New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-05

Tho Daily NsUs-whioh is constantly filled
with the most unequivocal advocacy OF the
Rebel cause and everything that fsvors it,
which is in every sense as thoroughly Rebel as
The Richmond Examiner or The CAarteston
Cosrier-ssys:
"sTARyrNG PRisONBRs or WAR
1--WE have oten received communications 10 regard 70
the treatment Of prisoners OF war confined In the several
prisons Of the North but We have generally decnned
publishing them because We were unwilling to believe
that the cructes they referred to could be practced 40
o civilized lard. aud we concluded that the accounts
90 given wero Misrepresentation or exaggeratons
But we oonsti aimed to publish today statemens
respecting tho condition Of Southern prisoners at ROCK
Island, Illinois revealing such inhumsnit. that we are
sure the public will be- startled we were by the perss
The details civ en- are painful n the extreme, aud we
give them publicity because the character VI the VIII
Is such that have not the slightest doubt thai hef
representations are strictly true in every pNticuiai
by the guags Of the letter will be perceived that
tho writer il Unionist IN sentiment size Is lady
csaSf pS no for
Withholding the publication Of facts that come to us
from such source and pe do 40 in the hops that the
condemnation OF every truo man aud woman In the
North will rebuke soch system OIL DarDaiily' anu IN
ducc those In authority to amend u.
We are compelled by the above to remark
that the columns of THs TRIBUNE always have
been, still are, and always will be, open to any
we'll authenticated statement OF crueltes or
priyations 10 which prisoners may be subjected
Just as free to Rebels as to Unlonists. we
know that our Government provides amply,
generously, for the subsistence of all prisoners
of war in our hands, and that no one OF them
can suffer for food unless his ratiOns ore stolen
by some scoundrcl who prostitutes the Nationai
uniform to the qualification Of bis loathsome
syaricc. II thero be such villain in the Ma
tiona service, we would much like To expose
him to the dismissal and the odium he has 20
Justly deserved. We invite any prisoners VINO
NAV be suffering for food To send us the facts
giving names aud specifications, and We will
soon make the loyal States too hot for their
oppressor They need fear nothing from his
vengeance SO long ~ they keep truth on their
side
Now let us briefly say why We do not
reprint and DO not believe, the letter where
on Tho Nems dcstSnts as above. 1t purports
to be written from Chicago by unlonist lazy
whose name is carefully concealed, Though her
statements impeach and expose 10 inismy one
or more Union officers who must be well known
where they ore stationed. Ifshe tells the ruth,
why should she fear the light! What night has
she 10 assail personal reputation yet eyade re-
sponsibiity1 We hold it apalpable self-evi-
dent truth that whoever speeds from behind
mask m arrow calculated TO injure or to wound
is certainly coward and presumpuvely VII
lain, whose statements are unworthy OF ere
dence.
This caluminator saysof the Rebel prisoners
confined on Rock Island, Illinois:
The allowance to each man has been one small loaf
OF bread, takes three TO make pound-end piece
OF meat, two inches square. per day. Tins was inc
rations Lately 1t has been reduced. such Is tIe
wrstched ravenous condition OF these poor starving
creatures that several dogs which have come 10 the b
r6tks With teams have fallen victims 10 their hunger
and ,hcy are trapping rats and mice for food actually
to save life
We will thank aug friend living near Rock
Island, TO forward US the facts which specifically
refute this vile SANDER.