Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-12-22
Rebel Testimony respecting the Starvation
Of Federal Prisoners at Richmond.

The Confederate family is not an entirely har-
mOniots one. Some members OF it occasional.
ly hit their own household hard blows. Only
the other day 10 the rebel Senate, Foote, of Ten.
nesee, after expressing his mind very freely
and in terms the reverse Of complimentary Of
one JEFF. Davis, offered the following resolution
as the text for some further remarks:
Resolued, That said Committee be instructed
to inquire whether there be any ground for the
allegation made by the enemy, in formal official
letters and otherwise, that the prisoners of war
detained by us in custody have been refused
adequate supplies of wholesome and nutritious
character, at any time, and report the result
OF the inquiry heren in order that not a mo-
ment should be lost IN indicating the honor OF
our Government in regard to this solemn and
interesting matter, and that no plausible pre-.
text shall remain for the maltreatment of our
own valuable soldiers, now detained in North
ern prison houses, upon the plea OF needful ro-
taliatiOn.
Foote is reported as having enlarged upon this
resolution as follows
In explaining and urging this resolution upon
the Committee Of the Whole, Mr. Foote SAID
that his design was to investigate facts, and he
had few to offer not to give information to
the enemy. but TO give information 10 this
House and to the country, that the honor Of
the country may be protected. A certain Com.
mlssary General, who was a curse 10 our coun-
try, had been invested with aut' GRITTY to con-
troll the matter OF subsistence THIS man-.ihis
monsier-this .Norhrop- has aedithiiy placed
our Government an The attitude charged by tho
enemy, and has attempted TO stRue the prisoners
in our hands
Here Mr. Foote read a letter from the quar-.
termaster Tor the prisons, Capt. j. Warner, adj.
dressed to zen, Wlnd'r, and placed on the rec
ord at Col. Guilds office, which stated that he,
Capt Warner, had from the LIST to the Goth of
the last month, been able to obtain meat Tor the
prison, rs in very irregular and meagre man.
ner from the department, and that for six days
only OF the period was he able to obtain regu
lar ST pply for twelve days the supply was ir-
regular and inadequate, and for eight days they
got none atal This Commissary- General, who
he was told, continued MIR. Foote, was u sort of
pepper doctor down in Charleston, and he must
say, looked as like vegetarian as his practice
would indicate, had actually made an elaborate
report to The Secretary of War, showing that
for the suslenanee Of human Yankee carcase
vegetable diet was the most proper that could
be adopted, Laughter lie had other facts
VIII Oh he would bring forward in addition to
this to show that this Nor:hrop should be turn
ed out. For the honor of the country, he should
be elected at once.
The above may be considered as sufficiently
plain talk, and very clearly proves that the
charge that Federal prisoners at Richmond are
starved, is literally true. The rebel Senate, of
course, refused to pass Foote'S resolution, as
such vote might have been interpreted as en-.
dorsng his views, but Wigiall offered a resou
ton having the same object in view, though e4.
pressed differently, which was adopted. The
matter will now be whitewashed over, and the
monster Northrop" doubtless be made to
appear humane and Christian gentleman of
the true confederate pattern, but the testimony
Of Foote'S speech will remain as very damaging
evidence against the chivalry OF treason.