The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-01-28


oers and soldiers in rebel prisons is cruel,
savage and heart-rending beyond all pre-
cedent: that it is shocking to morals; that
it is an Offeuse against human nature it
self; that it adds new guilt of great crime
to rebellion, and constitutes an example
from which history will turn with sorrow
and Disgust.
Resolved. That any attempt Of imitation
Of rebel barbarities in the treatment Of
prisoners would be plainly impracticable
on account OF its Inconsistency with the
sentimedts of humanity: that 1t would be
Injurious at home, for it would barbarize
the whole community; that it would DO ut
terly useless; nor it could not Affect the
cruel authors Of the revolving conduct
v hich We seek to overcome: that II would
be immoral, because it proceeded from
vengeance alone; that it could have no
other result than to degrade the national
character and the national name, ana
bring down upon our country the imputa-
ton of history, and being thus 1mpractl-
cable, useless, immoral and degrading, 1t
mus, be rejected as measure of retalia-
ton, precisely as the barbarism Of roasting
and eating prisoners Is always rejected BY
civilized powers.
ResolceJ, That tie United States, filled
with grief and deepest sympathy for cher
ished citizens Who as officers and soldiers,
have become the victims Of heaven -defying
outrages, hereby declare their solemn de-
termination to put an end TO this great in
EQUITY by putting an end to the rebellion,
or which il is the natura. fruit; that to So
cure this humane and righteous cOlsum-
nation they pledge anew the best energies
and all the resources Of the whole people,
and they call on all to bear witness that IN
this necessary warfare vita barbarlsm
thsy renounce al vengeance and eAery
evil example, and plant Themselves firmly
on TIE sacred landmarks OF Christian civ
ili.ation under the protection Of that God
who IS present with every person. and en-
ab.es heroic souls to suffer for their cOun-
try.
M. Sumner spoke in advocacy of the
above reso.u tons, quoting from General
leck, Vattel and other authorities, against
inhuman retaliation, which, he said, never
reached the guilty parties.
Mr.. WADE hoped the amendment Of
Mr.. Sumner would not he adopted. Re-
taliation had been practiced by all civil
lied nations in all ages.
Mr.. COWAN believed retaliation was
iUstitiable at times, but lie did not approve
of the proposition to retaliate in kind upon
the rebels. He did not think it right TO
starve rebels because they starved our
men. RI, as had beer said, the law OF ma
tons authorized retaliation, there was no
necessity for passing another law. This
u
slider. 1t was the duty Of tho President to
see that our officers and soldiers were not
inhumaDly treated, and to take proper
steps to secure Justice for them.
Mr.. HOWARD spoke in defense Of the
proposition before the Senate. The object
of the resolution was rot to initiate the bar
barities Of the rebels, it was simply to Sc
cure humane treatment for our prisoners
IN rebel hands. The report of.he commit
tee of the United States Sanitary Commits.
sion gave a fearful picture OF the atroc-
tiles committed by the rebels upon our
prisoners At Belle Isle and Andersonyill
The effect OF that treatment deferred thou
sands OF young men from entering the ar
my. The barbarities committed uroU our
.Men at Acjersoavi.le were not to be de-
-c-bel in language. Out Of 500 WHO were
/ there six months ago, rot more than one
/ halt were alive nov. This treatment was
resorted TO ~ taa rebels TO strike .exTo. in
70 the northern people auj to diminish our
! force 10 the .:a.d. The resolution before
on soldiers Of the rebel army but only on
/ tne officers, AID tia fact seemed TO have
/ been overlooked BY tie Senator from Penn
| syiva1ia.
Mr.. WILSON offered a. an amendment
20 Mr.. Summers proposition, 70 strike out
| all after the enactlng clause, and insert, af-
ter a preamble declaring that our prisoners
have been inhumaniy treated, aud respect
tally instructing the President TO appoint
com issiOners to confer with the rebel auA
thorities, with view to devise plan sot
the relief Or better treatment OF 0cr pris'
! oners in their hands
II Mr.. WILSON explained that the above
was the best plan to secure the blcct Of the
Senate, which was to secure the Eamant
treatment OF our prisoners.
Mr.. GRIMES interrupted Mr.. WILSON
asking If the Secretary OF War bad no
stated, in a communication to the House
/, that there would he 40 difficulty il the IA
ture about exchanging prisoners? Il SO
What was the necessity for passing such :
resolution as this.
Mr.. WILSON replied that he SO under
, stood il, but Il would De well to deyis
some plan for the good treatment Of pris
: oners of war which should hereafter fal
J into the hands OF the rebels.
Mr.. SUMNER inquired If the rebels hat
; not on q former occasion refused to receiv
such commissioners as we're suggested b.
J Mr.. Wilson's resolution.
In reply, several Senators stated that til
e com missioners referred to by Mr.. Sumne
i were only authorized to visit our prison
: ers. aud lad 40 authority to relieve then
in any way.
: Mr.. WILSON said he had good asst,
rance that if suca 4 commission was ap
z pointed it could accomplish the result de
sired. He was sure Of IL.
Mr.. HENDRICKS said be was il fAvo
: Of no realisation that was opposed to tn
9 principles Of Christianity. He stated upo
: the authority OF Capt. Flynn, release
t prisoner FROM Indiana, that the prisoner
at Andersonvilie were treated as well a
the rebel guards.
. Mr.. HOWARD. Does the Sen a.or asset
2 upon thi. floor that our prisoners in South
!. ern hands are treated as vel. As t,ou:hcr
! prisoners in our hands,
/ NJ IN, u ri f,v@c