Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-23
From the New York Herald. Aug. l7sh.l

The interesting letter which we published
yesterday from DR.. Norva1, of the New York
Seventy-ninth regiment-who, with the other
surgeons of the Federal army made prison
ers, has been released on his parole of honor
by the Confederate generals and is now lust
returned from Richmond-is well deserving
of the attention of the government. He says
ne has left upwards of thirteen hundred
wounded and prisoners of our troops behind
him. DIR. Norval bears the most decided tes-
timony to the humanity and kindness OF the
enemy-which is bnt the uniform testimony
of all the wounded and prisoners-but he
says these men have the most bitter feeling
against our government on account of its re-
fnsal to exchange prisoners and to recognize
the Confederates as belligerents. We quote
his words -
"There is one thing cannot refrain from
adverting tO-the feelings of the wounded
and prisoners towards our government. If
the passive treatment they are now receiving
is continued, and which Is hostile to every
principle of civilized warfare, there will be
such howl from those dungeons and hospi-
tails as will be felt throughout the whole
length and breadth of the North. and would
do more to damage our cause than two such
battles as at Manassas; besides, it will bring
down upon the administration the condenna-
ton OF other Powers-in short, the whole civ
ilized world. 1t would be injudicious to say
more on this subject at present. You may
hear from me in a future communication. L
had a petition to his ExceIlency the President
from the imprisoned officers. / showed it to
Gen. Winder, of the Confederate forces. He
said he could not allow it to pass without
showing it to the War Department and if
they passed on it, it was to be sent by Adams
Express. The prisoners anxiously await the
result of this petition before giving vent to
their feelings"
We must confess that we entirely concur with
DIR. Norval. The editor of journal in this
city, who frequents battle-felds, but always
makes too good use of his heels to be made a
prisoner, advocates the inhuman and brutal
policy of leaving our troops taken prisoners
at Bull Run to rot in Southern jaiis But
had "the little villain" been captured him.
self, like Congressman Ely, he would now,
like that gentleman, advocate a very differ
ent course. We hold that there ought to be
an exchange of prisoners at once, including
the crews of the privateers, who, after ali,
are only enemies at sea, as the Confederate
troops are enemies on land. MANY of the
latter have been released by General McCleI-
Ian, in Western Virginia, on their promise
not to take up arms again against the United
States government; and some cavalry of the
enemy, prisoners in Washington, under the
very eye of the government, have been set
free on the same condition, together with an
oath OF allegiance, which is of very small
consequence. Why, then, hesitate to apply
the same rule to the privateers? Hanging is
the worst use to which men can be put That
the Confederates are entitled to be recognized
as beligerents, they have themselves proved
at Manassas; and the best way is to candidly
admit the fact, instead of standing upon a
point of etiquette which is impracticable.
The British government, when it waged war
against these States, at the time that they
were its subject Colonies, proposed to hang
the prisoners who fell into the hands of its
generals; but Washington, in brief letter,
convinced them that this was not for their
own interest, and they abandoned the idea
The course our government is pursuing in
this matter is. as DR.. Norval observes, '.hos-
tile to every principle of civilized Warfare
The old idea of hanging men for political Of
fences is now obsolete, and when we have
succeeded in putting down the rebellion, the
Union will be restored more by our humanity
than even by our arms.
In the present case the disadvantage of re-
fusing to exchange is clearly On our side. If
our government hang as traitors or privateers
the prisoners they hold, the Southern Confed-
eracy may retaliate, and hang ten for every
| one. The prisoners held by the United States
are few; the Confederate States have large
number. Until the action OF our government
became decided in reference to the priYa-
teers, the Confederate government gave the
| prisoners they had token FROM us every in
| diligence. Now they hold them in close con-
| finement. The effect on enlistment will be
exceedingly bad. Thousands will shrink
| from engaging in a war in which, if they are
taken prisoners, they are liable to be hanged;
and If they are already enlisted, the reflection
that they may meet so ignOminious fate is
not likely to add to their GOODNESS or courage
on the day of battle. 1t cannot improve the
Union cause or contribute 10 the success of
our arms to signalize the war by needless
cruelties, or revive the barbarities of less en-
lightened times.