The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-12-03
The Exchange Of Prisoners.

The Exchange Of Prisoners.
The public has been favored with part
of the correspondence between Gen. MERE
prrH, Exchange Commissioner for our Gov
eminent, and Mr.. OULD, Commissioner for
the Richmond Government, in relation to
the exchange of prisoners. We character
izs those letters not too strongly when we
say, that they are utterly unworthy OF the
representatives Of any Government. Mr..
GUILD commences the correspondence by
accusing Gen. MEREDITH with bad faith,
wb CD provokes q similar charge by Gen.
MrREpIrE With respect to the Richmond
Government, and then Mr.. OULD tells him,
in substance, that he lies! But, aside from
the disgracefnl tone and temper of those
papers, it must be confessed that MIR. OULD
has much the best of the argument, and
that, justly or unjustly, he places our Gov
ernment in the unenviable position OF stop.
ping the exchange of prisoners under the
cartel.
The real merits of the controversy, and
the intentions of our Government in
this matter may not be fully known to any
one except the few officials at Washington;
but the public cannot fail to have deep
feeling and strong opinion as to the course
which ought - be pursued. Aud that
feeling and that opinion are unmistakable'
that the quarrel between Gen. MEREDITH
and Mr.. Commissioner OULD must not long
e. keep our fathers, brothers and sons pin
ing, freezing and starving in the military
prisons of the South.
Time was when everywhere it was deem
ed perfectly right and proper to put the cap
tive to the sword, or bind him to the stake al
ter the manner of the savage OF the present
dav. That cruel custom was abandoDeda as the
world became more enlighted, aud captives
were sold into slavery. When the prac
tice became general and prev, led for
long time, to receive a ransom. And 1t Is
very certain that the rule Of treating pris-
oners with humanity, and q, nsking ex'
changes on terms of equality, " univ r,ai
among civilized nations, was not firmly
established until sometime during tbe sew
eDteeDth century.
Tue enormities to which priSoA,ry are
sometimes subjected, are almost in;r> iible.
Among the memorable instances is that
which occurred in Calcutta in 1855 When
SyRAJAH DowLAH captured that place on
the Goth Of June in that year, tue British
garrison at Fort William, consisting of LAG
men, fell into his hands. The thermometer
was at fever heat, and yet he caused all of
these men to be confined for the night in
dungeon l8 feet square 1t had only two
small windows both towards the West,
and projecting verandah and broad iron
bars almost wholly prevented the admission
Of air. The men, who were soon in pro
fuse perspiration, took of their clothes to
make as much rom as possible, and t. re
ceive the benefit of what little air could
enter. They offered 1000 rupees to be re
moved to q larger room, but this was denied.
Soon their thirst became raging. and they
raved, f,ugbt, prayed, blasphemed. Son,e
became insane, others We're trampied to
death Meanwhile the Indian soldiers had
collected at the cell windows, and watched
the dreadful spectacle with delight At SIX
o'clock on the next morning all but %
we're lead, and they were either stupetied
or delrious.
The existing cartel between our Gov
ernment and the rebel authorities is Ger.
tainly worthy of enlightened and Christian
ps,ious. But Of what avail is a cartel
when it is a dead letter? Of what avail
that the captive signs for freedom when Gen.
MEREDlTH aud Mr.. OUhD have not finished
their quarrel There has not, trust, du
ring the present war. been a parallel for the
shocking wholesale murder at the Black
Hole in Calcutta; but We believe that this
delay in making exchanges under the cartel
has, ip fact, produced more suffering and
misery; and We know that the condition of
ur prisoners this day is enough to move
any bcart, except. Of course, that of a Gov
eminent official in Washington or Rich !
moud. Our men at Libby prison, for in.
stance, are without FIRE and without lights;