Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-01-19
SATURDAY MORNING, JAN. l6, 1864.
Butler is to have charge of tho Conicdera: e


Butler is to have chargeof tho Conicdera 70
prisoners This announcement is made by the
enemy in the hope that it will strike 30 :rcu'
:, terror in the hearts of our people that the
Confederate Government will hr indeed IL
withdraw the Outlawry that now stamps thi'
wretch with the odium and cor,e:np. oi ell m
tons. But while this transfer oi Il mayor
general from the field Of conflict TO that III cru-
city HAY evnce Il proper estimate OF Butler
courage rs well as capacity, and show u the
wor.I that the cruelty Of the coward is spprc-
ciasol hy our crerlies, yet there Will he no
revelation Of outlawrv. Undcr it he. vii!
pass with the history of this wac 10 poaterity.
':hc enemy 10 not perceive that they are per
ustua;ing this ban Of outlawry by their ci-
forts for its revelation they fail 70 zee that
they arc making the inlaYy0 Butter 'mm"r-
III. But what is history 10 snch 4 wretch!
he Is this day the oply cause. the SOLITARY IN
dividusl that iuficts misery and wretchcdnesS
uno:l tirtv thousand human beings, OF whrH
twenty thousand arc his own countrymeu and
fellow ci,i%sns. What must be the conscience 0!
such n wretch: What must hc biz suErripgS
,;!,,u no eye is uEcn him. Buster ana bra
ysio and the trade ,f cruelty may occupy his
mia! during ,he day, tu: at s.isht tn" cream
in.sm;sc.y and wrclckednsSs ct hi' naked
shoe,css. suffering fciUw.cit;1cns on Belle
Leland. must rsach him, despite the distance
II. - AZ
,,.mit h;gscli thus to ina'ct wretchcd cap
l!,i:y urrn his owu cusatrvmrn: that ne c'ni'
sad in the VA Of their liberation end return
81 their friends; Bat what Shan L" S.''. i :"
#,o.,a ;tat quietly submits 20 sec 'he rGs7s
... cRatiyity wasting away the lives "f t.elT
oan soldiers simply TO CRAFTY the cracl malice
o., en Jat,.w? What viii history Jay Of M
.,5!.cii.istra..or which exhibits such reckless
disregard q! tilr:r soldiers. ai:d permits 'hein
l., dc i.;lv ~ hundreds. merely that Batter
may iuaic. svus.G uvan the !aen captured N'y
:n-n in hl:lla:
We - not knew what cruelty Butter may
,.sy:sc and practice upua he Confederate pri-
~,aa.,; and Il will DO hard duty which re
yaiie-;a7. may demand FROM cur authorities to
w..,.S those truly unfortunate and really mise
,;,.,.r .rj-uurrs now in oar ha!iS. I:'w"uld Lee
.ryy. 10, - every feeling .! Scnsmllty a'Id
i.ta.n-s. 60 30 Compelled by duty to agra
;..:e .!.e.T su4criaG>. Their present wrc!rh-
c.:r.e-s has m:i;gute,,, mitch Of thar aalsn0sl'y
naturally 'clt towards encruies, ant especially
towards such cncmieS-mcn who have come
anon. Us not Only 70 iaf;c, those troubles in
uilca: 70 legal warfare. but who have sezed
.e>7y opportunity to asgraTase Its horror"
;:ra;.;ne ana murder. But tho natural kind,
r.s It ire human heart has triumphed over
c:.ry..,-. and the officers having charge of the
F,.s-al PRISONERS have omitted no act tina:
,.uu',! toad to aIncliora:c their wrctcheiness.
But II driven TO that retaliation which this
..nro;as,nent Of Butler naturally suggests lis
Probably nercss Try, but fcw of them Will ever
) their homes or friends again.
II the Suht.rngs Of thirty thousand Confede-
rate prisoners can comfort the wounded vanity
ot Batter it may somewha lessen his pleasures
10 know that twenty thousand of his own country
men are suffering every degree of cruelty that
even bis fertile ms.ignity can invent He shall
be made the model j.Vr for all prisoners his
discipline shall be our discipline, his rigor our
ricor. his cruelty our cruelty. P"ri PaSsH
tur :hg future, tho misery and wretchea'
p=ss .: p.iS,aers Federal rs we'll us Confederate,
,si!l match. Perhaps kind friend oisone Yans
go now suffering on Belle Island may relieve
his wreirhed coIn.rymsn, aude by shooting
Gatie7. remove Sir. Davis ban oE outlawry. II
%. humanity woall rcpice. Such phllan~
!!.rn;:. assassination would nslie the assassin q
r.ai i:ero. Wo suggest this solution of the las,
,i.1ca.ty that Row lmpedes an exchange O.
prisoners.