New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-24
ru,r ExCHANGE OF rEEsoNEns.
u.,,cr from Gen. Eitchcoek-s Secretary
s,npton,s Policy Defended.

meeut published in THE NEw-YoRK TRIBUNE by Nj.
Junius Henri Browne, from winch inier UNA. s,I.
Browne takes exception the action Of the Secretary
of War with respect TO the exchange oil PRISONERS o
war in that the Secretary directed his Efforts on the
in the hands of the Rebels should be exchanged on ph
cipes applied the white troops OF the Union army
who might have fallen into the hands OF the enemy.
Ihave not seen the publications. OF MT: browne On
t;s snb;ect nor those of Mr. Richardson II 10 has puD
lished anything as understand nc mas, Oh siinii
character; and in the few wordsl propose 10 say Nis
il understood that felt and still feel great sypap! M
those gentlemen because OF their suhcrlnes III ths
hands OF the enemy, and have no disposition 70 enei
into controversy with either OF them; pul icei NV
uron by sense OF duiy 10 explain lew points ~ con
necion with the business Of exchange, by Whcn VIC
public may the better understand various references W
it. which. from time TO time appear in 'nc publ
Az an early pcriod in the Rebellion Il regular carter
for the Exchange OF prisoners was agreed upon nhsed
upon full recognition of belligerent ights IN me 0puu,
the agreement signed by Gen. Dix and Gen. MN iol
the respective powers at war; Deins ouiy "hnou00u "
\ public orders by authority. ...
wes respected in the South, it was iathiuy 9p1i'uu
by the Government and there is no reason 10 doubt s
faithful execution by the Government unui Iue eu VI
tie war unless properly revoked by competent auto
v If the Rebel authorities had not most distinctly vo
lated its terms, under circumstances indeed OF great
aggravaiop. A. h,. =, n
| DISPOSITION to disregard the cartel became puohe
N through n message Of Jefferson Davis To the keoel
Congress. in which he distinctly informed that body
that Union officers who might be captured VINE
ng with colored troops should be deiVeIcd over 70 ne
State authorities within the States where they might Dc
captured TO be dealt with by those State aulhortes u
der ST. laws providing for the punishment Oh un'
i crime Of melting instruction emOng the saves
When the message Just referred TO became known 10
the President lie at once the necessity OF meeting
II and gave instructions retain such Rebel oicers as
might be captured order 10 be in position 10 checN
the Rebel Government and restrain 1t IRON the eAeeu-
ton of its ayowcd purpose IN violation oil the cartel
\ This proceeding initiated by the Rebel Government
In violation Of the cartel cltimatcd in that cessation oil
exchanges which the history Of the matter SHOWS
became unavoidable and which, WIN a its cose
quences was entirely due 10 the Rebel Government,
COincidcnt with tie proceedings WIN reealu 10 NV
exchange of prisoners of war. the Rebels inaugrdea
system of seizng unofcndng citizens OF the uniten
States and subjecting them TO mallreamen In various
WAYS in order TO effect particular object, WmcA De-
came APPARENT when a demand was made for theT re-
/ lease for this purpose quite nnmber OF ezens OF
Il PENNSYLVANIA were carried INFO caplly py oeH hoo
Il when he penetrated into that State III lsbd 49,
il When demand mace for the release OF TINS CLASS
~ rrisoneis il was met by most positive declaration
tint no citizen prisoner in Rebel hands should he re-
leased unless the Government would enter INTO an
agreement with the Rebel authorities not u arrest any
one on account of his opinions or on account OF ms syn!
II pathy with the Rebel cause; aud this declaration was
N repeated again and again by the Rebel autnorurs,
|, whenever the Government demanded TIE reie"sc VI
II exchange Of said citizen prisoners among WnOn EcIo
| incudg Messrs. Brown ard Richardson, against whom
n the Rebels bore special grudge because Oh theH con-
| nectjon with The NEw-YoRK TRIBUNE. .
II 1t viii require but the slightest glance at TINS subject
10 convince any one Of the utter iupOssDilty oil nc-
II ouiescnc in the demand of the Rebel authorities
PREREQUISITE to the release of the citizens they thus held
In bondage. Such agreement on the part a IN"
United States would have been virtual acknowlcJS'
nent Of the Independence Of the Rebel Government,
and would have orecosed al proceedings Of The United
States against all persons whomsOeyer engaged IN the
crime OF treason and rebellion 10 was a9so'nteiy IN.
possible To acquiesee in ire demand Of the South on
Tat point: and this is the reason why MessTs Browne
AID Richardson among Others. were beyond the IeAeh
Of the Government, except through the power Of its
armies, which finally solved the entire question py put
TING an end to the Rebellion itself
II At the commencement of the cessation OF exchanges
the Rebels held few prisoners OF war over ana hh.se
The number Of Rebels held by the Governments bat the
CAPTURE OF VcksDnrg and POIt Hudson threw the bal
largely the other way. and az the prisoners cap
turtd by Cen. GIent and Cen Banks were LETT IN the
South on parole the Rebel authorities determined TO
make Of them no. merely In violation of The cartel
bot in open contempt Of the laws OF war They ilisi
ordered thet BODY II be assembled AZ place
called Enterprise. pTecrsc Of facilitating measures
GT their supplies, but IN reality with the distinct puI
pose. We are now compelled to believe OF throwing
them into the Rebel ranks To meet the anlc con
fict which, IL seen, near at hand IN East Ter
nessee and which accordingly took place at the me1o.
abe battles OF ChIck g. ana Chattanooga in which
battles the captured prisoners parocd IN the south by
Gems. Grant and H. Iks took part without having been
| duly exchanged although tic Rebel authorities maze
an yarte declaration Of exchange IN their favor WITH
out proper authority and which was protested against
! by the United States.
II Thrust be understood that ,Ne Rebels might al any
tire have rcsUued the sy.tem Of exchange agreed
upon in the cartel by Tecoding from the assumed nigh.
OF bringing before their state authorities Union officers
capt1red while serving with cOl0reG troops and agree
ing the exchange of the colored troops themselves
bnt although they exercised or put IN force tue
threat against officers they would never agree 10 ac-
knowledge the right OF cooTed troops 10 tfeatmcnt due
| u prisoners Of war and, os the Government OF The
n United States had cxeTcsed the night OF employing
coored troops part Of ihc force against the Rebels
their claim 10 such protection as The Government cOud
II give was which did not admit Of discussion.
II When the Rebels discovered that the suspension OF
II EXCHANGES was operating against them, they rcsOrcd
TO the horrible eIpedient q sntecting the prisoner
n they held TO starvation ana exposure - the elements
n without the protection OF quarters or tents atI st
II robbDg them Of their money end most OF their cloth
n ing and without regard e. seasons or tier inciem-
II encies In the hope Of forcing the Government into
N system Of exchanges which should have the effect
II not only of leaving IN their hands all OF tbe col0ed
II prisoners they had ken. bat Uf THROWING into their
II ranks the entire body OF prisoners held By the Fed-
II errl power then greatly IN excess over the Prhef'
II held By the Rebels This fact Is proved by TIE deeiaIa-
irons Of the Richmond papers. at tue time when lev
exchanges were made that their agent. Col Ould had
not rent over the lines the number OF prisoners
equivalent u those received, but only proportocie
number the ratio being determined by Col. OIid
in view Of the number OF prfners he'd IN the SCUM
against those held IN the NOIt-thc claim TO hold IN
reserve the colored prisoners In the south having
zeyer been Abandoned. Inc iact was Wrther eitab'
sted BIZ thc Official records OF the COmuissary Gen
era of Prsoneis ty which IL appeared that after send
h ing several boat ldeds o. exchanged prisoners cach
way tue Eeaels wcTo cons'i1y itinng iisp,ot opDh
Observing tliB TACT and Httcing Ire plbitatiuh al
Richmond, ] called UPON tho JOmrlssnry GCneiaI 81
Prisoners for tabular statement q The result ana he
statement showed i1Geb edIes ~ orr favor Oh over
so ilep; which statement handed to tie secretary
Of War, WHO thcreupon ~eeted al ofGer 10 Gen
Grant tie entire direction o. the matter Oh
exchanges with authority 10 gre such orders no he
might think proper the Subject. Gen. hIhDt at o.ce
reverted 10 first principles and directed that Col Ouid
or tie Rebel authorities should be noticed that coofed
troops should be treated pTeoners Of var hen cap
turod: and thc Rebels rot wiin TO accede 10
this requirement. 10 further exchanges w.ue made
Upon the receipt al the " Gr Department q the nrst
intelligence Of the inhuman troalnentt0 which our
pxisonern we're subiected a. Richmond the Secretary
70 ar viii "A MOI 10.