Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-08-01

I'I' nv NOHIeuSl Ate Congress, at Richmond
few days ago;
n, RICHMOND, July 6, 1861
70 dOFae, an Lincoln, PrsSideRt, and Com
@tiH1r'-' n-Cbjsf of the Amy and Nary of
ne CHLtea States SIR: Having learned
'nAt he schooner Savannah, q private armed
NtS yel In the service, and sailing under a COM
.IssiOn issued by authority Of the Confederate
States Of America, had been captured by one
Of the vessels forming the blockading squadron
of Charleston hsrbor, directed proposition
IL be made to the officer commanding that
squadron for an exchange of the officers and
crew of the Savannah for prisoners Of war held
by this Government, =" according to number
and rank" To this proposition, made on the
-19:h Uliimo, Captain Mercer, the officer in
command of the blockading squadron, made
answer on the same day, that " the prisoners
(referTed toy are not on board any Of the ves-
sells under my command"
l. now appears, by statements made without
contradiction in newspapers published in New
York, that the prisoners above mentioned
were conveyed to that city, and have there
been treated, not as prisoners of war, but as
criminals; that they have been put in irons,
confined in Jail, brought before the courts of
justice on charges of piracy and treason, and
ii is even rumOred that they have been actu-
ally convicted of the offenses charged for no
other reason than that they bore arms in de-
fense Of the rights of this Government and
c0n ID not without grave discourtesy have
made the newspaper statements above referred
tD the subject of this communication if the
threat OF treating rs pirates the citizens of this
Confsieracy, armed for its service on the high
seas, had not been contained in your procla-
nation Of the - April last. That prOclama-
tinu, however, seems to afford a sufficient JUS
tiication for considering these published state
llents - not devoid of probability
1t is the desire Of this Government so to con-
duct the war now existing as to mitigate its
horrors as far as may be possible and with
this intent, its treatment Of the prisoners cap.
tured by its forces has been marked by the
greatest humanity and leniency consistent
with public obligation some have been per-
mittei to return home on parole, others to re-
main at large, under similar condition, within
this Confederacy, and all have been furnished
with rations for their subsistence, such as are
allowed to our own troops. 1t is only since the
news has been received Of the treatment Of the
prisoners taken on the Savannah, that have
been compelled to withdraw these indulgen-
cIes, and 10 hold the prisoners taken by US in
strict confinement.
4 just regard to humanity and to the honor
OF this gOyeTnmsnt now requires me to state
explicitly, that painful viii be the necessity,
this government will deal out to the prisoners
held Oy 1t the same treatment and the same
fate A. shall be experienced by those captured
on the Savannah and if driven to the terrible
necessity Of retaliation by your execution of
any Of tle officers or the crew of the Savannah,
that retaliation will be extended so far as shall
De requisite to secure the abandonment Of a
Practice unknown TO the warfare of civilized
man, and so barbATous as to disgrace the ma
ton which shall be guilty of inaugurating it.
With this view, and because it may not have
reached you, 1 now renew the proposition
made TO the commander of the blockading
squadron, TO exchange for the prisoners taken
on the Savannah, an equal number of those
now held by US, according to rank. / am, sir,
yours, &c, JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President and Commander in chief of the Ar
my and Navy Of the Confederate States.
Accompanying the foregoing is letter from
Capt. Taylor, VINO conveyed the letter of Mr.
Davis under flag Of truce to Washington. 1t
IL addressed to Mr. Davis, and gives an account
of his trip to aud reception in Washington.
After speaking Of his arrival st Arlington, he
says:
About o'clock, p. m, Col. Van Renslaer
senior aid-de-camp TO Gen. Scott was sent to
convey % Gen Scots headquarters where
I iV--d ten Mcdowell, 10 whom delivered
Gen Beaurcg I'd letter. After reading Gen.
/. 5 letter, he passed it to Gen. Scott who be-
in- informed in this letter that desired to
deliver your communication in person, receiv-
ed il OF me. After reading your eommunica-
tiOn TO Mr.. Lincoln, Gen. Scott informed me
that a reply would be returned by Mr.. Lincoln
as soon as possible; and at the same time in
structed me to return to Arlington with Gen.
Mcdowell, thence to proceed in the morning
back to our lines, which did, under an escort
.. twenty United States cavalry, commanded
by Lieut.. Putnam. In my intercourse with
Gen. Scott and tho other officers of the United
States army, have to say that was received
with marked consideration and attention. and
with tia: courtesy and kindness which should
ever characterize the diplomatic relations of
great nations, In war as well as in peace.