Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-03-04
Tn. exchange Question.

A this question - exciting considerable IN
tere-s IN the community at the present time we
repubIish from the New York World the follow
Ing account Of the negotiations aud the present
condition OF what has occurred ia reference to
and Rebel governments:
From Information derived from Washington,
Fortress Monroe aud elsewhere. and which We
know 10 be utterly reliable. We make the ioho"
ing statement Of the past history and present
condition Of the exchanys OF prisoners question:
/. From August, 1862 10 August 1908 the
exchange Of prisoners vas conducted through
Lieut. Col. Ludlow Of Gen. Dixis stan, on the
one side, aud Robert 0uId az ths agent oil The
rebel government on the other IS all the pre-
Iiminaries under the cartel bad 10 be arranged by
these gentlemen, tie duties Of the positions they
held were much more delicate and ardnous than
they could possibly have been subsequently,;
but a. both agents we're determined 10 agree "a
ther than differ. and there no disposition
on either side to overreach the other, the ex-
change went on without interruption until Col
Ludlow was relieved. During the year. he was
on dnsy. IL will be remembered that the rebels
had the advantage in the number of prisoners,
but he succeeded somehow in getting them all
exchanged
2 We further understand that neither Colonel
Ludlow nor Mr. Ould were embarrassed by in
structions from their respective Governments
They each. therefore, had full power 20 settle all
questions as they came up. Gen Hitchcock, who
figures Ia official documents as Commissioner OF
Exchange. had nothing Co do with the matter
while Col. Ludlow was in charge: indeed under
the cartel there i no such officer recognized rs
Com missioners, only agents are spoken of Gen
Hitchcock was, and se believe still u, kind OF
general military adviser Of the President and
Secretary of War, and this title given him to
furnish an excuse for bis presence at the War
Department.
3 During the Ludlow ould regime it was mu-
tually agreed that their correspondence should
he confidential. aud should not be given To the
public. IL felt that the djustment OF tue
delicate questions that would arise would be Sc
Tiousl, emb trrassed. il not rendered impossible,
by making them the theme OF violent partisan
distribes North and South, which would be in
evitsble upon their publication. The results
which have followed the publicity given to Gems
Meredith's and Hitchcock's letters show how
wise this precaution
u. The difficulty IN the exchange question com
menced with the first Interview between General
Meredith aud Mr.. Oud The agents of the two
governments had previously met as equals each
anxious 10 perform the duties assigned to him
Geo. Meredith. however. at once assumed that
he was the representative OF a legitimate dealing
with rebel power With this idea. honestly
entertained. no doubt. he undertook 10 dictate
rather than agree TO terms Ould promptly re-
sented the chtnge Of tone. and matters have
gone from bad 90 worse ever since. Unfor-
tunstely. as IL proved. Meredith asked for in
structions when he got into difficulty. and AS the
questions IN dispute could not possibly be under
stood ut either Washington or Richmond, he re
ceived imperative orders which made matters
worse tiisn ever This was made manifest hen
the correspondence between Oud and Meredith
was published. The latter. a. Administration
papers like the Boston Advertiser and Springfield
Republican admitted. was put clearly aud explic
lily ia the wrong. This became so evident TO
the War Department in time that he WAS super
seeded and Gen Butler appointed in his place
5. The appointment of General Butler led to
new complication He had been outlawed BY the
rebel government. and Ould could not treat with
him. Nov il my have been very foolish in the
rebels 10 have done this; but IL IL clear that II
the Federal Congress had Outawed Wise, Floyd,
or any other Southerner. the Administration
would never consent to have formal relations
with them. IL ia recognized rule among all
nations that its ambassador. charge, or consul.
shall not be personally offensive 10 the power
with. which he is to have official relations 10 is
against all precedent, therefore. for the Govern
ment of the United States to force peculiarly
obnoxious agent upon the rebel government
IL ia will be seen, therefore. that the difficulty
touching the exchange OF prisoners commenced
Dix being sent to another department Had an
other officer Of equal discretion and with the
same power he welded, been sent in his place.
the brave fellows who have been captured viii lie
fighting in the same armies of the Union would
have been saved the long mosths OF weary cap
tivity which have fallen To their lot for want of
little common sense, moderation and tact on
the part of the Washington War Department and
its agents We do not wish to be understood rs
indorsing Colonel Ludlow at the expense of ev-
ery one else. There are no doubt thousands of
officers who would prove efficient as he has
been. but unfortunately the war Department does
not seem To- have h al them NJ hand.
A the War Department has submitted To
Congress the Hitchcock and Meredith correspon
dence. would il not be well for some senator or
representative TO call also Tor the correspondence
between Col Ludlow aud Robt. Ogid, which Is
understood to be on a file at FORTRESS Monroe IN
the care of Gen Batter? Il this should see the
light. we have no doubt that 1t would show VII.
Col Ludlow succeeded so well. aud also why
Meredith Butler. Hitchcock. and Stanton have
not succeeded all. in exchanging the prisoners.