Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1863-12-18
Why Prisoners are not Exchanged.

Wny fIlSON0IS dk0 nVt AACudA50o'
Complaint has been made because the
Government bas stopped the exchange of
prisoners. The Rebels hold, according to
official reports, thirteen thousand Of our
men as prisoners of war We hold within
bounds not less than yOriy thousand OF
their soldiers. Our government has made
offers to the Rebels any one Of which is
fair aud honorable
l. Our authorities offered to exchange
man for man with the Rebels that is to
say, let them release and send to as the
thirteen thousand men they hold, and We
would st the same time send them thirteen
thousand of their men now in our hands.
This proposition they refused; but insisted
that we should release forty thousand men
against their release of only thirteen
thousand OF course, it is impossible.
2. Gen. Meredith, our commissioner
of exchange, offered some days ago to
receive all of the prisoners from Rich
mond, under a solemn pledge that they
should not be allowed to take arms uOless
duly exchanged with the consent Of the
Rebel authorities, without reference to
existing diff .ulties on the subject of ex-
change; aud that this soVernmsut shou Id
pledge itself to both feed and clothe all
Rebel prisoners in our hands. This, too,
was refused by the Rebels.
g. As Great Britain kidnapped sailors
and others naturalized in America, claim
ing, that, by their laws, Briions could
never expstriate sbemselves,s so the Rebels,
claiming that, by their laws, colored per-
sons can not fight them, have is is
believed) hung or imprisoned white officers
of colored Union troops captured, and sent
the men into Slavery. They claim that
our laws must bow to theirs, just Is Brit
ain also claimed. The Rebels distinctly
demand that the Union a.g under which
they fight, shall be no protection to col
ored men in other words, that We must
bow to their imperial behests as to who
We may choose to resist their bloody eff ,rts
to take the Nations life. In this way
is the negro question BY them again forced
upon US. Is it not right that our flag
should protect all who honestly fight
beuea,h it? They fight US with negroes,
Indians, gaerillas, and pirates, with false
colors, and regardless Of the laws Of war
must We defend with white men only and
strictly according to law?
4. Last and worst Of oil, psrt Of
the 10000 Rebels who Gen. Grant
partly from kindness, and partly from
necessi,y-paroled At Vicksburg, have
been again taken iu arms, without having
been exchanged. The men thus recap
tured are liable to be shot down, BY the
laws Of nations, but say they we're told
they were exchanged. The Rebels excuse
the foul deed BY alleging that few men
they pretended to parole at Gettysburg
(holding them for brief time during the
fight, but never reducing them to actual
military possession) bad refused to consid-
er it legal parole. Matt. Cbsmberlin
was one of these, who, though at one time
captive and wounded, told them at the
time be did not consider himself their
prisoner, and should not unless in their
actual power at the close Of the battles.
Hundreds and thousands are taken and
escape during engagements, but those held
at the close are the only ones really prison.
ers sgains their will.
Now we ask, Have not our authorities
done all that could in safety be asked ?
Is it wise to place any more in the hands
Of traitors who have perjursd themselves?
men who have set aside al honor !? ali
mercy? all fairness
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