New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-13
H. II. ON EXCHANGES.

That the Southern Coniederacy IS a Stupen-
dons fraud-rooted and grounded in elaborate
and systematic falsehood - has been often
enough demonstrated. Ailer all the States that
could be had been bullied into declaring them
selves out Of the Union, these were found too
few TO stand alone, and it became necessary TO
lie ont large number more; and this was
achieved through the wicked, wanton COM
mencenent of hostilities. Then the traitor
Governors OF Virginia, North Carolina Ten
nessee, Missouri, &c, with their fellow-con-
spirators, told their people that Lincoln and The
AJolitionisis had declared unproroked rar upon
the Souih, and that they had no alternative but
TO arm and fight in defense Of their homes and
families. And these gigantic ialsehoods-all
contradiction being stincd - have ever since
been the basis and motive power of the Rebel
lion.
JEFF. Davis has just put forth fresh manifesto
to the dupes he is impoyerishing, starving and
virtually killing, in the course of Message to
his Congress, dated May I'd. In this Message,
he says:
"On tie subject Of the exchange Of prisoners greatly
regret 70 be unable 90 give you satisfactory Information
Tho Government Of TIE United States while per.isiing
In failure 10 execute tie terms OF the cartel make coca
siona deliveries Of prisoners and then suspend action
without apparent confess my inability 10 com
pcheud their policy on upOsc. The PRISONERS htid %!
IL In spite IL humane care pershirg from the In
eyitahe effects Of imprisonment and the home sickness
produced by the hOp,ssness Of release from conine'
ineut The spectacle ~ their suffering augmenis our
longing desire 10 relieve from similar trials our own
brave men, who have spent 30 many weary months IN "a
cruel and useless Imprisonment endured with heroic
cOn,taucy Tie delivery, after suspension OF some
weeks has lust been resumed by the enemy; but. rs
they Give no assurance Of intent % carry out the cartel
an interruption o tie exchange may rccur at an! mo.
meut."
The bloody-mnded villain knows every word
Of this 20 be false as though it came direct from
the Father of Lies-knows that our Govern
ment has been hard at work all Winter to effect
the exchange he processes to desire; and has
been haiIed by his persistent determination not
to exchange. and his repeated rcfusals TO give
man Cor man so long as be had one of our men
10 give. Our Government has been more than
willing-has been eager and anxious-to give
Rebel prisoner Of equal grade for every Union
soldier he holds in captiyity-so anxious that it
has repeatedly sent boat-loads Of prisoners to
the very gates of his capital, and has been told
by his agent that, if any more were sent, they
should be returned without exchange. All we
ask-al we have ever asked-is man for man,
grade for grade, until one party or the other
should have been drained Of its last prisoner;
and this he has steadily refused us. First, he
quarreled with our agent, Gen. Meredith, who
had to be withdrawn; next, he would have no
official intercourse with Beast Butler;' and
when our Government submitted TO that insult,
and substituted still another agent, it was found
that he would exchange no man not of approved
complexion. So weary months have dragged
on; we waving all formulas and asking simply
that our captured men might be returned TO us
for an equal number Of Rebel prisoners remain
ing in our hands. We have asked and wished
nothing more; and this we could by no means
get. In all the exchanges hitherto made, down
to the last week, no single Black soldier has
ever been returned to us, even when-aS at
Fort Wagner-there had been a special agree
ment made for n full exchange Of the wounded
prisoners. The Rebels readily consented to
this; but, having secured the Liberation of their
men, repudiated with the refreshing GOODNESS Of
Jeh.'s own State of Mississippi.
Yet We have journals printed in the loyal
States that are now circulating the villains
calumnes on our Government, and will never
print any refutation of them! They call them
selves Democratic, and wonder why we can
not have Peace!