The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-06-30

among ub.
RELIEF FOR THE SOUTHERN SOLDERs-We
have already received at our Office contribu-
tons from different parties, to the amount of
some fifty dollars, for the relief of the rebel
soldiers who are endeavoring to return to their
Southern homes on being paroled. As it is
very difficult for US to disburse this money and
such sums as may in future be subscribed
in a satisfactory manner, upon the application
of men who may or may not be proper reel
pients Of it, we have placed the fund at the dis
posal Of the United States Medical Director; Sur
geon Hoff, at the Battery Barracks, who is the
most likely person to know where it can be
best employed, as the rebel prisoners now in
the city are under his control. We have al
ready dispensed few dol1as to soldiers Of
whose claims to relief we were satisfied. One
had obtained pass to Baltimore, but wanted
under clothes and socks. We referred him to
Mr.. Kershaw, who made the first contribution
of ten. dollars, and that gentleman replied that
the money was entirely at our disposal, to be
used at our discretion. Another poor fellow,
who WIS an unmistakable grayback, with tat
tered uniform and old knapsack, received at
our hands few dollars. It would be prefer
able, however, il these funds were distributed
by the Medical Director ct Harts Island, where
the largest number of rebel prisoners area
SrARvING PRISONERS or WAR--The abolition
and cDpperhead press Of this city have been
filing their columns with the defense pnt for
ward'by the committee Of the late Confederate
Congress, of their treatment Of Union prisoners
of war. This pretended justification ,od the ill
| treatment and starvation of prisoners in the
prisons at Richmond, Andersonville and Sails
bury, is, to say the least, very weakinvention.
There were too many living witnesses and
walking skeletons to refate these statements
without word from any other source. We
take II for granted that the report now pub,
lished, Is that which was made by the commit
tee Of the rebel Senske, of which Henry S
Foote, once Of Mississippi, but now Of parts
unknown, was q member. That gentleman
after coming through into the Union lines
stated to his own son,in-law, that during the in
vestigations of the subject, they obtained posi-
1 tive facts and data proving beyond any shadow
Of doubt, that the system os inhurnan treatment
and starvation of our prisoners, was decides
upon in Cabinet meeting at Richmond, for tn
express purpose Of breaking down the constitu
tons Of the men and making them useless a
soldiers when exchanged. This fact, he assert
ed, he endcavored to report TO the Senate, br
was prevented by the other members. The Re-
mort now circulated is no doubt 'he Hh sbus.
ing statement presented : the balance Of t
committee. The pub, gan judge q I2 mp0r
ance and weight in vie "a th miss ot ns
heretofore published.
OUR MINERAL WEALTH. ave r.,irsh to-da
/ very interesting address, lowered In this Gil
few evenings since, by Captain Fisk, the we
known Western explorer, in relation to Il
mineral and other resources of our Wester
Territories Captain Fisk has made tbrt
| visits to the Western mineral regions, und'
the auspices Of the United States government
+ and devoted particular attention to the go
{ placers and gulches of Montana. Captain
: with characteristic energy, proposes to orga
D ize fourth expedition, which will compri
A from fifteen hundred to two thousand person
D for the purpose of renewing his exploratio
: and selecting proper sites for founding sett
n ments that may in a few years rise to the q
4 nifty and importance Of populous cities. liz
4 IL legitimate field for the exercise OF the
a employed talent, industry and activity OF
A roturned veterans. BY helping to develop
- rosources of our Western mineral regions u