The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-07-26
Foote'S Letter

NJ Henry :. Foote. sometime L. :. Sen
ator from Mississippi more recently Reoel
senator from Tennessee. anl writing now
from Montreal publishes "a letter concern
ns the rebel report Of the treatment Of
Union prisoners, which We printed ana COM
mentei on last week The material por-
uon oi Nr. Foot's letter Is rs follows:
Touching the Congressional report refer
red o. l have this 10 SAY: A month or two
anterior o. TIE date oi said REPORT | learned.
ifuL -u' clumcni officer 0i irespeciablltN.
that The prisoners Of war then confined IN
and about Richmond We're suffering severe
A Ior WANT Oi provisions. Tie told me fur
iAer That lt was manifest 10 him iAat u SiS-
t""i" scheme r0S 90 JOot for SlLicctu4g
Wf>r '.lf1rf'tn0fe DleN ~ Siurr1fl0u- thar
ne tODiDiiSs0rV-leDer NJ. NOrtty-lrr IA
most Nlchcl and learlless wretch hal al
urrN>t4 COMMUNICATION 10 NJ. S,ad0a.
r. >tcrtfarn OF bar. pr0Diisiby 10 trltL-
totd meat altogether from nUlal-U ,ir son
ei'S men ia custody and 10 give them moth
lhS bdt bread and vegetables. and that Mr.
seldom had cuuyrSett the QOCuMt4f contain
ny Hts tontDtefDhUtOu diiyWtlitre.1. /
learned further that hy calliu- .n Mai. Oull
the commissioner f1r exchange OF prisoners
l "ouli be able t0 obtain further Mf0rma-
uou Oh uu> subject. / went 10 Major Ould
Immediately and obtained the desired inlOr-
NATION Being utterly unwilling 10 couute-
nance such harOarlty Tor "A moment, regar-
ding, indeed the honor OF the whole south
il concerned IN the affair | proceeded with
out delay TO the hali of the House OF Rep
reseniailNes, called the attention OF that
strangely constituted body 10 the subject.
ami insisted on an immediate committee OF
investigation. l grleye To say that Mis lc0s
0t V,'N rcfuSsd aud | was most acrlmonl-
ously censureJ 10y several members for IN
Producing the subject In the House II an
But | resolved 10 have an investigation.
and % put stop 10 such Nandaic atrOci-
ties u / could, or al least 10 rescue my own
charactcrirom meuacediu iuiamy by Withdraw
lng from all further connection with the
Confederate cause az once. | introduced a
second resolution next morning. and finally
succeeded in getting the committee raised
lon viii find, IN addition To the report made
ie i6oGy8PVaf6us Kinds rep6rtie1d iS5ti1d Viii it,
and among other documentary proofs. the
gric'W comm HHicUttoH 0f ne COHhiiSSalet
Gencr0. above referred TO- ami the endorse
Dtelu Of NJ. Se,idOH thereon. in which he
substantially says that m MS judgement.
the time had arrived for rttlituftoH uDOn
tie prisoners 0f lrdr or the enemy
This letter proves
That the starving of Union prisoners at
Andersonyille was known at Richmond.
That the Commissary- General Of the
Confederacy proposed IT,
That the rebel Secretary Of War approved
and endorsed il.
That Robert Ould, Rebel Commissioner OF
Exchange. knew it.
That the Rebel House Of Representative
knew OF il, and endeavored To pievent an
Investigation of ii.
Mr.. FOote refers To certain DOcumenta-
~ evidence which is not forthcoming. But
The Richmond Wig in reproducing th'
report, says the evidence accompanying il
was burned. Its existence was one gooC
reason, among many others. for firing the
Rebel capital after It's evacuation had beer
resolved on " L. Trijulc.