Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-12-29

One of the morning papers publishes, with
gratlhed approval, letter from can eminent
public man in the interior Of this State" sdvis-
ing the adoption of system of retaliation for
the barbariiies inflicted by the rebels upon Union
prisoners. he recommends that every rebel
pg~s .'aeT in our hands should be turned into an
open pen. stripped of bis shoes and stockings,
hat. coat, vest and shirt, and fed on the poorest
and scantest fare until the Union prisoners are
properly cared for, and evidence furnished Of
the fact. The editor of the Journal in question
remarks that the letter "only repeats 10 strong
terms what reaches US daily from many quarters. >"
If this is so there are many people who are as
deficient in good sense, and as ignorant Of the
arrangements which going on between the
Federal and rebel authorities for the relief OF
suffering prisoners on both sides, as they are
faulty in their ethics.
Leaving out of view the Christianity and hu.
mainly of such system of retaliation. care
only to inquire whether il would have the effect
sought for II human nature is the same at the
South as at the North. should think that the
Ter faliOnis would fail TO smeliorae the condition
OF the Union prisoners. For the South pretends
60 treat the L Mon captives well as il at
ford, and retorts upon the North accusations Of
neglect end cruelty to the Southern soldiers who
fall into its hands That these accusations are
totally unfounded does not alter the fact that
they exist. and must be taken into account in a
fair consideration OF the whole subject That
the South really thinks that the rebel prisoners
in the North are inadequately cared tor, appears
from the rebel proposition 10 pass thousand
bales OF cotton through the blockade TO New
ork, and expend the proceeds of its sale in
blankets and other articles of necessity and lux
ury Tor the inmates OF Forts Lafayette and War
rem, and the imprisoned rebels in Elmira, Chica
! 90, and other Northern cities. In return Tor
this favor. the rebels allow TO send all kinds
of supplies, except arms and ammunition, 10 the
! Union prisoners. An agreement TO this effect
has been made, and officers have been appointed
oil each side to execute il. The cotton for the
rebel relief fund is said TO be on its way to New
| ork, and abundance of food and clothing has
already lett this port for distribution among Union
prisoners 10 different parts of the South Any
/ one who addresses notes 10 Northern papers, sd
vocaling the stripping and starving OF rebel prls-
oners by way OF retaliation, il behind the age in
his views no less than in bis civilization.
70 pu LEGATION OF the cartel OF exchange, as
modified and now in operation, has been made
out II Is evident from the streams OF released
prisoners flowing back and forth between the two
governments, that each is anxious To get back its
own as soon possible For a long time the
only stumbling block to general exchange was
the dispute about the status of the negro prison
ers held by the South IL IS 20 be hoped tina,
the Federal Government has at length come 10
the conclusion 10 postpone the adjustment ol
that part OF the controversy, (unless, which Is
hardly probable, IL is already settled merely pos.
pone. not give up the assertion of its rights and
dignities But Tor this difference of opinion be
tween the two governments, all the white co.!
diers now incarcersted in Southern prisons and
pens, would long ago have been restored to THEN
homes and the ranks OF the Union armies, and
/ have he IN of
than they now are, their release no farther from
accomplish ment than il now is.
general exchange of all the white prisoners
on both sides. il seems TO US is the only sensible
practicable method of procedure between the
North and South. Halt loaf Is better than
no bread. The release OF all the white soldiers
imprisoned At the South is better than the re-
lease of none-even though. in the former case
the black troops should be doomed to captivity
until their claims TO equal recognition with
the white solder are admitted by the South
That day, it may be inferred from the drift oil
public opinion down there, cannot be far dis
tant.-N Y. Journal OF Commerce