Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-29

give any information or aid to the enemies
Of the South.
~Sir." said the Baron, athis parOI is diff
ferent from all other parols. 1 do not
think you have the right to require it of
me-"
"Now," said the Judge, ave see that our
suspicious we're well based. You are no
gentleman, but an enemy, and ID
Yankee
allow can you judge me by the present
events? You cannot bind me for my tu-
ture life by this parOl."
aft YOU don't sign this parol you must
be allied with the Yankees, and you alone
will be responsible for the consequences"
uSir" said the Baron, 4" if I sign this pa
roI, will do it in the same way as a man
who has q revolver pointed at his head
gives up his money"
"Oh, no, said the judge, "yOu are per-
fectly free about that; you can do as you
please"
"Well, should like to know what my
position will be if l do sign this. viii you
exchange me as q Federal officer p
"Oh, no; you are no officer and we can
not treat you as such"
Well, treat me as a private, and ex-
change me as such"
No, no; you are no private u
"Then, if am a citizen, exchange me as
such"
"No, no; you are no citizen"
"G-d d it, I must be somebody
an tell you, said the judge, " who you
are; you are a man who has lost the pro-
lection of his Government because you
came to one of the States of the Southern
Confederacy as an emissary 10 incite in
surrection among slaves, and we win bring
you under the law enacted by the proela-
nation of Jefferson Davis on the 18th of
January, and before the civil authorities
/ for trial"
"Now," said the Baron, " l see how free
man I am. l really believe you could
hang me if you wanted. But my Govern
ment, hope, will do something for me;
and if Austria is not q strong naval power
| she possesses at least another power in
this world-that is public opinion How
much you strain yourselves to gain that
opinion is seen by the manner in which
Slidell and Mason humble themselves be-
fore European Governments"
The Judge spraRg up, looking as fierce
as a wild boar and shaking his fist at
Baron Wardener, exclaimed: "Sir, you
are more Yankee than all the rest put to-
! gether; and about you claiming the pro
lection Of your Government, l tell you the
/ Confederate States of America have never
recognized your Government"
al know it, sir; but this is the sad con-
dition in which other Governments are
placed But let me have few hours for
consideration, and I will make up my mind
whether to 81 gn this Isrol or not
The Judge, after some hesitation, grant
ed this request, and gave Baron Wardener
the parting advice to go back to his eoan-
try and to have nothing to do with the
Yankees, who are lot of mnrderoUs rob
bers, devastating the beautiful South, and
committing all sOrds Of outrages. Avoid
them," said he, " for your own good
| After having advised with the oldest
and most experienced officers among the
Federal prisoners, Baron Wardener finally
concluded to take the parol, as there was
no other way Of getting away from the
loathsome and disgusting prison.
The Bason thus describes the horrible
condition of Libby prison, and his opinions
Of the prospect of the rebel cause:
At o'clock in the morning he took
leave Of the officers who had been confined
with him, silk and disguised with the
treatment received, and yet sorry to leave
the poor officers, companions of his mis-
fortunes.
There were about two hundred an fifty
Federal officers confined in a gsrret under
the roof the Libby prison. All the win
dows were broken, and consequently the
cold, particularly at night, was intense, for
there we're no coverings, except a few
ragged blankets filled with vermin. The
prisoners were obliged to sleep on the
floor, somewhat in the same manner as ne
groes on board of a SLAYER, and with the
scanty covering, and the cold, piercing air,
it was almost impossible to sleep during
the night. The rations were miserable
bread and meat-Often, disgusting 10 say,
of dead mules. Everything had to be
cooked on two small stoves in the room,
and by the officers themselves, who were
never allowed to leave the room for any
purpose whatsoever, and the whole treat
ment was such as would cast dishonor on
any government pretending to represent
civilized country.
When looking out of a window once, a
stone was thrown at Baron Wardener by
bEulluElg Will AlE dGmOulLAtA luNL uEAl
time he would get a ball through his head.
Captain Turner, Confederate officer in
charge Of prisoners, treats those under his
charge in the most contemplate way, TAX
ing pleasure in giving them all the refined
torments that a Southron could only de-
wise. Sometimes he would take prisoners
through the room and taking pleasure in
exhibiting the miseries of his prisoners
pompous and bombastic man, intensely
proud Of the acknowledgement given to him
by the Richmond papers for the manner in
which he discharges his duties and treats
those whom the chances of war have
thrown in his hands.
Finally Baron Wardener says that his
treatment while q prisoner at Richmond
has convinced him of the utter absurdity
Of the ideas existing concerning the ohiv-
alric character Of the Southerners. Never
did he dream that human beings could be
treated in such despicsble and contempt
ible way as exhibited by the treatment of
Federal officers, prisoners of war at
Richmond; and never did he see so brutal
traits as those exhibited by the men repre-
senting the South and its institutions at
Richmond. A sojOurn there of six weeks
has convinced him, to use his own words,
that the Southern fabric is a lie, based
upon lies; and after having heard them
speak of themselves and their boasted in
stitutions, he has returned to the North,
flied with even more sympathy and just
appreciation Of the noble cause in which
we are engaged than he could have done
before visiting Richmond as a prisoner Of
war.