New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-14
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES:

ment But there ore some things WIN" my "o'N
cav ifthey could and which your EAcehenc! ousn' "
hear.
There ia subterranean cell IN Liopy Prison 50 'ou'
and damp that have seen an oincer come out u H.
.no- oo,v sVe weeks confinement, when You might
,,uck double handful of mold from his beard. know
,orsorav eight Union officers who kept in that
"A, dovs They ate their scanty ration all at once
N. moment it was issued and compelled to fast
for the rest of the "a hours when they could catch
rats which they eagerly deyoured Some of them came
ont with broken constitutions which wiz never be re-
najred Starving and freezing words "easiy said y
but these gentlemen learned their actual terrible sig
nifcance
They were confined as hostages -Four of them were
held for four Kentucky bushwhackers whom one OF our
military courts had tried convicted and sentenced 10
that death which, under well-defned laws OF war,
they clearly deserved. Scores OF precedehts SNOW
that had theybeen promptly executed the Rebels wona
never have dared in retaliation ohur one hair OF pis
oner's head. But the Executive cemeney was inter-
posed; the sentence of the conycts was commuted to
imnrisonment and your kindness to the Rebels proved
barshness 10 our own officers. The is far from
being solitary one else should not have rected it.
The curtain has lately fallen worse exhibition.
Roger A. Pryor walked about unrestrained, and was
feasted in Washington; he has since been walking
about in Richmond know through bitter experience
that every intelligent Union prisoner in the South when
he heard this felt it cut him like knife. IT made his
checks Jingle and his blood boil He regarded it as
personal indgnity. ard wondered whether he was In
deed forsakon by God and man. He. in foul yermn
infested ioahsome prison pcrhapsseeing his comrades
starve freeze or murdered by the guards with the d
rect conniyauce OF the fRebel authorities Pryor in
elegant drawing rooms lionzed AID toasted by men
high in your confidence
This very night too news is flashed over the wires
that safe-conducts given many notorious traitors
eliminating that they include moro so notorious was
deemed prudent to withhold their names from the pub
lc to visit Richmond and there confer with other lead
ing conspirators the best Of restoring peace
10 the State OF Virginia.
Mr. President, do yon know who these Pryors, Leteh
ers, Hunters. Goggins, Marshals Mayos Walkers and
rylers are Do you know that they arc the men who
helped bring on and protract the war who favored
your own assassination In Baltimore who precpitated
Rebellion in Virginia if defiance of the popular win
Under your authority politicians and editors thus pa
rade then names who advocated numbering our sol
ders after capture who commended Forests massacre
at Fort Pillow who publicly advised starving and
freezing prisoners who characterized Qnantrels
wholesale slaughter in Lawrence Kansas, strictly
legitimate and justifable." To them it is due that
Virginia to-day is rideed with loyal graves
Our men who wait YEARLY in Rebel prisons thought,
God help them that sy had gone out to restore peace
TO the State OF Virginia" Pryor sd in Washington.
Letcher invited TO Richmond but safe conduct
for them, They would not decry that leneney which
droppe;h like the gentle rain from heaven. They would
not denOunce your sofness Of heart But they must
member that is only the wicked whose tender merces
ere cruel
Mole-eyed politicians may desire to propitiate leading
Rebels-lookng to them again in their old
positions of honor and trust. Never wiz that
be. Unless we welcome them back with indecent
haste their own people will take care of them They
viii be utterly extpgnshed the leading political and
social class Even in Missouri, in the reaction which
followed tie Kansas invasions, the Stringfellows,
Atcbisors and divers went down deep that
punnc; could ever reach them. They had done com.
parativcy little. They had led Missouri into acts
o. folly and guilt; bat not deuged her with blood or
overwhelmed her in ruin There is political resur
rection for the Beniamins. MGsops and Davises If we
wiz "opy let them alone An outraged and deluded
people will dispose of them and their whole class.
These glad and grateful hours should be darkened by
revenge, by cruelty, by no bitterness unworthy
of great and magnanimous people. Sober, chHs-
tered humble. should thank Him who hath
led Us wonderfully under the cloud and
through, the crimson sea- But many feed that
while there should be general severity few
leading traitors ought to be tried convicted, and
executed to yindieate outraged Law and for an
eternal varling that Treason is Crime IT is IDLE 70
ask slica traitors should be selected. Select from all
who car be secured those who the best or the
nearest representative men.
Perhaps this would be unwise. Perhaps they shoud
Be left to Tine ard 70 God FIT some PERSONS IN
Washington Gem to suppose thst iis pcbelEon was
harmless freak Of efrltic pjrion 10 IRE to be vel
coined back now their little ccceat icles are ended
n their view Is correct what cD eternal stigma rests
anon yourself and these other bodcIed leborcrs who
have borne the burden and teot Of de dsy; who have
apent their lives in trying to 'he terrible In
eubus which weighed down Z bcan 81 The nation ;
If 1t Ia correct may God forgive yonr EScccucy; for
She inpocent blood upon yoGr haid aigL the nuitu
4inoHs seas ineaTnsdine T. . ...
Welcome them back Feast item In Washington
and prot Ct them In Riehuondf Ills Insult TO the
eemory Of inartyrcd dead cracl aud onirageons
wrong to oil who have given their bravest and best
I" for our dear coupiry's sake" .ar
Mr. President If have used strong words II is with
co personal disTespeet with failure recognize
your earnest einge .heorted dcse to act wisely and
susty despite the diffcaies ich environ your path
But our brethren obo ianquih and die In captivity
have at least some right to be heard.
The country grateful to rov. for at last breaking
away in part from tie maign ifirnce Of Mr. Stanton
1ho il responsible before God ara nan for at least
1900 needless graves, adjacent to Rebel prisons.
Though they might have been relieved months earlier
Ii usands Of sufferers arc icStlCd to bone and free
So1 Rrf many still wait for delivcrance II thew