The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-06-04


war, BY its Chairman, Hon. B. F. Wade, of
Ohio
The discoveries therein made, BY men under
cath, Of the atrocities of the rebels towards the
wounded On the field q battle, the prisoners in
their hands, and upon the bodies Of the Fsderals
dead within their lines, would surpass all belief
Of having been committed BY men in the nine
teehth century, we're they not proved beyond .
doubt, by credible Witnesses, under the solemn
sanction Of an oath.
1t appears by this report, that On the battle
field of Bull Run, the Federals wounded, were
in many instances baysneted and shot. Ose,
Louis Francis, (who, strange TO say, survived TO
testify before the committee, } after being wound
cd in the knee, and laying upon the ground help
less, was bsyoneted fourteen times!
Graves we're opened, and heads Of dead Fede-
raj officers aud soldiers taken thsrefrom, to OBJ
tain the skulls for punch bowls, and shin and
thigh bones for drum sticks and to make finger
rings, and other articles iof use and ornament.
Prisoners were treated with the utmost cruelty
and bsrbArity.
After setting forth the facts, the Csnmittee
say:
Every step of this monstreus treason has been
marked by violence and crime. Ne transgres.
sion has been too great, No wrong too startling,
for its leaders Tney dsregarded the sanetty
OF the Oaths they had taken to support the Con-
stitution they repudiated I'll their obligations
to the people of the free States; they deceived
and betrayed their own fellow citizens, and
crowded their armies with forced levies they
drove from their midst all whs would not yield
- their despotsm, or filled their prisons with
men who would not enlist under their flag. They
have now crowned the rebellion BY the perpetra
ton OF deeds scarcely known even to savage
warfare. The investigations of your committee
have established this fact beyond controversy.
The witnesses called before rs were msn of IN
doubted veraci.y and character. Some of them
occupy high positions in the army, and others
high positions in civil life. Differing in political
their evidence presents = remarka-
BILE concurrence Of opinion and Of judgment
Our fellow cOuntrymen, heretofore sufficiently
impressed by the generosity and forbearancs Of
the government OF the United States, and by the
barbsrOus character Of the crusade against it.
will be shocked By the statements Of these unn.
peached and snimpeachsble witnesses; and for
eign nations must, with enc accord, however
hey have hesitstea heretofore, consign to
asting odiun the authors Of crimes which, in all
their details, exceed the worst excuses of the
Sepoys OF Indis.
Inhumanity TO the living has been the leading
RAFT to the rebel leaders but it vas reserved
or your committee to disclose as "a concerted
system their insults to the wounded, and their
!, so.".s. s.srS pfs1iiers ia aUn6raoie battle
lave been subjected to the most shameful treat
nent. All the considerations that inspire chival-
ic emotion and generous consideration for brave
nen have been disregsrded. Is is almost beyo
relief that the men fighting in such cause as |
'urs, and sustained by government which in |
he midst of violence and tresehery, has given |
epcated evidences of its indulgence, should |
ave been subjected to treatment never before |
escorted to by one foreign nation in . conflict |
With another.
All the courtssies Of professional and civil life |
eem to have been discarded. Gen. Beasregard |
himself, who On q very recent occasion boosted
hat he had been controlled BY humane feelings
fter the battle Of Bull Run, coely proposed to
old Gen. kicketts a. . hostage for one Of the
lurderOus Privateers, and the rebel surgeons
isdained intercourse aud communication with
ar own surgeons taken in honorable battle.
The outrage upon the dead will revive the re-
objections Of the cr.elties to which savage tribes
absct their prisoners. They were buried in
lany cases naked, with their faces downward
a~y were left to decay in the open air their
once were carried off trophies. sOInstI..se, IS
ne testimony proves to be used A. personal
dOrnnents, and one witness deliberately AYERS
nat the head of one Of oar NEST gallant officers
Ias cut of by q secessonst to be turned into
rinking cup on the occasion Of his marriage.
Ioustrous a. this revelation may appear to be,
our committee have been informed that during
he last two weeks the skull of Union soldier
As been exhibited in the office Of the Sergeant.
farms of the House Of Representatives, which
I'D been converted to such purpose, and which
nd been found on the person .: one OF the reo'
prisoners taken in recent conflict. The tes-
mony of Gov Sprague. OF Rhode lssne' Is
,ost interesting. 1t confirms the worst reports
rainst the rebel soldiers and cenclu.ively proves
rat the body of one Of the bravest officers in
he volunteer service VAS burned. He does not
estate to add that this hyena Dissertation Of the
onOred corpse, was because the rebels believed
TO be the body of Colonel Slocum, against
hem they we're infuriated for having displayed
!, much courage and chivalry in forcing his reg
nent fearlessly and bravsly upon hem.
These disclosures establishing, Is they incOn
,stsbly do the consistent inhumanty OF the
bel leaders, will be read with sorrow and iadig
alton BY the people Of the loyal States. They
lould inspire these people to renewed exertioRs
protect our country from the restoration to
over of such men. They should, and We BE-
eve they will, arouse the Disgust and horror OF
reign nations against this unhsly rebellion.
ct it be ours 70 furnish, nevertheless, contrast
such barbarites and crimes. Let US persevere
the good work Of maintaining the authority o.
e Constitution, and Of refusing to initiate the
onstrous practices We have been called upon to I
Ii
We believe with th. Committee that it would l
It be well for us to imitatc the moastrOas prac.
,es' of the rebels. We would not rstaliate.
would be wrong and unchristiaA in rs to do
l.. But oh /! wha. iaeffAble chastisensnt We
,uld intlict apon them, could we reach the az s
ors Of these hellish esormities. The language
speak, is too poor to express the utter de-
station in which We hold the execrable 6ends.
inishment swift as lightning, and terrible as 1
= thousand thuaderbolts, should fall spoE their
deous heads. IL
HoN. B. F. GRANGKR.-This gentleman voted
ainst the con6scatioa bill on it. 6ual passage
the House Of Representatives. We presume
r. Granger viii rot ask nomination from this
strict a, the uex, election. We are quite sure !.
e people will net ask him TO take it. He does
i represent the wishes Of the people in this
strict, by voting against sssiscatioa Of the
operty Of rebels. We are sorry for hin. !:
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