Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-04-03
$tlmout Chuuitle.
Report of the Select Committee of
the Ohio Senate on Camp Chase and
its Rebals and "Slaves."

- I00 0uLO O0l0t0 I'll 0l1 OhoSC 0ho
its Rebels and Slaves"
The Select Committee to whom was re-
ferred Senate joint resolution No.. rela-
tive TO the rebel prisoners at Camp Chase,
together with the special message OF the
Governor relating thereto, beg leave to re
port:
Senate inquiries less fun than was desirable.
they waited anon him, mud were favored
with n long and satisfactory interview, and
also with passes to Camp Chase Prisons and
such other facilities for investigation as it
was possible for him to afford. Subsequent
" your committee visited Camp Chase, and
by the worthy commandment Of that post,
Col. Granville Moody, were shown through
the prisons and kindly allowed all the libcr-
ties necessary to further tke objects OF their
visit.
Your committee found some 800 persons
confined in these prisons, mostly from Ten
pessee, Kentucky, Missouri and mississippi
Their quarters were, in all respects, a. good,
and in some a little better, than those of the
soldiers outside; and your committee were
assured that the %rations distributed were the
same in quantity aud quality as those given
to our men. No complaint was made rs to
any of these things, but there was a general
expression Of satisfaction Herewith.
Your Committee found seventy. four ne
grocs in the prisons, mostly taken at Fort
Donelson. OF these, from what they could
learn a few were free when taken, having been
hired by of ,srs a. cooks aud servants. Tne
remainder, about fifty in number, were
YES in attendance upon their masters, and
while so employed, were taken along with
their masters. None of them were 10 arms
all OF them having bean retained for me.
NAL service merely. Since their capture
they have travelled with their masters, at
tending and serving them as before. Ou
their arrival at Columbus they took charge
OF and carried the baggage Of their former
masters from the depot to Camp Chase
the men having no servants, being compelled
to carry their own, as our soldiers do on sim
liar occasions. Arrived at the Camp, Oh,
privates were as far as possible separated
from the officers, and for obvious reason
placed in different prisons, but The negroe
tcere ptaced IN The same prisons iciM The oBi
GERS, icho ,oere their former masters. Why
Unless they might continue 10 attend .ant
serve their former masters. And they hav,
ever aimee done, cooking, washing, waitin,
upon and serving them Just as before thci
capture-fhs relation of muster and sd0
being as vigorously maintained Nv the mas
ter and as fully recognized by tho nogroe
and the other inmates Of the prison, as /
erer oas ~ the State Of Tennessee.
But why were these slaves taken at all
Thoy were not, and had not been, in arm
against the Government; their presence q
Fort DoDelson was not even voluntary. VIII,
are they retained in prison? They hav'
done no wrong; they deserve no punish
ment. Is it to furnish the rebel officer
with servants? And was it for this the
: were transported at the expense Of the Gov
eminent, and are now subsisted at her cost
Is our constitutional provision thus to b
made a nullity, and Slavery partially estat
in Ohio? and this under the protection an
1t the expense of the Federal Government
As to the rebel officers released on parole
your committe could not get much deinit
information, other than that, with u few ex
captions, these paroles were granted by OF
der of Major.G General Halleok. That tn
clemency 10 shown was mistaken, the 70
lowing faots as TO the conduct Of their officer
while in Columbus will show:
They came wearing their side arms, stor
ped 1t the principal hotels, registering the
names Is Colonel, Captain, Major, with tn
significant letters &c. s.. A." added, al
pearng from day to day in rebel uniform,
able, in tho Offices or parlors and at tn
public tables of these hotels, and in I'll
streets and drives Of this city, ~.trequentin
the theater and other places OF publ
amusement, and visiting the Senate MI
House Chambers, where, with marked COZ
"sideration, they have been invited to priv
eyed seats within the bar; at all these place
and on all occasions, giving expression
sentiments Of continued adherence to ii
rebel cause, and of bitter hostility to n
Government aud people Of the Unite
States.
While prominent officers arc thus enjo!
ing all tho freedom of the city, and the lu,
uries Of hotel lite, hundreds of poor, ignc
rant privstes-some Of them impressed, an
all OF them deceived into the rebel service
penitent tor the wrongs they have done
ready, willing and anxious to take the Dat
ofsllegiance-are kept confined in the prison
of Camp Chase. This IL matter OF con
plant among tho prisoners themselves. The
argued 70 the committeeman with muc
force, II must be admitted-that Of the two
they were the less guilty and the less dar
gerous, and if the sympathy Of the peopl
and the clcmency Of the Of the Executiv
should be exerted at all, it fought to be- in the
behalf.
Your committee is satisfied that many O
the privates and officers Of lower grade coul
be safely, and with advantage to the cause
released. But they are equally satisfied thu
too much clemency has already been show
to the higher officers, both in and out of pri
on. They and their like are the men who hay
instigated this most wicked rebellion, an
inaugurated this inhuman war, and who al
responsible before God for all the miser,
suffering and bloodshcd which has followe,
Is II q wonder that tho people Of ohio, bot
in the field and at home, remembering q
these things and remembering how OF
prisoners were confined in loathsome sla,
pens and tobacco sheds, and the bodies O
our dead barbously desecrated by the rebel
should feel outraged by this misguided syn
~pathy-this mistaken clemency toward Il
perpetrators Of oil these foul wrongs.
But who is to blame? Your commit,
satisfied that Col. Moody has done his who
duty in the premises. They are equally 50
l6ed that the Governor has endeayored
discharge his duties, however, faithfully a,
impartially. His position has been one
great dslicacy, his control over the can
and prisons baing by courtesy Of the Foder
sutherities, and Aot by any right as Go
.eSnor Of Ohio He has probably done
he well could imths premises. The respo
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