The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-05-08
LANCASTER G. H., S. c., MAY g. 1867.

gresham Covode, who lost two sons in
Southern prisons, vii! do well if lie in
quires who those skeletons" were which
the Honorable Secretary Of War did no,
want to exchange for healthy men. 1fhe
does, be will hereafter be perhaps less
bitter against the people Of the South.
But has the North treated her South.
etu prisoners sd well that she should liz
up her hands, and cry "anatHema" over
the South. Mr.. Stanton reports to Com
gress, July 10Th. 1866, tha, Of Southern
prisoners there died in the North 26.436.
and Of Northern prisoners 10 the South
% 576. What a fearful record Over
20, ,oo8'of prisoners diving iRshe midst Of
plenty Mr.. Stanton gives the total
number Of prisoners in The North at 220,
600 and in the South n, l26 $40. Sup
pose this TO be correct, though this state.
ment comes certainly from no impartial
source, there died Of prisoners in the South,
without medicines and provisions. the fifth
part, aud in the North. with medicines
and provisions, the eighth part. Bu, in
tbs number OF Southern prisoners in the
North, are probably included the paroed
prisoners Of Lees, Johnson's and Smiths
armies, who never entered a Northern
prison IL that be SO, the mortality of
Southern prisoners in the North will be
even greater than that Of tue Federal
prisoners in the South
We used justly to proclaim in former
time that ours was "the land Of the free
and the home Of the brave" But, when
one half Of the country is shrouded 10 a
de'po,lsm. which now only indsa parallel
in Russian'Po'and: and when our gen
erals and soldiers quietly permit that their
former adversaries in arms shall be treated
worse than the He!ots OF old, brave sol
d'ers though they may be, who, when the
forces and resources o. both sections were
more equal, have not seldom seen the
backs Of our best generals, not TO speak o!
such as Butler and consorts, then we nav
we'll question whether the "star.spangled
banner still waves over the land Of the
free or tie home Of the brave" A noble
aud braye soldier never permits bis an
tagon'st to he illuminated or trampled
upon after an honorable surrender. Be
sides. notwithstanding the decision Of the
highest legal tribunal in the land, tha,
military commissions are unconstitutiona!:
the earnest and able pro,estatious oi
President johnson, and the results OF
military commissions. yet such milit aty
commission, are again established by re
cent legislation Of Congrsss all over toe
suffering and starving South.
History is just, and, as Mr.. Lincolr
used to say we canno, escape histoty.-
Puritanical hypocrisy, self adulation, and
self glorifcation will OF save those enemie.
efIiberty from their just punishment.
Not even II Christian burial of the re
mains Of Captain Wirx has been allowed
by Secretary Stanton. ThAy still lie, sid.
by side, With thoss Of another and ae
knowledged victim of Military Com mis-
sions, the unfortunate Mrs. Surra,t, in ,h,
yard Of the j.i! in this city.
go.
IT anybody should desire to reply I,
this, | politely beg that it may be dor
before the Is, Of May next, as then
shall leave the country to return in tn
fall. Alter that day letters will roach m
in care oftbs American Legation, or NJ,
Benedetto Bolzsni, Leipzig, street Nc
SO, Berlin, Prussia.
LOUIS sCHADE,
Attorney at Law.
Warrington, April 4 1867,