The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-01-06
RiciazRhOnd Enquirer ON the
ssT Exchange.

WAsn1NoToN, Dec. 27.-The Rich
mcnd Enquirer Of the 18th says: i
sour government ha. abandoned every
point except the treatment of the negro
prisoners. Now the simple truth is, our
government has not abandoned any point.
1t is known that Mai Gen. Butter, who
has superseded Gen. Merideth, has no
such instructions. The prisoners at Forts
McRoe and Mclienry, and Point Lookout
have been placed under his orders and he
is authorized to conduct the exchange,
man tor man and officer for officer Of equal
rank as those paroled and sent forward
lbyahiusself. The object is to make an
even exchange us far as prisoners in the
rebel possession will admit. and governed
| by humane imotives, the effort will be
nade first to procure the reieLse oi those
who ihuve 9bcen held as prisoners for the
longest time! u In conducting the ex-
change colorcd troops and their others
willu ibo placed on an equality with all
other troops, and SO OF colored men IN
civil employment. This is one of the
points hereafter Ito be adjusted. The
aono- and dignity OF the government III
the. protcction,ot' such negro persons aud
their officers will 4. ot be compromised -
! The recent visit OF Gen. Hitchcock to
| Fortress monroe was to confer with Gen.
| Butler aud to communicate to him the
orders OF our Government on this SUBJ ject.
| The object is to secure an equal number
of prisoners on each side, leaving all other
questions for iurther determination, the
excess being largely in our favor.
EARLY in Novemb ber, it will be remem-
! bered sir. CHARLES q. FULTON, pro-
! pfletor OF the Baltimore American, ad-
crossed letter to his Old personal friend
~. A. CawARDIN, pro trietor OF the Rieh'
ntUnd Dispatch, asking him to distribute
amung Maryland Union suldiers in prs
on, two thousand dollars in Virginia bank
bills. MIR. CowARDIN took churge o.
the matter, and, in accordance with al
order, changed the Virginia money ipts
Confederate Rotes, getting two dollar'
and three quarters in Confederate money
for Que in Virginia. There were thre'
hundred and Be, enty persons among whom
the money was to be distributed, anu l
was divided among them equally. Mr
Cowardin writos to Mr.. Fulton: sd
} Il learn from the officers and the sur
geoh having charge of the prisoners tha
the hitch in the exchange ofprlsoners ha
had most painful effect upon the FEEDER
al soldiers conGnod here, having occasion
} ed in the sick dependency tha: has fear
fully increased the mortality among them
/ has is strikinsly illustrated at Bell
isle, where of si1ty-tce deaths an tiu
months, only Que occurred in three! A
the end Of those three the exchange o
prisoners was broken up, and the ctfec
: was disastrous to tho Federal prisoner
here, aI j, suppose. also to the Conted
) crates, confined at the North.
x - x y
a Il taken occasion to say, sir, that
have had some opportunity OF obseryin
the lite at the prisons. aud that hav
not IA doubt that the Federal prisoner
hero fare equally as we'll AS our own sol
dlers. 1t Doth have not the fullest ratiOns
7 they have the best that the nature Of th
invasive war now raging against the Sout
admits of. But, it is proper further t
? say, that the qua tity anu quality Of thi
!, food is such as does not impair, health
: Our men look remarkably well, aud s
do yours, who are not sick and sinking
under the rining and dependency ofhope
less imprisonment.
you have done me the homer, my dea
sir. to make me the almoner OF your bene
Lection for reasons very complitary to my
self, and I am sure you will receive the'