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

The conclrsioni Inevitable 7. was n
the power Of the rebel authorities q lead
sufficiently ana 10 cl0.he Whenever ncceSs-
arl tler prisoners ~ war. InoN were ner
ieci'y able 10 Include them in t.c.r military
establishment: hu- they chose 81 Cvcn Il
inem irom The position aiwavs ls>igfe 10
sHcl- ana in no respect 70 irol- t'pn lk0
men taken IA honorable warfare. I.o clm
mOnesi soldier was never comnene .r. '..r-
ger 10 Ell lie Disgusting ra'ions f--n Shed
AZ the Libby 20 United States officers -
Their most exposed erclmDment. hoNevar
temporary. never 0eheil the see Is Of sale
.egins wA.cl occurred daily and n.-a.y
( amo1g Tie United States soldier .l Tie Cl-
campment on Belle Isle"
" The excuse and explanation 0rc swpnt
away. There Is nothing now between hl
norhoga people ana the Gre1if4. fc-. s."
Which vas. taat ,hesc blrllr.ics wee
deliberately resor;cl 10 and rr.c. -ci ~
The rebel authorities who had tie ai fy -
10 act differently. and 70 treat oar prison
/ well-resOrte4 90 ior The .uAaman pu.p.se
+ ~ destroying tho lives ~ Our men rv .1e
f slow process Of starvation j. mi. thrv
had double design. The u.s- was oao
which Is perfectly obvious. 10 s,g.Nc .crr1r
lltl the northern population. ly ,ta,rool-
lies committed hy the rebel a1thCr.,iss ana
10y Tie slilerings and agony or prisoners
underwent IN the hands oi their re1e. cap
tors; and there IS uo telling tlc cA-cnt *
this evil. History WALL never ha A..e fDll-
swer this question. 90 what cx en. d ! fh.s
brutal treatment tcni 10 discoarire efrsr-
ments AZ the North. and re0uce no Union
army. S.r, lt has beyond all doubt or cltI.
DISTRACTED the recrulang oi our armies D
Very large extent. TIE story ,9li ,r .ll
who underwent these ag0uies ~ tle Son-h
was circulate from ne ghDorhONl t0 npI sh-
OOrhOod. from town 20 town. from cay o
city. Thousands. had almost sail hll.
dreds OF thousands Of young men were is-
terreifrm catering z The military service llr
the prosecution Of this war by the iea of
falling into the hands OF these barJlrans.
K has greatly obstrlctel Us in recruiting
The army. aud has al the same Time lcprl-
we'd rs of the services Of great number of
men who, II they hal been properly treated
and returned 10 US according 10 the laws %!
var would have been towers Of strength IN
F Tie prosecution u The war
Sir. ! have only time 90 al.uls 20 TIA.
part OF this report oi Tho committee which
relates 10 The cruelIes committed un0n our
prisoners az AndersOnvllle In GeJr.ia. L.
IS sickeMag % read the authentic accounts
that come t0 US both from officers ana j.
iiers who have been The victims of Che hl--
harities of AndersOnviile Only two or
+ three days ago ! received uy mail tie flll-
owing ie ter from a constituent 0f m.ne.
gallant young man from my own state,
who. al The commencement ~ The rebellion
volunteered % act the part of patriot and
soldier IN su0du.ng this insur.ec.0n Il
bears da-e more than Sax months a4l and
MAS brought 10 our Lines 1y a flag o, irl.e:
CAxP AyoEEs1N. Grlasia .1af.lc lsCl
WfV Ian 4 H ! |HH II g.
Eve t4o-san o-leIs 40 take tle il-.t ac.t. .u' s.
IS 70 have Us "a ..si 90 0k--44ac A ..a - ..-1
- ant two iii g o.
- rospecN lly, Cha u--L
l4J y howard, W1shing,ln, d
And. sir, since that young man wro,c nc
that letter. be has succumbeQ 20 ;he s4mo
inhuman treatment al the hands a. The reb.
els. and young Hunt now ills "a heros nj
a martyrs grave in the Stale OF Georgla.
Sir, the barbar.ties committed un0n or
men n AndersOnville are absolutely ilies-
cr.Oabie Human language is important 10
bring home 10 The heart anu The soul of !
nan the horrors OF those scenes. Artlsfs
have been compelled 10 resort 10 something
more expressive than human llnrlirs and
painting and engraving have been called
IN 10 ald In conveying 10 the mind the lal
idea OF the DrutaA-les practise bg tae r.1-
ei authOr.ties upon our s0lllurs Dlt Z
those tAlfty-ire thousand presume DO.
more than one hall II a. many. sri. sr--
ylye 10 tell the tale OF tloir SUFFERING. and
LIS testimony Is as clear as tAe ll..IaF
sun tia. these b4rnar.ues were la. l.--telg
practised upon our men f1r The double nlr-
pose u crpphng aud reluceing oar armed
forces and OF striking terror lnto tIe nor-
tAern population in order 10 prevenl enlist
ments. Iaere does not remain -lol4l l0s
a lOubt that tie rebel -0Fcmmelf ls-isa-
edly resorted 10 the slow pr0cr-s o. tu-.u-o
and death Dy starvation. AMI 20 freezing
ami starving united operating m.l1e ~
minute, hour Dy hour. day Jy dtt. wees oy
week. and month by month. Wt.u Tire d. "a
become living skeleton and ll L1t DID
f longer able 70 recognise his wife. h.s cl.-
dreu. o. his fdends; 10 longer o. any value
either ~ himself Or his county all tlis
tJr the plrp0se " weakenil. our m-ll--ry
arm aud 0eterrins our people i.om p-Jss-
cutting the war.
Sir, ask any man who feels any respect
for bis country. Does il nOt become us %
punish these Dal1-r.ues, alI u DlHis.
them i The only way that is .ef u-1 s.t ID
is the original and actual offenders having
made their escape or not being in our u0g-
er. 10 seize Upon their cOnnir men. Drsor-
ers ~ our hands, aad subject them lo tle
same seventies pr1cl-el against l-.
Know, -ll, lAai lue uelIl Ol gene GUS man
naturally revolts az tie praci se o. ref4.l4-
ton / am not stranger frrst a. re
ordinary feeling of humli ity; 1Ut nh.l to
voice Oi ms Owl cOlutrymeI cues - ms
from The Dungeons " Libby all fom -Le
put-ld pools 81 AllersOlvile and lm3orcs
me 70 lnterpOse whatever power ma. p0s-
sess % deter the rebels from the uac'iol
81 such crle.-les on them, / cal4.f. AID. %
heiD ne Col / VIII Ul. rhlr my c.r. %
her cries. think il % BE our l1'r our
du,y ~ q Christian nation. as Govern
meut claiming TIE respect of the world. 20
punish these Oaf1ar.tles aud y make Il
necessary for tie re3eis. " l1eT Intend
further - prosecute tlis var . sg5n.- =
tie code covering civilized nations.