The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-21
AQuaint Democratic Electioneering
Document.
More Aid for Seymorr and Blair from
their Southern Friends.
Ould, the Ex- VentiIates
the Exchange Business.

of the Ma iondt Inteuigencer- Gpn le emen;-l
have recently seen so macy misrep presentations
of the action OF the late COME ierate authorizes
In relation 10 prisoners that feel 1t due to the
truth OF history, and peculiarly incumbent on
me as their agent OF exchange, to brIug 10 the
attention of the country the facts Set forth IN
this paper:-
The cartel of exchange bears date July o.
1862. Its CHIEF purpose was TO seclre the de-
livery OF all prisoners OF war.
To that end, the fourth article provided that
all prisoners of war should be discharged on
parole in ten days after tn ir capture. From
the date of the cartel until the summer OF 1868
the Confederate authorities hai tue excess OF
prisoners. DurDg that interval deliveries were
made as fast as the Federal Go ,ernment fur
nished transportation. IDdred, upon more than
one CCcasUn | urged the Fe authorities to
send increased means of transportation. IL mas
never even been ALLEGED that the Confederate
authorities failed or neglected To make promo.
deliveries OF prisoners Who were not nell under
charges, when they had the excess. On the
other hand, duIlng the sane time the cartel was
openly and no toriously violated by the Federal
authorities. Officers and men were kept IN con-
hDemeEt, sometimes in irons, or doomed to
cells, without charge or trial. Many officers
were kept in confinement even a ter toe )tIces
published by the Fe0eral au IhorlLieS had de-
clared them exchanged.
In the summer OF 1863 the Federal authori-
ties insisted upon Limiting exchanges to sach as
were held in confinement en- eILher side. This
/ resisted, as being IN violtton of the cartel.
Such q construction not only kept in Conine
ment the excess Oh either slde but ignored all
the paroles which were held by The Contedera e
Government. These we're very many, being the
paroles OF officers and meu Who bad been re-
leased on capture. The Federal Government at
shat time held few or no paroles. They nad all,
or nearly all, been SUI ueTed, the Confederate
authorities giving prisOters ao equIva ents tor
them. Thus it will BE- seen, that as long as the
Confederate Government had the excess or prl-
soners, matters went on smoothly euouIh; but
as soon as the posture OF ataIrs IL that respect
was changed, the cutel coull no longer be OBJ
served. SO, as long the Federal Government
had the paroles OF Confederate officers and men,
they were respected, and maize the basis OF an
exchange: but when equivalents were OBJ
tanned Tor them, and no more were in hand, the
paroles which were held by the Confederate
authorities could not be recognized 10 conse.
quence of the posti,n thus assumed by the
Federal Government, the requirement of the
cartel that all prisoners should be delivered
within ten days was practically nuilded. The
deliveries which were after SaIos made were the
results of sDeclal agreements.
The Confederate authorizes adhered to their
position until the 18th OF August, 1864, when,
moved by the sutfer1Les OF the men in the
prisons or each belligerent, they determined to
abate their just demands. Accordingly, ou the
last-Lamed day, addressed the tolio wing com-
municatlOn to Brigadier General John II. Mul.
ford (then Major), Assistant Agent of Ex-
Change:-
RICHMOND, August 10, 1864. Major John E.
Mutord, Assistant Agent OF EXchauge.-Slr:-
You have several times proposed to ne to
exchange the prisoners respectively held by the
two belieeIeuts- officer lor officer, aud man for
man. The same offer has also been made by
other officials having cnarge of matters con-
nected with the exchange OF prisoners.
This PROPOSAL has here lotore been declined by
the Confederate authorlt eB, they insisting uOOn
the terms OF the cartel, which required the de-
livery OF the excess on either slde on parole.
In view, however, OF the very large number OF
prisoners now held by each party and the suf-
tering consequent upon their continued conine;;
agree TO deliver to you, the prisoners
held in captivity by the Confederate
authorities, provided you agree to, de-
LIVER. liver an ma equal number OF confe5erse edo
livered from time 20 time, they wilt be declared
exchanged. This proposal is made with the
understanding that The officers and men on DO h
sides who have been longest in captivity will be
first delivered where it IS practicable.
shall be happy TO hear from you as speedily
as possible, whether this arrangement can bt
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
Ro. OULD, Agent OF Exchange.
The delivery of this letter was accompanied
With statement of the mortality which WA:
hrryiug 80 many Federal prisoners at Ander
snville to the grave.
On the 22d day OF AUGUST, 1864, not having
lizard anything in response, | addressed com
lunication to Major General Il. A. HltchcocS
United States Commissioners OF Exchange, cover
1g a copy of the foregoing letter ~ Genera
bulford, and requstlng an acceptance OF M!
Propositions.
No answer was ever received to either OF thes,
leters. General Mutord, on the 3lst OF August
le4, informed me in writing that he had NJ
communication on the subject from the UnIteC
Sites authorities, and tnaJ he wS. noE at tha
tile authorized TO make an answer.
mis- offer, which would have instantly re
stted to freedom thousands OF suffering CapLlves
wtch would have released every F, deral soldle
In onfnement in Confederate prisons was no
eyN DOticed. Was that because the Fedora
ofcials did not deem IL worthy OF a reply; o
beluse they feared TO make one? As tn
Feeral authorities at that time had lare
eX'ss of prisoners, the effect OF the propose
win / had made, if carried out, would haV
be, TO release all Union prisoners, while
lar. number Of the Coniederates would haV
renlned in prison, awaiting the chances c
theapture of their equivalents.
IJanuary, 1864, and indeed. some time cal
Herit became very manifest, that In conS
quece of the complication in relation to e2
chages, tue large bulk of prisoners on bot
sidtwOuld remain In captivity Tor many Ion
andeary months, II not for the duration of to
war Prompted by an earnest desire to all
Yiatthe hardshipS OF confinement on both side
/ adesSed the following communication
Genal K. A. Hitchcock, United States Con
missner of Exchange, and on or about the da
of ihate, delivered the same to the FEEDER
autrty:-
CFEDERATB STATES OF AMERICA, WAR d
PARENT, RICHMOND, Va, January "a, 1864
Maj.General +. A. Hitchcock, Agent of L
chae-Sir:-In view OF the present difficult
attelng the exchange and release OF prsone
/ ppose that all such on each side shall
atteed by proper number oil their own su
geo. who, under rules 10 be estabsbe
shabe permitted to take charge of their heal
and)mfort.
/ 10 propose that these surgeons shall act s
comssaries, with DO wer to receive and dsti
butuch contributions of money, food, cot
1ngld medicines as NAV be forwarded for n