New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-06
EXAMINATION OF THE EXCHANGE
QUESTION.
Citizcn.Prisoners in Rcbcldom - Their
Unjust Treatment by the Government.

FOR Inc n. L. lriOuho.
That loyal citizens of the North and South
have been or are held TO any extent by the Rebels,
seems to be fact of which the public and even officials
in both sections are ob,ious and TO which they are
all indifferent Nothing singular in this; for the mum
Der Of Northern and Southern citizens combined so far
as l have had any means Of ascertaining by twenty
months Of close confinement In Secessia does not al
present exceed few hundreds Many ofthem have died,
and few who had means have by employing attorneys.
or brbing officials succeeded In obtaining tsir release
For the remainder. however there is hope in spite
of what has been promised in their behalf by parties In
authority from time 10 time and Of semi official state
ment made within fow days that an arrangement had
been completed for their delyerancc.
Here let Inc take OCCASION TO say that the relatives
and friends Of prisoners In the South. who place any
confidence in the dispatches and letters sent from
Washington though they come from men in power
and position. be largely blessed with faith
than reason. Again. and again. and again has the
story been told circulated and believed that general
exchange Of our prisoners would be made. From
May 30 1861 when tho cartel interrupted, TO the
present this statement has been put forth usually just
before a draft when II was necessary 10 stiie the
natural clamors Of the people And TO serve this very
needful purpose, some hundreds. and once or twice
some thousands usually the sick and wounded. have
been exchanged by special Arrangement. But nothing
like general exchange has been begun. and am free
TO say, in my Judgment. was ever contemplated at
Washington.
Since my escape have made diligcnt inquiry In mil
ary and civil circles all the way from Knoxville To
Washington. where in conjunction with ny confrere.
Mr. Richardson. spent nearly week endeavorng to
learn who responsible for the fact that our thirty
or Forty thousand prisoners are neither exchanged nor
relieved from the barbariucs pracced upon them by the
sasmy by q prompt and Vigorous retAiissie", sud all
the information have been able to gather on the sub
lect puts the dreadful responsibility upon Mr.. Edwin
VI. Stanton Secretary Of War.
OF course tie Rebels and they alone must bear the
odium Justly excited throughout the world Of treating
their csp,ves with unprecedented and needless cruelty
That 1t Law in the power Of authorities to exchange
them, whether with without some sacrifice OF
principle is no excuse for the enemy be cannot avoid
the issue: lie stands convicted of the charge by
overw helming evidence, and ages aud nations VII
condemn him with unanimous voice.
The question is when the Rebels agreed to exchange
man for man, leaving large Of captves in ouI
hands and the determination Of mooed points for fu
iure consideration who prevented the exchange and
whyf Ifihere were good and sufficient reasons that
Of the friends OF Mr.. Stanton claim-why were not
those reasons given' Why was the country kept in
ignorance when it had the right TO know
For the refusal to exchange and for the darkness that
enshrouds the entire question OF the exchange we
10 the best Of my Information indebted to the Secretary
OF War; 1t H. have underwood, his settled conviction
not TO exchange at ALL that far better afford to
do without our prisoners than the Southerners can
without theirs and that our best policy is to retain al
our captiyes and LET the foe retain all OF his until the
end Of the war.
Regarded outside Of the light OF humanity. think
this view correct and WISE but when the Secretary
gives has been alleged Of his that the
time of many OF soldiers held ia the South has
PRED while those in our hands enlisted for the
there must be few who will be shocked at the gross
Injustice done brave defenders and at the entire
cold boodedness Of the capable Of arriving at such
a conclusion.
In great struggles in all national Affairs individuals
are ever made 10 yield TO principles and war; too is
much and 80 necessarily barbarsm, that, II may
sentimental TO talk OF freezing and suffering
heroes when hundreds and thousands OF them swept
every month into the tomb by the necessary accidents
Of the mighty contest.
Not without certain specousness Ia this view; but
the enlightened opinion Of war is that there be no un
necessary suffering and that what cannot be avoided be
mtgatcd as far us possible.
When the exchange Of man for man was proposed
there was no valid given why it should not have
been accepted and at least 200 lives thus have been
saved to the Republic.
What we want. what the country demands. and the
relatives and friends Of the Union prisoners will have.
is that the questions at issue between the Government
and The Rebels be fairly stated that If those near and
dear to them TO be held the Of their deten
ton be given fully and candidly
Let us have no more doube.dcaling. chicanery and
false promising. Let the Secretary War tell US what
he intends and what be will do and tho reasons, so far
az prudent. for his course Of conduct We have had
far moro than enough Of trickery and shutting and
charlatanism. We want facts figures aud open a,ow.
al of motives, whatever they may be.
To return to the citizens who have been held since
the interruption Of the cartel to the absurd phrase
of the Richmond authorities general hostages for
the good conduct Of the Government" They have no
prospect of release In the event Of general ex.
change for they not mentioned In the cartel and
their number is 30 small and they so unmportan that
II il not probable public official attention viii DO d.
rected to them.
Not the Rebel authorities themselves not even Conn.,
missioner Robert Ould-whose falsity is equaled only
by bis perdy his miserable pettifogging and his con-
temptibe hypocrisy-pretend 10 have any charge