Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-16
FORMING LEADER.
lIONOAY MORSING. nov. I6, 1883.
The Starving Of 1900 Prisoners by the
Southern Devils.


MONDAY MORSING. nov. I6, 1883.
The Starving Of 1900 Prisoners by the
S0uthoTH Devils.
Il il hard 10 reslizs that in this age,
which boasts Of 4 more enlightened hu-
nAnity than any forme: age, and in this
land which processes 10 be governed by
the spirit Of 8 pure christianity, there
should exist a community who srs gov
srpsd by malignant spirit the like of
which cannot be found in the Internal re-
giOns. We allude to the spirit that has
Influenced the rebel authorities to adopt
ihspOliey Of slowly starving lS, COO Union
bfisoners now in their hands, for the
purpose Of compelling our Government to
ansW fictitious claim for credit of 49,
coo paroled prisoners exchanged.
Many will think that this is moustrous
sxaggeration, that it cannot be possible that
the ehiVAlrOus STAKEHOLDER, negrO-breeder
and WOmen-whipper, to whom We haze
heretofore been 60 very humble, and for
whom we have hunted up their runaway
slaves snd delivered them up, with our hats
held meekly in our hands, could be guilty
Of such horrible crime. But such is the
fsot. We again repeat - thirteen thou
sand Of our gallant soldiers, our fathers,
sons snd brothers, are now bling slowly
starved to death BY the so called Confed-
crate Government!
TWe weeks ago one hundred and eighty
ro exchanged Union prisoners we're delivered
to Cur authorities almost starved, and they
report that their companions in captivity
whom tbeyleft behind in Richmond, we're in
like condition and dying daily from want
Of food. They presented most horrible
appearances, being almost nAked-the rebels
having robbed them of all their clothing
looked like so many living skeletons
Men who formerly weighed two hundred
pounds, now only weighed seventy and
eighty. Fifty-three Of the poor fellows,
nearly one-third of the number, died
within one week after they landed at An
nApolis, from the effects Of not having suf-
ecient food. Another third will follow
-.a The remaining third will probably sur
Vive but with ruined constitutions.
There can be no doubt of the fact that
the Rebel authorities are purposely starv-
ing the Union prisoners. They may set
up the excuse that they have no food.
But if they have food to feed their armies,
that excuse cannot avail them. COnse-
quently there is no other way than 10
take it that for granted that our men are
being mercilsssly starved
~ The question now is what course shall
our Government pursue to compel the Reb-
el Government to treat our soldiers in se-
eordsnce with the usages of fcivilized war
fars2 There is but one way that can be
pursued, and that is to rstsliate upon the
rebel officers and South Carolina and vir-
ginia troops We have in cur hands.
We notice some of our contemporaries
have taken the position that all the Gov
ernment can do is to put its hsnds in its
pockets and regret it csn do nothing in the
premises, for it will not do to retsliste.
Rather than that unhuug traitors who ara
prisoners in our hands should suffer, thir-
teen thousand of our poor, unfortunate
but gallant soldiers must die terrible
death This Is q contemplate aud chick
en-hesFted view to take of the matter. |
The advocates Of this do.nothiug policy be- |
long to the Peoksnif school, and are too !
good to I've in this world
rf The policy our Government ought to |
pursue, Is 10 demand of the Richmond au-
thsrities permission to feed and clOlhs the |
Union prisoners, and If they refuse, then
70 select sll the rebel officers aud all the
South Carolina and Virginia prisoners we
have in our hands, and feed them precisely /
Oh the same fare and in same quantity that
Is meted to our men by JEFF Davis and his
crew. Our word for il the moment we
pursue this course, all our rebel prisoners
from General JEFF Thompson and down
ward will commence pouring rsmOn-
stranoe upon the rebel authorities in such
msnRsr as to compel thsm to treat our
T soldiers in accordance with civilized
usages.
This is the policy we hope our Govern
msht will pursue. The COpperbeads may
hiss and howl about it. but why should we
be deferred By thsm7 They are no better
than ths rsbsls. Some of our weakened
Hnd faint.hearted conservatives may OBJ
jet to this unusual course, and whine
oUt what will Europe think ?" In re-
ply We would say that We esteem the life
Of Union soldier Of more value than the
opinion Of the world, including France,
which smoked prisoners to death ina cave,
CT England, which fred HindOO prisoners
from the muzEle Of cannoHs.
We hope the press of the country will
treat this subject Of retaliation in such
manner as to influence this Government
to adopt it if IL has not already done so.
When General JEFF. Thompson arrived
At Pfist Knob, after his capture. he ex-