Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-07-21

TREATMENT OF CAPTURED C1NFED-
ERATEs IN NORTHERN PRISON
PENS, sTYEs \ KENNELS.
We take the following from the report
Of the proceedings of the House Of Rep.
resents.ives Of 8 late date:
ON motion Of Mr.. Pile, a select COM
mittee on the treatment Of union prls-
oners Of war was authorized 20 sit at
such places and 20 take testimony by
such member Of the committee a. it may
seem proper.
Mr.. Munger moved to suspend the rules
10 allow him to offer a resolution in
structing 8 select committee TO inquire
about the treatment Of rebel prisoners OF
war confined in camps and prisons Of the
United States government during the
rrr also, q 10 faeE connected With the
.r.l for the exchange Of prisoners, ana
rr~ ucu speedy exchange had not been
ed.
d Fd asked what loyal mar in the
demanded such an Investigation.
Larded the proposition as q Tefec-
tin Oh the loyal people OF the country.
NJ. Butler said he and 81 connected
with the exchange If prisoners in 1864
eourted the fullest Investigation.
Mr.. Ingersoll advocated the adoption
Of the resolution, -contendiug that %
refuse an investigation would be greater
reflection on honest union generals who
had charge Of the exchange Of prisoners
than 70 allow It,
After further debate the question was
taken on & motion 10 susF d ~. l1les,
and the motion was Tejects.
The resolution therefore Wza not re-
ceived.
NIr. Washburne. OF Wisconsin, asked
leave 10 offer q preamble and resolution,
exercising the belief that the prisoners
OF the United States were in nO Instance
treated otherwise than with kindness
and humanity and that this house Will
entertain no resolution which implies
the contrary, unless accompanied by q
responsible charge that they were treated
otherwise.
Mr.. Eldridge objected.
Mr.. Washburne moved 70 suspend the
rules, which was done, and the resolu-
ton agreed TO, by ayes los, noes Is.
There are hundreds il not thousands Of
credible men in the South, who can
prove that " the prisoners Of the United
States were treated, ia some prisons,
with the most infamous and savage cru
city. They were plundered Of their
wearing apparel, were shamefully eX-
posed 20 the intense winter cold without
blankets, were fed somewhat as farmers
feed their hogs, on food not Mt for human
creatures to eat we're murdered want0niy
by the soldiery that guarded them, were
insulted, outraged, cruelty punished,
beaten, and forced 70 submit to every
possible degradation and humiliation,
We have heard the r~ecitsls Of al this
from the lips Of those who had been pris-
oners, and had seen and some Of them
fslt these cruelties. Responsible
charges" enough can be furnished
but no one will be much inclined,
we fancy. to make them before q
Committee OF the House Of Representa-
tiyes. Nobody in the South would look
for Justice and fairness in any investiga-
ton Of that subject, by such 8 Commit
zee. or for any truth in its report. We
know too well how they deal with evil
dsnea. But if the House imagines that
Il can prevent the word knowing all, by
and by, it is egregiously mistaken. 1t
NAV well shrink from the inquiry, and
shirk it BY the plea that no loyal man
in the North demands It, and that to
propose it is "a reflection on the loyal
people Of the country" It is all very
fine to say, as General JOHN A LOGAN
did. that everybody knows there was no
m-treatment Of prisoners in the North
and to pretend indignation at the mere
limiting Of such a charge but if it a
not well known that the truth Of the
charges could be ebundantly proven, the
Rump Of the House would have courted
an investigation. That is what ineo-
oeHee does.
We protest against the charge Of de-
r.-iag to oou.inue OF revive the bitter
feelings e~ngendered by the bzrbarism
ash war. We would have been
" n the war ended the whole
: and bloody record could have
~ ,-hhlgrated and 81 remembrance Of
fhe shameful atrocities cancelled, To no
one were the crueltiss Of psrlizan war
fare and such msssseTes a that Of the
unarmed citizens Of Lawrence, more re-
voting han 70 Us ard we well knew
that there was much on beth sides to for
get and forgive. But the press and pull
nit and LEGISLATURES Of TIE North haa The
'ar Of the world, and have VI g. ~