The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-02-15
zansing State Republican.
Retaliation.

=
retaliate for the csUeities perpelrated Dy
the rebels upon Union prisoners Ia Their
hands. By treating their officers who were
In our hands 10 the same manner. Nj
Howard made some extended remarks IL
suppor, Of bis resolution, FOR portion oil
which we have made room III this paper.
The latter read by him 70 the Senate, vas
written BY Charles :. Hunt, Of this city.
who died q lev days after his Liberation
from Andersonville. The letter was ident1-
1sd a. once in Washington, by Hon. J. ".
Longyear, and the original has been iof-
warded by Mr. Howard 10 tic friends Of I1e
deceased il this city.
Three days after the Introduction Of TIE
resolution into the Senate, In q further DC
bate on the subject, Mr.. Howard IL reply
70 the objection that retaliatory measures
II used al ell, should be ordered and ell
forced by authority Of the Generals IN the
field, and not by Tue civil power Of the IA
ton. quoted an act Of Congress Of 1893, by
which the President was empowered and
reopired 70 cause tie most vigorous retail
alton 10 be executed or citizens Of the
French Republic, in case American citizens
found on vessels 10 certain cases, should be
inprlsoned or otherwise maitreated By the
French government. Also, in 1913, q SIM
liar act was passed, the House voting Tor Il
56to II. applicable exclusively 70 acts Of
the British military authorities. who pro-
posed TO take all British born subjects
found in our army or navy TO England, 10
he hanged as traitors. The act authorized
the President. In all cases OF the violation
or the usages Of war, 80 cause ample and
full retaliation 10 be made, according 10 the
laws and usages Of war among civilized ne
tons"
We agree with Mr. Howard ia the posi-
lions that retaliation is 4 usage Of modern
civilized nations, justifable in cases which
cannot be reached by other modes Of re-
dress; and It IS a usage which has twice
been sanctioned by authority Of our Ma
tional government. AS 10 the right and
proprsety OF this mode OF redress we have
no doubt; but in making q practical apph
cation Of il 10 the case OF our own prison
ers, other considerations are % be taken
into the account.
The resolution OF Mr.. Howard, adopted
in both branches OF Congress by large ma.
joriiies, and backed up by the moral sup
port Of the whole tied North, would, in.
deed, be declaration Of great power and
could not be without producing large re-
suits. But such is not the way IN which il
Is 10 prevail, If it prevails at all. The de
bates in the Senate on its introduction
showed that Republicans there were fll
from being united in its support, while eve
~ Democrat, however he might profess th,
principle IN the abstract. would oppose TIL.
particular application Of il in practice. Il
the House il would meet with strong opyO
sitiOn; and when discussion about s1arv
ing rebel officers should come up il
all the newspapers, everybody know
that all the Democratic papers would pro
test in favor OF their former brethren, anC
would become eloquent in invoking in rheil
favor the feelings OF humanity, respect FOL
civilization, and conformity to the benign
spirit OF Christianity Instead Of a unitel
North on this subject, we should have 4
North divided very nearly In the middle
and the sympathy and clamor raised by thu
Democrats In behalf Of the suffering rebels
would neutralize and nullify all the goo,
which might otherwise be expected Iron
attempting 10 execute it. JEFF. Davis, will
seven or eight millions Of friends in th,
North protesting daily in his behalf agains
the measure, would have no great fear
that It would be carried 10 any grea
length, or that II would be Of long continu
ance.
II the measure OF retaliation. however
right and Unsuitable In ITSELF will not re
ceive N practice the unanimous support o
the Republicans while 1t Is sure to receive
the unanimous opposition Of the Demo
Gratis. thereby rendering it morally inopera
tive, what is TO be dones
The object aimed at IS the Immediate LID
Grafton OF our prisoners who are dying BY
inches in the Southern prisons. We have
In our hands an immense number of rebe
prisoners, far more than enough to liberste
BY exchange eyery prisoner held by the
rebels. Any mode by which this exchange
can Oe effected, will be efectual in relieving
the suherings OF our prisoners in their
hands. We have no doubt that the expec-
tatlOn OF being able 10 accomplish this has
been the principal reason why the Admin
istration has not before this begun some
mode Of retaliation. We are not to sup
pose Il has looked upon the sufIerinss Of
our soldiers with Indifference. With re-
gard 70 Mr.. Lincoln, whatever NAV be bis
faults OF deficiencies. his sympathy for the
suffering everywhere is carried, in the esti-
nation Of some Of his friends, 10 the ex-
IRENE OF weakness. Constant efforts for
an exchange have been made in different
ways, and through different persons. The
rebels have backed down from their origi-
nal position by recognizing negro soldiers
captured In battle as prisoners Of war: and
recently 10000 white prisoners have been
exchanged. The subject, Of late has
passed from the hands OF Gen. Butler 70
those Of Gen. Grant and the newspapers
report, with how much truth We know not
that a, the recent conference Of the Presi-
dent with the rebel commissioners. the sub
jet was talked over and arranged. But
The indications seem TO be that progress
will soon be made in this direction. 1t has
been represented in Richmond. for some
time that General Lee has been in favor Of
q general exchange, while the pride and
obstinscy Of Davis have prevented his as.
senting TO il Recently Lee has been an.
pointed by the rebel Congress commander
in-chef and his influence in this direction
II not unrestricted will be At least enlarg-
ed. Besides, the military interests Of the
Confederacy demand an immediateand zen
eral exchange. Snch an exchange would
return to Us perhaps $4,000 o, our men.
most OF whom would be worthless ss SOL
dlers, and the remainder could only be
made lmmnlrofptv