The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-08-02

letter to a. Lincoln

NJ. '''."'"k = the iotter Of President
avis % LINCOLN, in reference 70 ~
treatment Of prisoners, and proposino =
N1u'nse Tor the prisoners taken ~
'ne pr'yateer Savannah. This lettar -. -
'e1' g Wellington by T. II. TAvlos ~ 4
80 90 protection u lae II sn,na
RICHMOND, July 6. 1861
~ Adr7haH LiAcoA, President on3 C,,n...-
II. Ji,'} '.}1A'g q l.s Arny and Aapv Of "A.
sa;- Having learned that ,ho a..
ea.anau' private armed vessel IN III.
'sl'''e ana sailing under commissio, ~ !"
,ueu oy authority OF the Confadas.'s
states OF America, had been eaptnred ~ ~
one o. me vessels forming the blockea;Ogy
'quadron of Charleston harbor disa1S
proposition to be made 10 M az
commanding that squadron for a.
enah " q the officers and crew az ,ha 81
EahSh Tor prisoners of war held bv ~. ~
Government according to pumhey saa 'a
,@uN' AT, 70 TINS proposition, made an M
l9th ut. Captain Mercer the oa,ca. ~ -
command OF the blockading sona5. -
inade answer on the same dov ~, "u,
prisoners (relerred tol are moi On hc.,S4 sA 4S
any OF the vessels under nv con,n,"a,s u "
= now appears, by statements mada
"'Ln1ut i;'Ll1 oontfsdlcuon in newspapers nuh.
lHhed ~ New York, that the prisopsr.
ABOVE mentioned were conveyed 10 tbss
olly' ana have there been treated M ~
}llsonefs OF war; but as criminals. tbst
10y nave oeen put in irons, conHnad u
Jal' brought before the courts az ins,ica
~ ouarRes OF piracy and treason snd h
= even fumored that they have been .a
eually convicted OF the offences oharead
lor no other reason than that thew bors
arms ~ defence Of the rights of this goy.
sID'll. elulnent ana under the authority Of h.
could not without grave disoorr,..-
nave made the Newspaper staten
ABOVE referred to the subject ~ MI
munleallon, If the threat Of tras,;. oV'n'
plsa'es the citizens Of this Confedersov
~, al't'' = lor It's service on the high seas IA
no. ~ oeeh contained in your proclamation
q the - April last, That proolamation
q seems to afford a sufficient mai.
ueatlon Tor considering these pnbl,sbsd
as not devoid Of probabilitv
- i lht desire Of this goyernmentsot h
polil1ehlI IAa Iuo as'atss go rn'ny Us uugsInIes
'nd with this intent It's treatment Of tba
prisoners captured by its forces has been
haiked oy The greatest humanity and
ehienoy consistent with public
ONE nave been permitted to return boroa
"a parole Others 10 remain at large under
similar condition within this Contederao.'
,hd all have been furnished with rations
lot thelf subsistence, such as are allowed
70 our own troops. Il is only since tha
news has been received Of the treatran1
u the prisoners taken on the Savannah
nat have been compelled TO wiibdro%
hese indulgences and 10 hold the nrison.
ers taken by Us in strict confinement
Ju'I regard to humanity and to thA
lonor OF this Government now reouirss
ne to state explicitly, that painful as viii
% the necessity, this Government will
ieai out TO the prisoners held by II. tba
anne treatment and tho same fata as
haIl De experienced by those oantured
~ me Sayannahi and If driven to the
efflole necessity OF retaliation bv vour
Xecution OF any of the officers or crew ne
ne savannah, that retaliation will ba av.
ended 50 far as shall be reouisite to -.
lre the abandonment Of a praotioa mn.
HoWh 10 the warfare Of civilized man.
ad 20 6arbarous as to disgraoeth tho nation
men nc! Shell be guilty OF inaugurating h
with this view, and because Il NAV 80
ave reached you, renew the proposition
ade to the commander Of the bloekadin.s
I9adFon' to exchange for the prisoners
Ken on the savannah, an equal number
those now held by US, according IA
NIX am sir yours &C.,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Fress@sm and Commander h. Chief of n.
'"y and Navy Of he Confederate Slates oT
msfico