Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-09-09

OF the rebellion to this time, while the rebel
prisoners in our hands have been treated
with great kindness, have been well fed and
comfortably cared for, the treatment Of I'm
ion prisoners in rebel hands, with individual
exceptions. has bten un,qualled for it. bar
harlty and cruelty in tie whole history %.
civilized warfare. Even savage lite fails TO
show such fiendish malignity m the treat
ment Of prisoners as the rebel authorlii,s
have Systematically shown towards our men
INSULT day By day have been heaped upon
them. Food IN quantities which would
barely keep men alive, has been dealt out
To- them. unwhole>Jme IN kind. and cooked 50
far as cooked at ally and dealt out in a way
to create loathing and to produce disease.
Ragged and shelterless they have been exposed
to the severity Of the elements worse than
cattle ever are, or confined in filthy dens
and shot down like dogs if they dared to
look out OF window. All circumstances
on the part Of our government against such
inhuman treatment have been of no avail
the offer to send food and clothing to them
at the expense Of our own government. nay
more, to support them entirely till
they could be exchanged, has been
spurned. The privilege granted in
few cases to charitable individuals. to for
ward boxes Of plain food and clothing to
their suffering friends in rebel prisons and
open Enclosures, ,has resulted in the appropri-
alton of the major part Of such gifts to tls
use of the rebels themselves. While in ex-
changes their men are returned to them well
fed and able for action, in cases without
number our men are returned broken down
by exposure and priyauons, living skeletons,
many with only strength enough left to
bring them to die in sight of the flag for
which they fought. others to recover only by
months Of care and nursing, strength for
any active duty,
Knowing all these facts. what has the
Chicago resolutions to say on tie subject?
Is there Il word of ccnsure on the rebel lead
ers for their gross inhumnnity for their iuia-
nous violations OF all civilized usages in the
treatment Of prisoners? Not word-not
remote hint Of the sort. Oh, mo- Their
otua gorernment officers are the only ONES 10
blame for all this, in the view of thus Chica-
20 Convention What Union soldier will
not feel his blood boil at such an infamou,
accusation? Yet. again. do,s he find in those
resolutions any word of encouragement for
him to stand up as he has stood up for the
cause Of his country? Does be find word
in favor Of sending help TO the gallant armies
now IN the field, that they IN " speedily fin
ish up the rebellion as great and
free nation should finish up such "A rebellion
now in its death struggle-hv crushing it,
hie out once and forever? On, no nothing
Of that does be find there But be- Is told
that the glorious Union flag should be iurled
and the arms of Its defenders should %,
grounded m face OF tho enemy that an ar
mistice must be proposed to the rebel leaders
and they be invited 10 tell us ou what terms
they will make a peace Every soldier knows
that such an armistice would bring disgrace.
and nothing else, to the national cause, and
shame and confusion of face TO every union
soldier, whenever he encountered a rebel.
He knows perfectly well that such an armis-
tice would be a concession before the whole
world, that the rebel pIwer had proved an
ovcrmatch for that Of the Union. The era
ven and treacherous spirit which proposes
such a course, he will despise, and all It,
professions Of sympathy, care and protection
for the soldier, be will know to be as empty Of
value as the hearts that make them are Of
any genuine love Of liberty and any true
patriotism.