Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-05

U
heard much said about holding Virginians IN prison
to exchange them with the State Of Ohio BY which
| State Yirginians aud Kentuekians have been i'm
prssned in COW sheds. &c, for the crime Of differ
ing from LineOlR's Government in opinion:
- War DEPAEnIEST. @. s. A.,
REDMOND, Oct 26. 1861.
SIR-In answer to your letter Of yesterday, can
only say that none can more deeply regret than
do the condition Of all those, not Oaly ofVirgnia,
but of other States, who have been seZ q " des-
potc and .unscruPulous power and ineareerate,
whether in COW sheds or IN dungeons IL Is, how
ever, well know fact that this G0Eernment has
spared no effort to introduce system of exchange
of prisoners Of u1r, and that its Efforts have been
hitherto unsuccessful,
The prisoners of whom you speak are not pris-
o0ers Of l1dT. They are men not taken in arms i.
They are pOical prisoners and yOuS proposal seems
tobe that we shall hold in jail Convicted Of 10
crime as political prisoners slso that shall INF
tiste the lOathsome practices OF which you com
plain, and shall within our own COnfederacy, hold
men in prison who are citizens Of Virginia, By mere
arbitrary military power, for the purpose Of exs
changing them against those held under Like circum
stances by the enemy. .EI-..t
Pardon me for suggesting that do not think you
have reflected on the true nature Of the course Of
action you advise, and for stating that this Govern
ment can enter into such contest of evil doing
is proposed. Prisoners held in jail exaniafd and
if guilty, or believed to be guilty OF treason or
Otler crime against Lle DLALe OF OOQIEQEEACys
handed over to the civil power, because ours Is 4
government Of law, and it is our highest and proud
est boast so to maintain it.
Numerous prisoners have been thus transferred
by this Department to the courts Of justice. An
others are released for cur citizens cannot be held
II Jail on suspicion, and let Us thank Providence
thst this exemption from violence to personal hber
tY is one of the legitimate it is the most precious
fruit of the struggle in which we are engaged.
The general jail delivery" Of which you seem to
complain was, if l am rightly informed, an examin-
alton into the causes Of the imprisonment Of many
citizens Of Virginia, who had been placed in conhne
ment by military commanders, who were taken un-
armed aud against whom no aVidencs could be pro-
duced. Surely, you would not have desired, in the
interests of your liberty and that Of those mess
dear to yeu that the violent hand Of military power
should have been laid on these men. The conYen>
ton of Virginia authorized your Governor % arrest
on suspicion aliens believed to be dangerous but
no law giver of these Confederate States has ever
vet dreamed Of eOnferring on any public function
ary the power of holding our Ol5n cSss in jail on
suspicion. --
I am, therefore compelled respectfully to decline
your proposal to hold Vrginians IA prison until the
enemy shall release other Yirginisns that he holds
in prison. At the same time viii eheerfully aid,
to the utmost Of my power in bringing to due pun
ishment all traitors and other criminals; and viii
most heartily co operate in any Legitimate effort to
relieve our fellO1-citizens imprisoned in this or
other States whose wrongs and suferings Idepiors,
bat am pOwerless to remedy. 1-l- ..H
am, respectfully, your obd't s1ry'b
J. p. BENJGMIS,