Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-19
The sed.rai Prisoners.


The Federal Prisoners.
The condition Of the Federal prisoners in the
Southern prisons. both officers and men. espe-
cally those in Richmond. should excite the atlen-
ton of the country. We are happy To notice that
the rebel authorities have recently permitted them
To receive clothing and blankets. which will in a
measure alleviate their sufferings. They also
lack wholesome food. aud 10 fact even a suili
Client quantity of the kind that is furnished them
Ii appears that this privation is a matter OF ne
cessity on account Of the scarcity Of provisions in
Richmond, and we notice that il is proposed to
send the prisoners to points in the Confederacy
where food is plenty, il an exchange is not soon
effected Tho inquiry here arises. whether our
Government has done its full duty to the unfor
tunate men who have become prisoners by the
reverses or the fate Of Voluntarily they
came forward to sustain the Government
in the hour OF its need. with every
assurance that the care, the protection
and the sympathy OF the country should
follow them whatever might be the fortune to
which they should be subject Why then are
these men permitted to languish in loathsome
prisons and many Of them to die from disease.
for the want of necessary attention and the lack
of proper foodg For months. thousands of our
fathers and brothers and have been in this
terrible condition. while hardly thought has
been directed to them. worthy effort made
10 secure their release II appears from the cor
respondence between the federal and rebel CON-
mssoners that the exchange of prisoners has
stopped on account OF some punctilio or a differ
ence of opinion as to the number to which each
section Is entitled in the count But while the
discussion -f these issues il being
from month TO month. our men are enduring the
sufferings and privstions to which we have alud-
ed. We say il il better to yield point in regard
to what we NAV claim as our rights in
the exchange Of prisoners, even 10 con
ceie greater number the rebels
than Tint to which thew are entitled, rather
than the Federal soldiers should be longer held
in captivity. under the circumstances they
are and have been An earnest demand of this
Kind should be made of the Administration
Coutras, the scenes which have recently occurred
in Washington. and similar exhibitions daily
taking place all over the country. with those that
Transporting in the prisons of Richmond. The
munihcenee of the wedding of the daughter of a
Cabinet officer. rivsling the splendor of royal
tertainments. in which the high dgnstaries of the
land took part. where all was JOY and hilarity.
sounds strange upon the ear, when We turn to the
rebel capital. knowing that there are there in con
fnement brave and gallant men. who have risked
g.. a..
my. and to whom crust Of bread would be
luxury. Yes. they would gladly fesst upon the
crumbs which fall from rich Mr. CHAsE's table
This revelry at such time is not right. is no,
manly. is not Christian
Have the public heart and the public conscience
become callous to the scenes of misery aud the
tales of suffering which are borne to us on al
most evsry breeze and from every section Of
the lands The Staying of thousands and the
wounding Of tens. OF thousands have beee so
often told that the occurrence of such terrible
events hardly excites a ripple upon the heart.
and griet is rarely felt except in the households
where some loved one has become victim. IL
u not right To require our captive soldiers to
suffer as they have and are suffering The
remedy Is with those in authority and TO them
an appeal should be made for their prompt re
lease which cannot be resisted. 1t Is well to
mourn .he gallant dead and rear appropriate
monuments their memory. but let u not
meanwhile forge, the living who have every
claim upon our sympathy and who have the
right to EXPECT the care and aid Of those In au-
thority.i