The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-08-08
Davis and the Union Prisoners.

OH JllC Cdoc Vi JcuclsOl Lawns ohO"S
that that individual was fully cognizant
of the maltreatment- ofthe Gsnion pris-
oners held by the Rebel authorities /;
that he made no effort to prevent 1T
and that, in fact, he approved OF 1t. In
his message of November, 1861, Davis
pretended that the people of the South
were exposed to great outrages by the
movements of the Federal armies, and
said that the soldiers whom he accused
of such excuses "must expect to De
treated as outlaws and enemies OF man
kind" He said that such men, II cap
tured. would forfeit their claims to be
considered prisoners Of war, and must
expect to be dealt with as offenders
against all laws, human and divine. =
Tn to that time there had been no
particular cause to complain OF the treat
ment of Union prisoners. Although IN
all cases it had been savage and severe,
it was mild and liberal to what follow
ed. The proclamation ofthe OPINION OF
the Rebel President was an authority to
the hard-hearted wretches who support.
ed his cause to indulge in the mallg-
nant cruelties which suited their dispo-
sitions. and they made the most OF the
apparent leave extended to them to
the promptings of their own barbarous
natures.
In 1862 similar sentiments were avoW-
ed bv the miscreant who was the Presl-
dent of the Gonfederacy. But so shock
inc had been the scenes transacted In
Richmond, under the very noses OF Da-
Wis. his Cabinet, and his Congress, thai
the attention of the latter was invited
to the circumstances, and committee
made report that the prisoners in the
hospital were in wretched condition.
They said that one ward of a hospital
was so foul and offensive that they were
driven out oft instantly, and they
thought that the honor OF the country
required that the state of affairs should
be brought before Congress and made
public. Now, the honor ofthe country
was at that time in the hands ofthe Exc
cutiye officer, the President. He was
officially notified of the scandalous con-
dition of affairs. He could have reform
ed it Immediately, but he took no steps
to abate the miseries which were Justl-
fled under his authority.
Inls63 the Rebel Congress again was
called upon to investigate the eondi-
ton of things at Castle Thunder A
committee reported that prisoners were
killed by the keepers, and cruel and un-
usual punishments were administered,
and some of the prisoners were exposed
to the weather.
All this Davis could have reformed,
but he did not do it. The minority OF
this committee particularly censured the
brute General Winder, and Captain
Alexander. for g want of humanity and
Judgment and averred that the cir
cumstances demanded their prompt re-
moval from the positions which they
had abused. But Davis paid no after
ton to these suggestions, and Winder
was retained in the same position for
twenty months longer. Davis was
personally addressed by one t. 0. Stew
ems. and asked to remove Winder, upon
account of his inhumanity, but Winder
was lust the man for Davis purposes,
and he was not removed. Various re-
ports seem to have been made to Win
der in regard to the miserable condition
of the prisoners at Catawba, 5. e., An
Jacksonville, and other places and some
ofthe Rebel surgeons, to their honor be
it said, made strong representations,
and pointed out the means by which
amelioration could be easily effected. =
These suggestions were received by
Winder and filed. He did not wish to
amellorate the condition of the suffer
ers. He was, for the purposes OF Da-
Wis. "the right man in the right place.
The attention of Davis himself was
sneciallv asked by lady, in October,
1864 to the horrible treatment OF the
Federal prisoners at Florence, Alabama
She said =
eff such things are allowed to con
tinue they will most surely draw down
some awful Judgment upon our country
II is a most horrible national sin that
cannot 90 unpunished. live cannot
o;ve them food and shelter, tor God:
sake. send them back to Yankee land
but don't starve the miserable creatures
to death"
This was accompanied by para
oranh from the Sumpter Watchman
Giving most heartrenderlng accoun
Of the manner in which the Uuion pris
oners were starved and maltreated.-
What did this &C Christian gentleman,
Jefferson DAVIS, do? Was he shocked
at the terrible narrative =? Not he! FL
turned over the letter without instruct
ion to the Secretary of War,who refer
red If to the Acknowledgement, who re
ferred it to General Winder, who re
tnrned it to the Adjutant-G General, VIII
sent it to the Secretary OF War, VIII
sent it to General Gardiner, who refer
red it to Col. Harrison, who referred
IN Tieutenant-C Colonel Iverson, the con
mander of the prison. During all thi
disgusting redtape ceremonial hundred
Of prisoners had died. When Iverso
cot the letter he made reply that tn
iady made too much fuss, and that sine
he had command of the prison tn
deaths had decreased thirty-fve or foi
ty per day.
From all the evidence it appears plan
that the horrid condition ofthe South
ern persons was known all over tn
South that notice it was officiail..
Given to Jefferson Davis, but that h
made no efforts to prevent the suffer
ings of the prisoners. From these facts ,G
his culpability appears plainly. Th
committee of Congress- conclusion upo
this subject are that the Rebel author
4aaa+ioallu knowingly an