Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-06-13
Nifbnlo1rb Enquirer.
wEnNEsDAxmoRNING, JUNE rs 1861.
: ,.oo,n,, Ve1u..1so exchange Prisoners.

v,non,,,, refusal 80 exchange Prisoners.
The law OF nations docs not absolutely re-
o,;rs that nation OF var with another shall
enter into cartel with another for Sc e1~
change CT prisoners. 1t isa "humsne custom,
saws va.tol, designed" says Wheaton, "to
mitigate the evils of wsr;'' but may be rejected
from sufficient motives Of policy. This would
be- the case" says VAttel, "of state abound
ing in men, and at war with nation more
formidable by the courage than the number OF
Tia soldiers"
Lincoln has awaited himself OF the Liberty 70
refuse the adoption Of cartel with us- Al
one time he a:c.dod to the policy, and the
terms were agreed upon, but the fortunes Of
the war Just then assumed to him more
promising aspect, and ho dshoncred tho set
of his own General, who hid proceeded, as nc
said, under tuil powers. He oroko bis falsh'
thai be uigh, profit by tho sudden turn OF
affrrs Thus it is, thai, III the second year OF
tbs war, there is no cartel Tor the exchange OF
prisoners between US AID our enemy.
There ere two motives, Que Of which, but
mors probable both eombincd, have caused
Lincoln to d,ny TO lis soldiers tho mitigation
of captivity by system Of exchanges. Inc
one is, the existenco.of the condition OF things
supposed BY Vassel, III ths illustration above
quoted Lincoln has more men than we have,
but is convinced of the superior courage OF our
soldiors. He is not willing to give one OF bis
mon ior one of ours. he feels that ne would
do losing business. Hence he leaves his
captive subjects in their Southern PRISONS
The other probable reason is ii more recent
gro9.n. 1t is tho fancy which, OF late at least,
va: exceedingly popular st the Nortb, that
tho rebellion Was about to DO crushed, that 8
few weeks at fsrthest would witness our mai
defeat aud subjngation. We have had abun>
dant iutnations uf the extraordinary crueltles
which would follow such triumph. The
Federal Uosgfess has been fur weeks making
gratuitou5 display Gifts demon malevolence,
by gloating over the details Of Confscation
bills, and discussing the pains and penalties
to be afflicted on the rebels when conquered.
Lincoln and his Cabinet are Of the same spirit.
He has been hoping soon to recspturo from
Us, by our subjugation, ell the prisone rs
we have tSken IF ON kin
Then such of ours as be has in his cells, will
bs victims ready to his hand for a commences
ment of the contemplated cruclies. He lets
Brigsdier Gelarel Preptiss remain In captivity,
tina. he may retain his grasp on hrigsdisE
General Buckner, locked up in damp dun
geon of Boston prisoahouse.
AS We have said, we believe that tEsse
t~o motives combined control tie ceunsss
that rule at Washington. Tho hrss pays
a very poor compliment to Lincolh's own
soldiers. We will not stop to dispute It's
Justice. Tho second shows not only silly
delusion as to tho condition Of the war, but a
msle7olerce towards his enemies that makes
him forget his du.ieB to hs own people. HIS
eageraess TO punish the io.uor, makes lin
unnirdiul Of tho suflerirgs Of the latter.
Wc ta7e passed eve: the puerile afsc;a>
ton which marked the Washington govern.
meut in the earlier days OF this war, snd which
pretended to ignore aud treat it as ths bubble
ol day. That p9or device has loog ago
passed 6y The war Is acknowledged snd cuu-
iessed. Lincoln refuses bis soldiers, when
taken cssti7e, tie heneht OF that 'humano'
custom, designed to mitigate the evils Of
WEI" which wise and humane rulers are ever
anxious to secure to such. We have steadily
pressed upon him the adoption Of cartel
hs has either trihsd or refused. That he does
this out of malsYolerce to US, ia no relief Of
tho distress he inf:cts upon Lis own soldiers.
That he docs it because &c considers Our SOL
diers hotter tLen tla, is 10 add insult to the
misery he entails upon item. They exposed
their lives, and endured hardshps and priVa-
lions in his wicked cause--they are rewarded
by refusal to allow them to have tho bent at
of the "nunsue" ussges Of civilized var.
We think il would bs proper, under these
circumstances, for our Government TO CAUSE
these facts to ia fully ssplsinsd to tho prison.
.rs whom We hold. Many oil them. perhaps,
most Of than. are toreisnera They had uo
personal interest III tho war. They enlisted,
many OF them, for want OF employment ioT
want evan Of bread. They fght simply for
the money. Let it be shown 70 lhem how
their employer hea dssarted theII 10 thoii
trouble, and laIt them 10 ths wallis Of priv
son, that be may indulge his unnatural ma
Ievolencss Let it be shown TO them that this
is both az insulting and q wicked abandon
nsnt OF his duty to than: They encountered
their misfortune only "bJ acting for his ser
7co aud his cause" aod, sccording to Vattsl,
it is bis soiepu duty. usy. he ''ss Obliged" 70
7estors thsEi to liberty ''ss s3ou as it eau be
done" Let these representations be fairly
caDdidly, kindly made to them, and then let
them be invited to nght The remainder of the
war sgsinss their wsoas-doer and ours, and
on The side of liberty and justice We should
not wonder if Thousands OF then should &C.
capt tho proposal TITUS would Lincoln be
suitably punished for his inhuusnity to them
and the evil which ne designs us, in refusing
q cartel, would return upon himself
C9-
0bssacIes 10 our Recognition.
Tine failure of ENGLAND and France 10 ac-