The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-10-14

rste authorities from The charge OF de-
signing to treat the Federal prisoners
with cruelty. As Mr.. Benjamin was
member Of the cabinet from the date OF
the organization of the Provisional gov
eminent at Montgomery, in 1861, to the
final overthrow of the revolution In
1865, he is supposed to know whereof he
speaks. Mr. Benjamin says that the hrst
efforts at cartel were made while he
was temporarily in the war office towards
the close of the Provisional government.
Gems. Cobb and Wool arranged the car
tel, but Northern successes lnterVened
before ratification by the Government
and the War Depar IN ent at Washington
refused to approve the terms OF exchange
haying on hand an excess OF prisoners.
fhe next cartel was made while Mr..
Randolph was the Southern Secretary OF
war. Gen. Dix represented the United
States in this agreement. Under 1t many
thousands of prisoners on both sides were
returned and much human misery allie
Waited There was no hitch until zen.
Hitchcock stepped in as United States
Commissioner OF Exchange. 1t was about
this time that Vicksburg and Port Hud-
son fell and Lee was checked at Gettys-
burg. The North held then large pre-
ponderance in the number of prisoners,
and the authorities at Washington i'm
mediately issued general orders refusing
to receive from Gen. Lee the prisoners
held by him until reduced to possession
| in Virginia, thus suhjecting their own
| men, says Mr.. Benjamin, to the terrible
suneriDgs glanced at by Col. Freemantle,
| in order to embarrass Gen. Lees move
| ments. They further refused to restore
the excess of prisoners held, after having
received for rearly or quite year the
benefit of the special provision OF the
| cartel, when it operated in their favor );
and during the entire war they never
once consented to a delivery OF any
prisoners in excess of the number
for which the Confederates were pre-
pared to return an immediate equivalent.
He acknowledges too that this refusal
to exchange was one of the most fatal
blows dealt the South during the war,
and contributed to its overthrow more
than any other single measure. In re
lation to the charge Of inhumanlty made
against Mr. Davis, Mr.. Benjamin re
marks: Neither in private conversation
nor in Cabinet council have ever heard
him utter one unworthy thought, one
ungenerous sentiment. On repeated oc
casions, when the conduct of Butler
rurchin, Mcneil, and others were the
subject OF anxious consideration, and
when it was urged upon Jefferson Da
Wis., not only by friends in private letters
but by members of his Cabinet in council
that it was his duty to the people and t.
the army TO endeavor to repress such out
RACES by retaliation, he was immoveaol'
in his resistance to such counsels, insist
ing that it was repugnant to every sentl
ment ofjusice and humanity" AT tn
, time Col. D4hlgren's men were captured
Mr. BENJAMIN saws there was stron!
desire on the part of the Cabinet to naHi
D them, and discussion ensued which be
e cam so heated as almost to create un
e friendly feelings. by reason of the unshs
0 ken frmness of Mr.. Davis, in maintainin
t that although these men merited retu
D sal to grant them quarter in the heat
j. battle, they had been received TO mere
e by their captors, as prisoners of war, an
| hn
r should be dishonored if harm shoul
4 overtake them after their surrender, tn
y acceptance of which constituted. in b
g Judgment, pledge that they should re
, ceive the treatment of prisoners OF wa
To jefferson Davis alone, and to his col
s.ancy of purpose, did these men ov
T. their safety, in spite of hostile publ
$ opinion, and in opposition to two-thlrc
/ of the Cabinet"
. We deem it but just to the State prison'
9 at Fortress Monroe to give the statemen
u Of Mr.. Benz amin, who, perhaps know
e Mr.. Davis better than any other livir
a. man. We do not believe Mr. Davis wan
3 ed to persacute prisoners Or kill them
y inches. He was always anxious to 6
r. them exchanged; knew that he cou
Ct not provide for those that were hghtil
IT under him, and therefore could do b
III little for prisoner. Every sensible m'
III North or South is aware of the fact tn
Gu the resources of the South during I
20 war were insufficient for the demands
es the Southern soldiers alone, and eve
q sensible man North knows that all I
IS Federal prisoners held in the South COZ
ca have been exchanged at any time, h
+ tie authorities at Washington been WI
ing. The South could not take care
he the prisoners properly-there was gr'
ed suffering among them we know, and
aid case of Wirz is bad one any way y
for take it, but against the malignant, fe
he city of the radicals who done all in th
ort power to prevent an exchange, we m
On protest. After the radicals get the bis
,ey of Wirz, perhaps the public mind '
,b- be allowed a little rest when the Tn
,n- will rise before the eyes of all. We wo
i gladly throw a shroud over the dead I
de- let by-gones be by gones-and ali WI
Il L T.,