into weekly quantities, to extend over the
months of November, December, January, and February ;
and if the committee will communicate with our agents in
their district, they can take the coal to their own depots, so
that it can be distributed in small quantities.-1 remain,
yours respectfully, JOHN KNOWLES. —J. M. Madura, fri."
On the proposition of the High Sheriff of LANCASHIRE a
vote of thanks was awarded to the donors of this bounty.

Mr. 8. Amnon said he was in a position to state that the
coal prvrietom in the neighbourhood of Ashton and Old-
ham had agreed to contribute 3,500 tons of coal.
The How. SSCRZTARY read the following letter from Mr.
J. G. Hubbard, H.P. :—" Bank of England, Oct. 28, 1812.
Dear Sir,— In this day's Times a 'Hospital Physician ' gives
warnings that cannot be too quickly heeded. He first
touches the insufficient weekly allowances, and on this point
it may be hoped that the administrators of the Poor-law
have learnt that there is no kindness in killing by inches,
and that it is more costly to remedy diatom than hunger.
The second warning is accompanied with a suggestion that
the defect of clothes nod blankets be supplied by emptying
the pawnbrokers' shops. This appears to me an excellent
measure. The tickets should be brought to the Relief
Committee, who would redeem the clothes and bedding for
their former owners, and, if it be thought seminary to pre-
vent their being again parted with in the same way, each
article might be stamped with the words ' Relief Commit-
tee.' If the committee approve this plan, and will sanction
a special fund for the purpose of carrying Rout, I shall have
greet pleasure in subscribing 100/. towards it —I remain,
dear air, yours faithfully, J. G. HUBBARD.—J. W. Madam,
Fol."

Sit d. P. KAT,9III:777LIVORTII laid before the committee
a letter from Sir George Nicholls, in which be expressed
bis strong approval of the system adopted by the Menthes.
ter Central Committee, and at the same time his regret at
the existence of two agencies for the distribution of funds
for the same object.
An objection thereupon being taken that the publication
of that letter might appear to involve a reflection on the
separate agency of the Lord Mayor's committee, it was re-
solved, after discussion, that the letter should not be pub-
lished.
Dr. Jogs Warm asked Mr. Parnell whether the board
of guardians kept as alphabetical register of the pentane re-
lieved, so that relief committees could refer to it when
they wished.
Mr. Fattreatt said there was a list kept in every towtship
and in every union, accessible to the members of any relief
committee. In all the unions he had attended he bad
earnestly urged the guardians to have lista of all persona in
receipt of local relief made out and sent to the relief com-
mittees of the district, and, on the other hand, he had
asked the relief committees !Allgood their lisle to the boards
of guardians. But the list in these unions was not alpha-
betical, nor would it be easy to make out such a weekly bat,
as the relieving oaken and their assistants had a vast
amount of work to do. _

Dr. Wart% stated that a week or two ago hecalled upon
the clerk to the Chorlton Board of Guardians, and that gen-
tleman oomplained to him that there was no unison
between the Mahar Relief Committee and the Chorltoa
Board of Guardians. The clerk alto volunteered the state-
ment that be was getting up an index, to which the relief
committee might have noose at any time, and see who
were in the receipt of parochial relief. If this could be
dope in Clotho° it could be done elsewhere.

Mr. FARIILLL ssidnacioubi thie could be eery easily done,
but when he answered the question be answered u an
official.

Sir J. P. KAY Efftrrntworra commended the plan, in-
stancing its good effect by referring to the working of •
similar system at Burnley. It bad bad the effect of re-
moving anything like jealousy between the relief wen
mates and the board of guardians, and it bad enabled the
relief committees at once to inertia when frauds were
practised upon their voluntary visitors.
The Earl of Danny said the committee were about to un-
dergo the misfortune of having a new Mayor of Man-
chester, and as this was probably the last oeoaeion they
would have the benefit of the attendance of the present
mayor, the committee. be (Lord Derby) was sure, would
' offer to the mayor their united thanks fur the accommo-
dation which be had afforded them, for his constant at-
tendance and presence in t►e chair, and for, the deep inte-
rest he had always takes in their proceedings. (Hear.)
The Earl of Birroz, In wending the motion, rid he