Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-24

In considering what is row the line Of duty, wen
becomes US to inquire whether our refusal 70 receive
Butler was originally wise and just. II 1t vas NOT IS
the rsr, Of wisdom and justice nov to recsde from H.
" one iii vausay this. If We made blunder-h'''
-, ,ryor,-lOt Us admit it. Let not persist in
declaring that the horse is seventeen eet hgn only Do
cause We have said 60.
Now. Butler Is not ambassador from the Yankee
government to our own. He IS mere agent appointed
5y Que of the parties to carry out an agreement already
catered into We have right WhAeVer to dictate to
Lincoln whom be shall appoint bis agent in such
contingency. Where is the authority In public law
which iustifss US in debating as to whom We W and
whom We vii not receive under flag OF truef BS
Rsesssats rel bound to receive "hcm ceyer tAe
other belgerent thAl appoint. This Is too plan LOT
argument: Let US suppose that after battle In WhcA
Butler had commanded the Yankee forces, hundreos o.
our dead ard wounded should lie within the enemys
line who pretends that We would not send Gag oil
truce to him for the purpose Of recovering themr Or
unnoge that il should have happened in the confusion
and excitement of the day. that many prisoners had
Aeen taken on both Sides and Butler himself (opera-
lions being about to begin SgRin on the morrow sh0uo
send flag Of truce asking az exchange without count
a. il oen done who would declare that parley should
no. DO had on the subiectI
Oh but then We shall GLOVER our diguityl" Who
saws so! Do they say so on the RapidsnI DO the
returned prisoners say sol Does anybody say so, save
the patriots at home So far from I0UsriHg our Dag
nty IN the very letter of Commissioner indicating
hi vii ingness to treat with Butler, We can make hm
feel douby the contempt in which he is held IN the
OonfaderaoV. We can tell m that tie Proclamation
of outAwry lar not been Withdrawn; that the saPS'
hpiau sill rests up0a him that IL WOud be coDsid'
eripg him Of too much Importance to permit our alb
borrepes Of him to be the means Of keeping one Con-
tedersts soldier in Yankee jail for single day that
We will treat with him on no other subject than the
cartel; and that the exchanges having been completed
all intercourse with him on our part viii cease and
determine :
But if We adhere to our refusal for the sake Of graft
fvns our PRIDE and persist in order to mairtin our
consistency and show QUE hrmness in declaring the
bOre to be seventeen feet high lot US see the result Of
it and the position in which We shall be placed
The next Gag of truce boat to City Point win bring
I 600 officers and men pith sEitG6lS guard Butter
viii then appear in person by bis representative, and
s,v TO Commissioner 0ud, wish to exchange these
man on IN, same terms As have been observed hereto
cors-lO for T." Commissioner 0ald must, OF course,
rsp,V cannot receive you; the men must 60 back to
Point Lookout" AHd Batter takes them back Oar
prisoners are told that they must be sacrificed in Oraef
that Butler may DO sped thai the Ninth street patriots
aforesaid, the rOn-eOmbAtant fire eaters may ndOlg
themselves in INTERCEPT OnS Of BulerPhObA- Within
tusn.y-Our hOurs Afterwards land this is the r"a''
nous opinion Of every ser and ma" rse'HIy rs''"'d
10 u,mArk ths y the Yankee guard at Point Lookout
"a full brgade) will be sent to the hsd for active duty
for thsy ,siH no. haze Confederate to OateAI All viii
have taken their parole recolect they are not re-
ouired to take the oath Of allsgAnee and very s1-
cusably. You, most worthy and loyal reader, would
do the same thing.
Now where is the with this Practie a result star
Jog him ia the face land 1t is ~ sure to happen As the
ebb and dow Of the tide) that will incur the response
bity of refusing still to receive Butler at such cost