The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-09-23
Petitions for the Exchange of Pris
onerS.

A gentleman at Pittsburg, Pa, sends US a
copy of petition to the President, which is
circulating in Pennsy lvania, asking for a re-
newal of exchanges of prisoners. The gen.
tleman writes:
{" have lost two sons, killed in battle, and
one, if living, is an inmate of that horrible
place at Andersonville. Of course l am
very much in earnest, and hail with joy ev-
cry influence calculated to bring about a
change of policy. send YOU copies of
petition in behalf Of those suffering men.
When it was written and printed, the late
correspondence between Gen. Butler, Judge
Ould and others had not been published.
1t was then supposed that some formidable
difficulties lay in the way but we now know
that the white prisoners might be exchanged
without compromising the honor of the gov
ernment, or in the slightest degree injuring
the cause of our 'contraband' soldiers, or
the principle of human freedom. Gen. But
Ter has damaged his popularity in this COM
muDity, and pressure is likely to be made
upon Mr.. Lincoln to appoint another COM
missioner of exchange"
This letter expresses the feeling that pre-
walls everywhere among reasonable men, and
is quite as earnest among republicans as
democrats. We do not symp thize in the
disappointment expressed at Gen. Buffers
management Of the business of exchanges.
We felt from the start that he would be more
likely to complicate the matter and make
further exchanges impossible than TO bring
the confederates to terms. Gen. Buffers
reputation or pride of consistency should be
held Of small account. 1t is a matter of life
and death to thousands Of our brave soldiers.
The business should be placed at once in
more suitable hands, and the offer of the
rebels to exchange man for man, without ref
erence to pending matters of controversy,
should be accepted without delay. The petit
tion to which We have alluded closes with
this earnest appeal to the President:
"People, in these calamitous times, think
intensely and profoundly; and they reason
and discriminate logically and severely
They are not blind to the fact that men in
high places sometimes mistake pride and OBJ
stinacy for Lonor and firmness; and.the con-
clusion to which many of them have arrived,
that some such mistake has been made in
the matter of the exchange of prisoners, is
not calculated to strengthen the government
in this terrible hour of trial. They think,
too, of the awful cry of agony which is per-
petually ascending to heaven from that
slaught-r-pcn a, Anderson~iiie ~ha,her MT
tered in prayer, the language Of faith and
hope, or in groanings which cannot be utter
ed, or in curses and blasphemy, the outburst-
ing of desperation and despair-and ask
themselves whether that cry is calculated to
bring down upon our government the favor
or wrath of God? Now, honored sir, with
all Difference to your exalted station, with all
proper regard for your terrible responsible
ties and trials-yet, not forgetting that We
are responsible for your acts, for our sutfrages
made you what you ale-we beseeeh you to
use all your wisdom and power for the speedy
deliverance of those suffering, dying men,
I Fear not to make concessions. and to submit
even to some degree of wrong, that you may
achieve the God-like work of giving deliv'
erance to the captives, and opening the pris,
on of them that are bound And SO may
the blessing of those who were ready to per
ish rest upon you forever"