Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-21

THE EXCHANGE OF Estts0NERss
It is a significant fact that me most ultra Ct
the abolition jourr als-5hoss thstwere foremost
10 deBouneing Eng aud in u7meaeursd terms
for having accorded 70 the Confsderste Ststss
the rights Of a bsliig-rent Powsr-ats now
el4moring fer tue Federal AUTHORITIES 70 follow
the good example hat RglaDd 50 generously
set them. Most important among these rights
may Be raUked the exchange of p.isoneTs,
which the abolitionists now acknowledge is
becoming a matter OF great practical moment.
The Hstterss affair put The enemy in POS
session Of seven hundred Confederate prison
ers, and a large number Of officers, while there
are probably enough at Washington to make
the aggregate about one thousand. Oar gov
erRment, on the contrary, has now at Ricbmon
and other points not far from twenty-five hun
bred Federal prisoners. This state of facts,
connected with the determined attitude assumed
upon this subject in President DAVIS letter to
Mr.. LINCOLN, some months since, in relation
to The privateeIsmen Of the SaDaHnai, is ex-
erting a wonderful effect toward eDlightening
the northern mind with a proper understa uding
OF that policy which is dictated by their own
sslf-iR'erest.
The leading journals Of New York, which
may be regarded as a reliable reflex Of north
en- sentiment, having for som time psst in
tlmated that circumstances might exist under
which the lincoln government would fad this
policy advisable, are now urgently Pressingit is
speedy adoption upon the consideration Of The
Washington Janta and its military sabalteTas.
Toe World n~atrsly suggests that as the Fed
erals have gone 20 Ear az to "recoguize aid
keep" prisoners, they ''nay row as well turn
them 10 practical account in the way Of eX-
chsnge.s It thinks hat The government ought
not to disregard The claims Of he poor Fellows
al Richmond who became prisoners becsu Of
tbeir very fidelity and gallaHtry@because
they we're toe last 70 AZ from tae iishOnored
field" TIER families tc9, adds The sympa-
thizing abolition organ, " re in a state Of Po-
siive Want7-snother argument FOR their re-
lease. The system Of exchanging prisoners,
IL adopted, according to The opinion Of The
World, ought 70 be restricted SO ag not to sP-
ply to mere political prisoners. It ought not,
thinks this t%ueuisnt sheet, to apply to Federal
officers who have "turBed trsitors."
60 The rark and file OF the rebel army" it
sophisticsliy reasons, generally 3 I've under
constr4int, or because they have been nislsd
by the crosses. misrepresentation. They may
wei be treated with leIity. Bot officers o.
rauk committed their treason with 2 full under
standing of It's criminatty, and in spite Of Pc
GUITAR obligations to be Faithful. We talk Of
the pirates Of she SeranauH, but there is lot
enc Of them who half 50 we'll deserves 70 swing
at the yard.arm as Commodore SAMUzL BAR
BoS, for fory-eight years in the receipt Of the
pay and honoIs OF his country, now a prisone.
on Governors Island. Traitois ct dis stamp
ought not to be exchanged; tbeyshould be Wis
itei with a punishment that would serve as an
everlasting warning to ali who engage to de-
fsnd The flag Of their country"
This partial return Of reason TO the northern
mind induces us to hope that tbs arrangement,
which has so lo5g held away over it, may be
ouly temporary, and that the sober second
thought is not far distant which viii saPerin-
docs the conduct OF this war upon well Tecoc-
nizsd principles ri international Jurisprudence,
and DO, bYtbs mere whils OK a passionate ard
-esPfeieus fanaauism.