The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18

as only to he justified by the existence OF an
absolute necessity. The report of the Sec
rotary on this point establishes concluslvely,
that the necessity which has forced to buraau
of supply, to provide for the army by i'm
pressment, has resulted from the impossible
ity of purchase by contract or in the open
market, except at such rapidly increased
rates as would have rendered the approprla-
TORS inadequate to the wants of the army.
Indee |, it is believed the temptation to hoard
supplies for the higher prices which could be
anticipated with certainty, has been checked
mainly for the fear of the operation of the
impressment law, and that commodities have
been offered in the markets, principally to
escape impressment, and obtain higher rates
than those fixed by appraisement. The COM
plants against this vicious system have been
we'll founded, bu: the true cause of the evil
has been Inexperienced. The remedy is
/ to be found, not in change of the impress
ment law, but in the restoration 0: the cur
rency to such basis as will enable the de-
partn,ent to purchase necessary supplies IN
the open market, and thus render impress
ment rare and exceptionable process"
! Among the measures recommended fer
the increase of the rebel armies is an act 10
replace cooks, wagoners and other employees
! of the army by negroes, and SO release white
men for f.hting. Mr.. Davis does not hint
at any intention to put negroes into the
ranks. Davis of course casts the blame of
the stoppage Of exchanges wholly upon the
Federal government. He makes no allusion
to any controversy as to negro prisoners, and
indeed no correspondence seems to have
PASSED on that subject as yet. Mr.. Davis
! undertakes to make out case OF barbarlty
in the treatment of his men in our hands.
After stating that the confederates gave to
their prisoners the same rations as their sol
diers, and also allow th-m to receive delica
cies from home, he adds:
SIN contrast to this treatment, the most
revolving iDhumanity has characterized the
conduct to the United States towards pr;so-
ners held by them. One prominent fact,
which admits no denial or palliation, mast
suffice as test. TIE officers Of our army.
natives of southern and semi-tropical cli-
mates, and unprepared for the COLI! Of
northern winter, have been conveyed. fol
imprisonment, during the rigor of the pres
ent season. TO the most northern and expos
ed situation that could be selected by the
enemy. There, beyond the reach of comforts.
and often even Of news from home aid tami
y exposed to the piercing cold OF the north
ern lakes. they are held by men who cannot
No ignorent Of. even if they do not design
he proba' Il result. How many Of our I'M
fortunate friends and comrades, who have
passed unscath-d through numerous battles
will perish on John>on's Island. under the
cruel tr al TO which they are subjected, none
but the Omniscient can foretel. That they
will endure this barbarous treatment with
the same stern forli'ude that they have ever
evinced in their cOuntry's service. We cannot
doubt. b.. who can be found to believe the
; assertion that 1t is our refusal to execute the
caltel. and not the mali Lightly of the foe, which
has caused the infection of such intolerable
cruelty on our own loved and honored de-
tenders
Mr.. Davis further en!arges on Federal
barbarity as follows:
81 cannot close this message without again
! adverting to the savage ierocitv which sill.
marks the conduct Of the enemy in the pros
ecution of the war. After their repu!-e from
! the defences before Charleston. they frs:
sought revenge by an abortiv- attempt to
destroy the city with an ncend.ary compost
ton, thrown by improved ar,ilriv from a
distance of four miles. Failing in this, they
changed their missiles, but fortunately have
! thus far succeeded only III killing two women
in the city. Their commanders, Butler, Nc
Neil and Turchin, whose horrible bal bartles
have made their namfs widely notorious and
everywhere execrable, are still honored and
cherished BY the authorities at Washington.
The first named after having been Withdrawn
from the scenes Of his cruei!es against wo-
men and prisoners of war Tin reluctant con-
cession to the demands of outraged humani
ty In Europel. has been put in new COM
mand at Norfolk, where helpless women anu
ch ldren are again placed at his mercy. Nor
has less unrelentilg warfare been waged by
\ ose pretended friends of human rights and
liberties against the unfortunate negroes
Wherever the enemr have been able to gain
access they have forced into the ranks of
their army every able bodied man that they
could seize, and have either left the aged, ths
women and the children 10 perish by starva-
ton, or have gathered them into camps.
where they have been wasted by frishttul
mortality. Without clothing or shelter, Of
ten without food, incapable. without super
vision, Of taking the ordinary precautions
against disease, these helpless dependents,
accustomed to have their wants supplied by
the foresight of their masters, are being rap
idly exterminated wherever brought in con-
tact with the invaders. By the nor hern
man. on whose deep rooted prejudiees no
kindly restraining influence is exercised. they
are treated with aversion and neglect. There
Is little hazard in predicting that, in al. To-
calities where the enemy have gained tenn
porary foothod, the negroes, who under our
care increased six fold in number since their
impor;ationin to the colonies of Great Brit
ain, will have been reduced by mortality dur
ing the war to not more than one half their