Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-22
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Erom Warrington

Wgr-i General Erekaage Of Prisoners Ef-
fscied by the same FunetiORary-Rs snIisir,nt
Of the Confederate Troeps-Eseef at the South
Of The Recent UaiOR Tictories-Plsns Of The
Conservative Members Of Congress for fhe Es-
fabliskmenf Of Provisional Governments in the
Southern Sfafes-Wkersi IS jim Lsae's Z" STAFF"
WASHINGTON. Feb. 10.
Nota dav passes without bringing to light some
new evidence of the wisdom and eminent admin
istratiye abilities OF the new Secretary Of War.
Among his FIRST official acts the exercise OF
course of policy which has resulted IN arrange
ments for systematic exchange of prisoners He
has now gone a step further in his course Of fear
less magnanimiiy. by giving orders for the imme-
date release of all Stsfepisonsrs- This will set
at liberty scores Of persons who have been incar-
cerated for weeks. and many even ormonths, for
offense whatever, but merely on suspicion. and
on the strength of charges secretly and malicious
ly made by personal enemies The loyalty OF the
persons 60 whom alluae is umquestioned No
one dare openly charge them with disloyal acts.
They have been the victims of secret malignity
and of official tyranny, and have been cruelty de
MED the poor boon even of proving their limo
cence "a difficult task, since no charges have ever
been brought against themL) They owe their re
lease now, and their restoration to liberty, TO the
conviction in the mind of the Secretary of War
that they were being unjustly detained. and that
no good purpose could be subSeryed by the con
tinuance of their Imprisonment.
The "order" for their release is a remark able
one. In half a column the Secretary of War
gives the most lucid and graphic description of
the peculiar circumstances attending the seces-
sion of the Southern States that has ever ap-
peared in print The last sentence implies that
the President does not deem il necessary any
longer to suspend the operation of the writ OF
habeas corpus, and that. IN all future ordinary
arrests, the privileges of that writ will be allowed
The extraordinary arrests mentioned, which
are to ''be made hereafter under the direction OF
the military authorities alone, will put stop 20
the tyrannical proceedings of Mr.. Seward in that
direction The subjects of such arrests will not,
it Is supposed have the benefits of the habeas
pus. But il will he because the public coed re
quires such course. and not to crafty private
malignity. There are some among the prison
ers who will refuse to accept the President
proffered amnesty. on the ground that they are
not guilty of treason, have committed no crime
and therefore not be pardoned. But they
will take the parole, and will be released with
the rest.
The Secretary of War is highly gratifed at the
auspicious termination of the mission of the Com
missioners sent by him to Richmond to alleviate
the condition of the Union soldiers who now
prisoners in the South. The Confederate leaders
thought that the most effective alienation of their
condition would be to send them home TO their
relatives. And this they proposed TO do if We
would release an equal number of Confederate
soldiers the fortune of war should
place them in our hands. The Commissioner
wisely acceded to this generous proposal. The
prisoners at Richmond were accordingly released
and are expected to arrive at Baltimore to day
or to morrow. The recent Union victories gain
ed since this Arrangement was made, have placed
in our hands great many more prisoners than
we shall have returned to Us. And as the new
prisoners have had no experience of prison life, il
is not unlikely that the overplus will be detained
to tIste the sweets of captivity in Northern dun.
geons, until the SOutherners have some prisoner:
to exchange for them.
The Richmond and Petersburg newspapers OF
yesterday confirm the accounts ! had previously
received of the progress of the re enlistment o
the Confederate troops The names of nearl,
fifty regiments are given which have re enlisted
for the war, and that all that now in the ser
vice will do so. Furloughs have been granted t.
all who desire it, and they have gone home tC
visit their families. The papers say that 18th,
terrible alternative is presented, of re enlistment
or suhjugation." From other sources of infor
nation, it is clear that the recent reyerses hay,
not broken the spirit of the Southern people, OF
altered their determination. They are fond OF
recurring to old revolutionary times, when tn,
country was Overrun by the British armies, anC
when New York. Philadelphia, Boston, Charles
ton and other cities were occupied by the British
Yet they say, after being beaten in many battles
our farmers triumphed at last. and drove the in
vaders out of the country. Such are the prece
dents wherewth they encourage themselves now
The plans of the conservative members OF Con
gress for the government of reclaimed insurgen
States have been put in shape by Mr.. Harris. on,
of the Senators from New York. His bill pro
vides for the establishment of provisional govern
ments in all such States, and has the merit OF
being practical and comparatively just. Tn,
bill expressly stipulates that the President shall
have power to suspend the operations of the pro
yisiOnal government created 10y it, which shall
not, in any event. continue in force longer thar
three months after Congress first meets afte
the war is over. The real strength of tue con
sentative element of the Senate will be deter
mined by the reception which this bill meets il
that body.
The official report Of Gen. Burnside and Gen
Halleck, of the victories in North Carolina anC
Kentucky, made to the General-in Chief OF III,
army, are bitter pills to the New York Tri
uune people, who have asserted for weeks pas
that all reports would be made to the Secretar-
of War
1T it was matter of any consequence, peopl
here would really like to know whether Jim LAM
j Il senator ora DrlSadier Generail III the form
er (ss the telegraph now says he has not acceptes
his Bngadiership. and that Gen. Hunter and stat
paid visits of ceremony to Senator Lane at Leaven
worth on the 18TH where il his numerous ''staff,
whose names were paraded 80 conspicuonsly
and what is TO become Of theml One thing i
certain if Jim does not eat humble pie, and swal
low his pride with his pastry, his appointment n
Brigadier will be Cancelled. That fat has gon
forth from the White House. and bears the sigma
ture of the President. rrl