New-York daily tribune., 1865-09-27
Letter from Judah r. Benjamin.
THE TREATMENT OF FEDERAL PRISONERS.
n N, IAifor Of TIE London TiRe..

To the Editor Of The London Ti1se,.
SIR find on arrival in England that public
attention directed sfesh TO the accusation made by
The Federal authorities that prisoners Of war cruel
ly treated by the Confederatesnot merely in exception
al eases by subordinate officials but Systematically and
In conformity with policy deliberately adopted by
President Davis Gen. Lee. and Mr.. SeddoD. As q
member Of the Cabinet Of President Davis, from the
date Of bis first inauguration under the Provisional Con
stitution 10 the final overthrow Of the Confederate
Government by force Of arms, as personal hend
whose relations with Jefferson DAVIS have been OF the
most intimate and confidential nature feel impera
lively TO be nv duty request your insertion Of this
letter in vlndcntou Of honorable men, who less fortu
nate t~n myself are now held IN close confinement by
treir enemies. md are unable 10 utter an indignant
word in self defense.
very material fact in relation 10 this charge OF
cruelty was omitted In the recent letter from your late
Richmond Correspondent who was probably not
aware Of II, but which / can attest from personal
knowledge. During the difficulties which prevented
the exchange Of prisoners OF war, cases arose "hcb
appealed 80 strongly TO humanity that ii was impos-
si6e for the most obduIate 10 remain nseDsibe. The
Federal authorities. therefore. empowered Colonel
NuIford tbeir Com of Exchange 10 consent
20 mutual delivery Of such sick and disabled prison
Incapable Of performing military serrce 10
Il is clsss the exchange Of prisoners vigorously re
strctod. Colonel Ould, the Confederate Commissioner
OF E1hcankc (who has recently been honorabiy ao
quilted by the Federals themselves of the same false
charge Of cruelty 70 prisoners made TO the President
10 the Secretary Of War, and TO myself repeated com
plants that prisoners on both sides frequently de-
lvered in condition PROSTATE as 10 render death
certain from exposure during the transit between
james RIVER ana washington OF AuDhpOHs.
were made in vain 10 check ths evil In spite OF sur
ge9ns ceTtincaies tbt they we're too III for removal
without imminent danger, sick mep on both sides,
wearled by long confinement fearful that the exchange
wouli again be interrupted, longing Tor the sight OF
home and friends would either insist their ability TO
endure the Journey, or protesting that recovery
soPeifss WoaS gieoSsy imPlSe to be allowed TO see
bers Of Confederates shipped FROM the North under
these circumstances, delivered to at City Point
and the like results attended the delivery from our
w ken hv sta tbnviff NJ tta
United States TO exclude from the exchange all cases Of
slight Illness in accordance with their avowed policy
OF preventing armies from being recruited by re.
turned prisoners this being only resource for filing
our thinned ranks while they able to procure un.
limited recruits from this side Of the Atlantic From
the class lust mentioned the most emaciaed specimens
were chosen by our enemies, and exhibited us con.
elusive evidence that we exercised habual cruelty
toward prisoners Of war. The most wretohed and
desperate cases even made the originals for
piotograps which cannot e," and the revolving pic
lures Of human jnfrmity thus procured were affixed
embellishments TO sensational reports manipulated by
Congressional Committees and SANITARY Commissions.
IL not my purpose to examine In detail the question
whether or on the Fedcras rests the responsi.
bility Of interrupng the exchange OF prisoners and
thus producing OF human misery and anguish OF
which few examples be found In history. Ihe pub
lished correspondence Of the ComnissioDcrs OF tx
change and certain revelations made by Federal OH
cias in pnbc speeches and In newspaper articles Will
be sufficient TO satisfy this point the lew VINO take
the pains ascertain the truth; but in response TO the
allegations imputed In the latest news from America to
and the consequent sueTngs OF the prisoners the iaut
rested entirely with the Confeder0tes would recall
the following facts:
The first effort 10 establish cartel Of exchange was
made by the Confederaies when was temporarily in
charge Of the War Office at Richmond, toward the
close Of the Provisional Government. Gen. Howell
Cobb our part, and Gen. Wool on the part OF the
United States agreed on cartel which submitted
to their respective Governments for approval. In my
instructions TO Gen Cobb he specially directed 70
propose that after exhaustng exchanges the party hav
ing surplus prisoners in possession should allow them
TO 20 home parole till the other belgcrents should
succeed in capturing an equivalent number for ex
change. When this proposal was made by We held a
larger number of prisoners than were In the hands OF
the enemy II was accepted by Gen. Wool as one OF
tho terms OF the cartel but unfortunately,
cesses Of onr enemies intervencd before ratification by
their Government. They obtained. in their turn.
excess Of prisoners and AZ once refused 10 Taty the
cartel In the ensuing year. while Cen Randolph was
Secretary Of War the C0nfcderaes were second time
in possession Of an Of prisoners and succeeded
in negotiating cartel under which they liberated many
thousands Of prisoners parole without any present
equivalent thus recurring in advance the liberation OF
ike number Of their own soldiers that might after
ward fall into the enemy's hands. ihis cartel re-
maned for many months IN operation. No cheek nor
difficulty occurred ~ Iong @ We made majority Of