The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-02-24
10 the Euryiyors OF Rebel Prison Pens.

Jefferson Davis, in q letter dated New
Orleans, Louisiana, January 90, 1876, and
addressed to the Honorable James Lyons,
Pcicrsburgh, Virginia, makes defiant
denial of the arraignment made by the
Honorable james G. Blaine, of Maine,
and by General james \. Garfield, OF
Ohio, of his direct and personal rcspor>i-
biity for the cruel treatment of the Union
soldiers who were prisoners OF war to
the Confederacy of which Mr.. Davis WAS
President He goes further, and, like
Mr.. Benjamin H. Hill, Representative in
the Fortyfourth Congress, from Georgia,
who was also a member of the Confcder-
ate States Senate, from the same State,
the rebel cX-Pi.s dent denies altogether
that unnecessary suffering cnsued among,
or un iiustitiablc harslncss or cruelty was
practiced against, those of our soldiers
who were SO unfortunate as to be prison
ers within the pens at Andersonvi!le,
Florence, Salisbury, Belle Isle, and
Tyler, or in the tobacco warehouses of
Libby and Castle Thunder. The denial
il bold and sweeping one. Its audacity
rises to sublimity 1t not only denies but
accuses. The Union is assaulted as hay
ing, through its officials and policy, treat
ed the Confederate prisoners in its hands
as bad or worse than our men were used
at Andcrsonvllc, Belle Isle, and else
where 1t is also charged with causing
the suilerings of tie latter by the policy
IL pursued of refusing 10 exchange.
Now, as to one part of Mr.. Jefferson
Davis denial and counter accusation,
there is direct and unassailable method
of obtaining evidence. The survivors OF
the rebel prison pens still remain among
us. Those of .tndcrscnvillc formed an
Association which is still in existence.
We call upon every man who was cap
tured and confined by the ConfederateS
during TIE civil war for slavery and dis
union to at once give to the public brief
and direct account Of his personal eXpc.
nenccs. Let each man write TO the near
.cSt Republican paper simple statement
of his name, regiment, rank, date Of cap
cure, length of confinement, when OK
changed, the treatment he himself re-
ceived as to food, shelter, medical care,
&C, as well rs to the action of those in
charge Avoid all rhetoric, dcnouucc no
one, give as far us practicable the names
of Confederate officers, &c, ircommand;
also, any special instance as to others
known to the survivors, the details Of
which are readily substantiable.
With regard to the treatment of rebel
prisoners in the northern cntrcpotS, there
is as direct method of obtaining reliable
testimony. Officers who were in COM
rund of such prisons are still living, us
are also soldiers who were stationed
thcrcat. Their evidence will be Of va.uc.
In every place where such prisons exist
ed local sanitary. and Christian associa.
tons existed, the members of which
busted themselves in caring for the sick
and wounded and in visiting the prisons
and camps. Reputable citizens at e.
mira. Rock Island, Chicago, Columbus,
and elsewhere know the facts. Let them
give their testimony The honor of ones
country should be sacred. We who
fought for liberty and union surely have
as vital IN interest in that honor as the
men who compelled us to fight by their
mad attempt to pcrpetuate slavery and
destroy the Onion. Let us have the facts.
Bear in mind that the object of such
communications is not partisan but his
torical. Two civilizations or systems of
government have been and still are on
trial This question of Andcrsonvillc and
its attendant horrors belong to the trial
The case has been rcopcncd, and the YER
dict once solcmnly rendered is now chal-
lcnCed. 4 cloud of witnesses are still
living. let them give the facts. Com
municatons can also be sent TO the office
of The RepwJtic, Washington d. c., if
writer's do not desire TO send 10 their
country or other journals. Let every
man respond, ANA at once. The good
name of the Union is sought to be assail
ed, and feculcnt treason seeks hlsiori-
cal vindication by these audacioIs false
hoods-Repabtic.