Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-11-19
OTEloE ConMrsslorsa FOE ExoaAnsr }

OTFIoE COMMISSIONER FOR EXCHANGE, .
FoRTnEes MoRHoE, Va, Oct. 80. CO.
Hon. R. ould, Agent of Esehsrge, Richmond,
Va: as1 59i'ad Aatal''
Sik.-Ism 10 recsips Of your
Of the 20sh instant, the tenor uf which, induces
me 10 make some explanatory statements of
facts, With which, 1t would seem, you nesd to be
reminded ~n mos 30 sd'
The syetsm OF exchanges OF psisoaers Of
war, determined In the exiting cartel, was
fret interrupted BY the declared purpose Of the
Confederate Government 10 make certain die
linciione In the Eestmeht of paytieuisr eloss
Of troops, c6Seers and nsn, In violation OF the
pyouisions Of the cgrtel. Tnis sppears to have
been the fest step toward the Irregularities
which have eliminated In your uneqpiyocal dec.
larstion, reported BY me 10 my Govefnment on
the BIB instant, that you will proceed to dc.
clare exchanges whenever you conscieatiously
feel that you have the righpto do 90, for the
purpose CT putting men Into the fleld." There
can be 90 objecuons 20 your acting cpnscien.
tiously in any given case, 20 long 40 your con-
science 10 enlightened BY those laws Of war
which require obedience between belligefents
to eolemn agreements entered into by authoris.
cd commissioners acting In the name Of their
respective superiors, But. II you mean BY the
expression, your cou5cientiotis senle Of right"
10 substitute this sense OF rightfor the require
ments o. an existing cartel, can BY no meaus
concede 10 you that. right; and " you do, not
mean ihis,i epunot understand what you do
mean by 20 vsgue and general declaration.
Judging BY your. recent proceedings, - seains
thai yon have declared exchapged oil Confsd-
crate officers snd soldiets on parole within what
you elain as your lines up to very recent
date, without having any ptopsr righ go 70 do,
either under the cartel or under toe laws of
war. fhe history OF this matter, "a / undsr-
stand It, Il bri, az this; White my predecessor,
on duty at ihs place, was here In discharge Of
the dutiee now committed to me, you, at one
time, made declaration Of exchange embtac--
log 20 great number of prisoneFs Of war, not
In accordance witbutbei Tequirefi6llakof the
cartel, and you invited Colonel Ludlaw, my
Predecessor, to make d corresponding dcclAra.
tion Of equivalents. Suoh ., declaration Was
made BY Colonel Ludlow, doubtless sisbout an.
ticipaupg the magnitude OF the evil, which pp-
pears now as the resnB Of that departure from
the cartel fret .1nsugnissed By souiself. sub-
esquently 70 my coming on duty here, the
eyenn Of the war throw upon your hsndes o
large body Of paroled oiiloers and men Soyeg
3O,O00) captured BY General Grant q ylOks.
burg, and, not long af.erwhrd, come GOO o.
more captured BY Genersl Bsnke o. sfctt Hud'
son. Suddenly and Without { ny proper con-
ference Or understanding with mea and but Q
few days prior to theimportant events OF Chick
smauga, 40 if for tho express purpose Of iu-
oreaslngI tho force Of General Bragg akaine
General Resectans, You gave me notice thai on
thenextG day after The date OF that notice yor
wonld declare exchangsda large pcssion Of ~,
troops which had been csptuFed by Genera