The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-22
The Action OF the Virginia Legista-
ture as to the Exchange of Prfsoners

The Action OF the Virginia Legisia-
ture as to the Exchange of Prisoners
OF War.
To the Editors of the Dispatch:
The time seems opport1ne, when pubic
attention Is being directed to the course pur'
sued by the late belligerent Governments
towards their prisoners OF war, to make
known fact in the legislative history OF VIZ.
einia bearing on that subject, which snouid
think would prove not wholly void OF inte-
rest to any of her citizens. 1t is that OF the
intervention of the Virginia Legislature to
aid, az far as they could. to remove the grow.
ing difficulties In the way of exchanges, ana
relieve our captured soldiers from the con.
stantly.aggravated sufferiDgs of their prison
| life.
1t Is one not Fl, think, to be let fall IN
| oblivion, even as regards the historical cna'
racter of the State, and therefore possessing
some interest for all her sons, but which, at
least. will not reach the shattered survivors,
or those for whose relief it was, however
vainlv, intended, without exciting grateful
emotion that will be shared by the friends
who followed their hard fortunes with sym.
pathetic pain and auXieties. When these diff
ficulties and distractions o. the way of cx-
changes in 1864 began to excite alarm and
apprehension lest they should terminate
to the shame of humanity they at last
did-in total stoppage; and when
it was feared that some points affecting
very few Of our prisoners, but on which our
people were peculiarly sensitive, and very
pronounced aversion, stimulated by some OF
our eXtrcmer journals, to the holding of any
negotiations whatever with the obnoxious,
recently appointed Federal commissioner of
exchange, might Influence Mr.. Davis to play
the game OF the Federal Government, and
leave on US the shame and responsibility for
ever Of one Of The greatest national crimes
ever perpetraled in civilized war, the House
of Delegates of Virginia, TO afford him moral
support against such Influences, passed unani-
mously in secret session resolution lin ub-
stance) deprecaling the permitting of any
questions of mere sentiment or etiquette to
defeat the great overTulng claims OF human
lty 10 efectuate the mutual exchange and re-
lease Of prisoners of war.
On the same day, with like unanimity (as
was understood), it passed the Senate and
to give it all possible weight, my recollection
is that the Speakers Of the two houses (Lieu.
tenant-Governor J. L. Marye and the Hon.
Hugh w. Shelley, both now living to correct
me if in error, were instructed to wait on
Lhe President with it, and 10 enforce on him
personally, as far as was proper, the deep in
terest felt by the Legislature in the object
1t sought to promote. These secret jour-
mails, have understood, are lost; but there
yet survives many actors in the transaction
referred to, and in particular the Qben) clerks
OF the two bodies, whose recoections could
probably more accurately th.n any Others
supply the particular form of the resolution
referred to.
The substantial facts, am sure, were as l
have represented them but the particular
shape Of the proposition do not remember,
and have no present means Of asccrtaining.
If should he able hereafter to recover the
text of it, with dates or any additional par
ticulars of interest, will communicate them
to The Virginia Historical Society for pre-
scryation. W.R.
I'VE deem it est to authenticate the fore.
going by saying that it was written by Wynd.
ham Robertson, E 81