Cleveland tri-weekly leader. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1854-1885, 1863-11-17

TUESDAY H0RNING- NOV. IL, 1S0s.
The Starving of $4,000 Prisoners by the
southern Devils,
II is hard to reslizs that in this age
which boasts Of more enlightened hu-
msniiy than any former age, and in this
lAnd which Processes TO be governed by
the spirit Of s pure christianity, there
should exist a community who are gov
srned BY malignant spirit the like Of
which cannot be found in the internal re-
gions. We allude to the spirit that has
!. inRaeneed the rebel authorities to adopt
3 sthsPolisy Of slowly starving Is coo Union
prisoners new in their hands, for the
purpose of compelling our Government to
allow fictitious claim for credit of 49,
OOOparOled prisoners exchanged
Many will think that this is monstrous
ezaggeration, that it cannot be possible that
the ebivslrOus STAKEHOLDER, negrO.breeder
and women n-whipper. to whom we have
heretofore been 90 very humble, and for
whom we have hunted up their runaway
slaves and delivered them up, with our hats
held meekly in cur hands, could be guilty
Of such horrible crime. But such is the
fact. We again repeat thirteen thou
sand Of our gallant soldiers, our fathers,
soma and brothers, are now being slowly
starved to death by the so-called COnfed-
crate Government!
Two weeks ago one hundred and eighty
exchanged Union prisoners were delivered
to cur authorities, almost starved, and they
report that their companions in captivity
whom theyleft behind in Richmond, were in
like condition and dying daily from want
Of food. They presented most horrible
appearance, being almost nsked-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
nspolis, from the effects of not having suf-
hcient food. Another third will follow
The remaining third will probably sur
7ive, bat with ruined constitutions.
There can be no doubt Of The fact that
the Rebel authorities are purpOssly starv-
ing the Union prisoners. They may set
up the excuse that they have no food.
But if they have food to feed their srmies,
that excuse cannot avail them. COnse-
qusntly there is no other way than 10
take it thst for granted InaE our men arc
being mercilessly starved.
The question now is what course shall
our Government pursue to compel the Reb-
el Government to treat our soldiers in ac-
oordsncs with the usagss OfciviliEed war
fsrs3 There is but one way that can be
pursued, and that is to retsliste upon the
rebelofioers and South Carolina and Vir-
ginia troops we have in our hands.
We notice some of our contemporaries
have taken the position that all the Gov
ernment can do is to put its hands in its
pockets, and regret it can do nothing in the
premises, for it will not do to retaliste.
Rather than that unhung 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 a ccntemPtible and chick.
en-hezrted view TO take Of the matter
The advocates OF this do nothing policy be.
long to the PecksniF school, and are TOT
good to live in this world.
The policy our Government ought Il
pursue, is to demand OF the Richmond su
thOrities permission to feed and clOthe thr
Union prisoners, and if they refuse, theI
to select all the rebel officers aud all thr
South CarOlins and Virginia prisoners vi
have in our hands, and feed them precisely
on the same fare and in same quantity tha
is meted to our men by JEFF. Davis and hi
crew. Our word for it, the moment "
pursue this course, all our rebel prisoner
from General JEFF. Thompson and down
ward will commence pouring q remOn
STRANGE upon the rebel authorities in sue
amsunsr as to compel them TO treat on
soldiers in accordance with eiYilize
ussges.
This is the policy We hope our Govern
ment will pursue. The COpperhsads ma
hiss and howl about it, but why should "
be deferred by them They are no bette
than the rebels. Some Of our weak
and faint hearted conservatives may Oh
jsct to this unusual course, and Whin
out "wbst will Europe think 2" In IT
ply we would say that we esteem the Iii
Of Union soldier Of more value than IL
opinion of the world, including Franc
which smoked prisoners to death in cav
or England, which fired Hindoo prisoner
from the muzEle Of cannons.
We hope the press of the country wi
treat this subject Of retslistion in such
manner IS to influence this Governmel
to adopt it, If it has not already done SO.
The more we get of election returns t
better they look. The following are t
v,a;orffiaa for tba TTnion {inket in 4