Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-20
TIE SOUTHERN MEN WHO GET
OFFICE


The character of the Southern men who
get Office underline Grant administration
is aptly illustrated in the appointment OF
Mai. Elias Griswold to be special agent Of
the Postoffice Department. OF this faVorite
of Postmaster General Creswell the Savan-
nah (Ga.) Advertiser and Republican says:
"Mr. Griswold was the Provost Marshal
durfnp the war, under Gen. Winder, at
Richmond. We have some knowledge OF
this fellow Griswold before he went TO
Richmond. In the winter and spring of
1860. he was Provost Marshal, at THscs-
locsa, Ala, in charge Of federll and union
prisoners at that place. The notorious
Capt. Wirz was then aserge2nt under Girls
void. and carried out his orders, and we
know from actual experience, of this
treatment Of federal and union prisoners,
that if JVirz deserted hanging, Capt. Girls
aoold Is lould have been hang by has side.
His brutal orders, and still more brutal
treatment Of the sick, deserve some other
reward than federal appointment 10 office.
owe we're in prison at Tuscaloosa, as a
Union ran, while this Capt. GriswOld was
in command. He stated he left Maryland
to assist in the rebel o., and was appoint
ed captain in the Confederate army, and
assigned 10 the staff of Gen. Wmder, in
charge of prisoners. Il fell TO our LOT with
other union prisoners, to be under his
charge in TuscaloosS, aud we have some
experience Of tbs man.
zone hundred and sixty union prisoners
were confined in six small room, so small
that all but the sick we're obliged to sit upon
a. ~ IL eli
al medical treatment, and we have seen
the son of an aged father also prisoner
die on the bare floor, with pair of old
shoes for a pillow, the father offering TO
nav any price for a mattress or a blanket
to cover his dying son. The answer was,
it is good enough for damn traitors, you
ought TO die like dogsp ard this admins
tration rewards him with federal appoint
ment. a mean, cowardly cur, who took
delight in the sufierings of men who should
IT least have been treated with common
humanity.
GAS little as we think of the appointments
Of the Administration, OF fitness of the Sc
lections for Office, we cannot think that the
mast character of this man can be known
at Washington.
"Wirz lodS hung, GriS1cold is reaOarded
The tool is dead, aud the man who used
him for the worst species of cruelty, is nov
apneiated TO a lucrative Office under thu
Government. Is il 8 wonder that UnioI
men who stood squarely by the government
suffering imprisonment for that govern
ment, should feel disguised with Gen
Grants administration, when such men ar
placed In Office? I.
tr"We do not object 10 any honorable sol
der of the tConfederate army receiving
Federal Office, one who believed be wa
right, and fought for bis principles, but W
do object when men who sought such pos
tions as Griswold held during the war, al
made the recipients of government bounty
sGriswold, the mau who cruelty use
helpless prisoners who left his State WHO
had not seceded-who, if be had bis lu'
deserts, should have been hung instead
Wirz, is now special agent OF the Posto
fee department.
,..HWhat think you, prisoners OIL the nti
bgt,le of Manassas, who experienced d
tender care at Tuscaloosa What thin
you. Union men of Tennessee, OF the ma
who dUOtced your companions u ole G
the bare prison floor, without medical treal
msnt Of any kind, and said you ought
die like dogs? What think you OF suen
mans appointment to office, by govern
meDt that claims it should have your su!
partT" E.... 20