Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-07-27

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ron off Charleston harbor, Iydirected proposition
to be made to The officer Commanding that squadron
for an exchange Of the officers and crew of the Sa-
vannah for prisoners of war held by this govern
ment according to number and rank To this
proposition, made the 18th ult, Capt Mercer,
the officer in command of the biocIading squadron
made answer en- the same day that "the prisoners
Preferred toy are not on board of any vessels under
my command"
1t now appears, by statements made without con-
tradiction in newspapers published in New York,
that the prisoners above mentioned were conveyed
TO that city, and have there been treated not as prs
oners of war; but criminals; that they have been
put in irons, confined in JAIL brought before the
courts of justice on charges of piracy and treason
and it is rumored that they have been actually
convicted of the offences charged for no other
son than tina. they bore arms in defence of the rights
of this government and under the authority of its
commission.
| could not without grave discourtesy have made
the newspaper statements above referred the SUBJ
ect of this communication if the treating pirates
the citizens of this Conederacy armed for its SER
vice on the high SEAS had not been contained in
your proclamation of the - April last That
proclamation, however, seems to afford sufficient
justification for considering these published state
ments as not devoid of probability.
1t is the desire of this government so to conduct
the war now existing as to mitigate its horrors as
far may be possible: and, with this intent its
been marked by the greatest humanity and leniency
consistent with public obligation: some have been
permitted to return home on parole, others to
main at large under similar condition within this
Conederacy, and all have been furnished with "a
tons for their subsistence, such allowed to
our own troops. 1t is only since the has been
received of the treatment of the prisoners taken
the Savannah, that have been compelled to with
draw these ndulgencies and to hold the prisoners
taken by US in strict confinement
just regard to humanity and to the honor of
this government now requires me to state explicitly,
that painful as will be the necessity, this govern
ment will deal out to the prisoners held by it. the
same treatment and the same fate as shall be expe-
rienced'by those captured on the Savannah; and if
driven to the terrible necessity of retaliation by
your execution of any of the officers or of the
Savannah that retaliation will be extended far
shall be requisite to secure the abandonment of a
practice unknown to the warfare of civilized man,
and so barbarous as to disgrace the nation which
shall be guilty of inaugurating it.
With this view and because it may not have
reached you, now renew the proposition made to
the commander Of the blockadlng squadron, to ex-
change for prisoners taken on the Savannah an
equal number of those now held by US, according to
rank.
1 am, sir yours, &C.,
JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President, and COMMANDMENTS Chief Of the Army
and Nary Of the Confederate States
TcoPY.
RICHMOND, July 10th, 1861.
To His Ercelleney, JEFFERSON DAVIS
President Of the Confederate States:
SR:--In obedience to your instructions, left the
city of Richmond the morning of the 18th of July
at o'clock A. NJ, as bearer of dispatches to His
Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States. At Manassas received from General
! Beauregard letter to General Mcdowell command
A. Q AZ.
| proceeded to Fairfax Court House, where Twas
furnished by General Bonham, escort of fourteen
cavalry, under the command of Lieutenant Brock
nridge, of the Virginia cavalry. Proceeding the
direct road to Alexandria to its junction with the
road to Arlington, | met detachment of cavalry
under the command of Col. Porter, U. S. A., about
three miles from the junction from which place l
| sent back my escort. Capt Whipple, I. s. A,
accompanied me to Arlington, where arrived about
! o'clock P. NJ, Monday the Sth. Gen. Mcdowell not
| being at Arlington, my arrival was telegraphed
! him to Washington city.
About o'clock, P NJ, Col Van Renslaer, senior
aid-de-camp to General Scott, was sent to convey
me to General SCOTS headquarters-where found
General Mcdowell, to whom | delivered General
Beauregard's letter. After reading Gen. B. letter,
he passed it to Gen. Scott, who being informed in
this letter, that desired to deliver your communi
cation in person, received it Of me. After reading
your communication to Mr. Lincoln, Gen. Scott in
formed me that a reply would be returned by MIR.
Lincoln as possible at the same time
instructed me to return to Arlington with General
Mcdowell, thence to proceed in the morning back
to our lines, which did, under an escort of twenty
U. S. calvary, commanded by Lieut.. Putnam. In
my intercourse with Gen. Scott and the other Off
GERS of the U. S. army, have to say, that l was
received with marked consideration and attention,
and with that courtesy and kindness which should
ever characterize the diplomatic relations Of great
nations, in war well as in peace Understanding
! that the object of my mission was the delivery of
your letter to Mr. Lincoln, have the honor to state
that it was done, and subscribe myself
Your obedient servant
TH0S. II. TAYLOR,
Capt. CdUalry G. S. A.
And 1t. COL End Ky. Regiment.