Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-03-09

Hoe Prisoacwof Var are Discharged - An
Inmate orhe White House Sells Pres /
6IcntiH Fucors- FIN DoUVs Paid us
H,nd Tie Irice-Letter Of Ne. Emerson
Lihe,7,{ge Of TeaneSsec- Ho,C the Fraud
cas Exposed. /
From thc Washington Constitutional Union of
Friday.
We cal, the attention of our readers to a
from the Hon. Emerson
Ethcridgc of Tennessee, calling attention to
, new mode fobtaining the release on parole
,f prisoners of war from confinement The |
facts disclosed are certainly of an astounding
character, and well worthy of earnest con
sideration. There are thousands of anxious
parties in the country to whom the subject
is one of the most absorbing interest, and
they cannot but feel the most intense indlg-
nation upon learning that the levylng OF
black mail is carried on so openly beneath
the caves of the White House. The matter
should be at once examined into and this
foul reproach instantly removed. The Pres
ident owes it to himself and to the country
that this imposition upon his benevolent
credulty should be promptly check ed and
severely punished, else 'cOpperheads VIII
be liable to think there is collision some
where.
HOW PRISONERS OF WAR MAY BE DIS
CHARGED.
During the present week young gentle
man from Gibson county, tennessee, came
to this city, for the purpose, II possible, OF
procuring the discharge OF five prisoners OF
war at military prisons in the Northwest. -
lie brought letters to the Hon. l.. Andcr-
son of Kentucky, invoking his assistance. -
This morning Mr.. Anderson started him to
the President with statement in the fol
lowing words and figures
PRISONERS OF WAR.
Benz Bobbitt, Camp Morton.
s. ID. Anderson, Camp Morton.
A. V. Afford, Camp Morton.
w. l.. Eastwood, Camp Douglas
JAS. F. Thomas, Camp Douglas.
am not personally acquainted with the
above named persons but they are recon-
mended by ten true men with whom ! am
personally acquainted as proper persons to
be permitted to take the oath and return
home From the recommendations and IN
formation received, ] ask the President to
permit them to be released on taking the
oath of December, lSG3.
III. ANDERSON.
Ia the forenoon Of to-day, the young ger
tlcman referred to appeared at the Presi.
dents with this paper and ashed to be per
mitted to present it. He was informed by
c. O'Leary, who is in charge of the door of
| the Presidents office, that he could not be
permitted to enter Subsequently, upon
being informed of the object of the call, he
was taken aside and told by o Leary that
if he would pay him fifty dollars he CO'-
Ieary) would take charge of the papers and
procure the Presidents 5 order for the release
of these prisoners that otherwise he would
have to remain for many days without any
probability of having an interview with the
President. He saw two other persons on "a
similar errand pay money to q l.eary, and
saw the desired papers, a few minutes after
ward, given by o Lcary to such persons. -
The young gentleman had but little money
at the hotel; nothing like that amount with
him. He left the papers, however, with
o Leary, and reported the facts above re-
cited to me
| went with him Immediately to the Pres.
idcnt's house, intcndingto play simple and
rustic part. With some difficulty | sue.
ceeded in disarming him Of all suspicion
and arranged with him to pay the fifty dol
lars so soon as the Presidents order for the
discharge of these prisoners should be hand
ed to the gentleman above named. D Leary
promised to meet him at his room at the
National Hotel taking the number, at pre-
csely 3 clock to-day, when he was tC
bring the order of the President for the re-
lease of the prisoners, and receive the
amount stipulated | remained out Of sig ht
until the order for the discharge OF the prls-
oncrs was delivered and the money paid
Just as O. Ieary was bowing himselt out, |
I l,,, f,,,ol hin, 4,,,L into tho
room. denounced him as a swindlcr, and
dollars, that being the amount which he
had agreed to take finally, because of the
assurance that nothing would be advanced
for two of the prisoners, and the inability
of the gentleman to pay more for the others
The order ofthc President for the release
of the prisoners is written on the papeI
which was signed by Mr.. Anderson, and i
in the following words;
"Iet these men take the oath of Deccmbc
8, 1868, and be discharged,
g February 3, 1865. y. LINCOLN
just as O'Leary was taking his leave h
gave to his supposed victim his address, an
urged him to inform the relativesand friend
) os prisoners of war that they could hay
, them released from confinement by applyin
. lO nun ana paying Ten uoIllTS III tdCl VAST
He gave his address, which have in hi
own handwriting: &c. o Lcary, Executiv
Mansion, Washington, ID. G.
) make this matter public from motive
of humanity During the last year hav
, made many applications for the discharg
! ofprisoners of war upon the terms mention
ed in the above order of the President, bu
, in no instance have been successful.
have often written to the friends and kindre
: of prisoners that there was no end to thei
captivity but peace. rejoice, however, t
, be able at last to inform those who feel a
interest in the matter, that cheap and OK
, peditious remedy is within their power. =
Commissioners of Exchange may disagree
! Butler may higgle about his niggers, hu
, ten dollars enclosed to &c. OLeary, FIX
ecutive Mansion, Washington, D. C., wi
| restore any repentant rebel to the blessing
of freedom and the society of friends.
En- ETHERIDGE.
! WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. %, 1865.