Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-02-02

l
appears to be book Of good credit ant
authenticity. merely want IL settled
whether tho gentleman from Georgia
was or was not the author Of that
resolution.
Mr.. Hill say 10 tho gentleman
frankly that really do not remember
Mr.. Blaine-The gentleman does not
say he was not the author,
Mr. Hill do not Twill say this
! think i was not the author. Posi-
bly, reported the resolution. II refers
TO pretended" not real soldiers.
: Mr.. Blaine--I thought that in as
much rs the gentleman's line of argu-
ment was 10 show the character Of the
Confederate policy, this might aid him
a little in calling up the facts pertinent
thereto. Laughter and applause.l
Mr.. HiIl-With all due Difference TO
the gentleman, reply he did not think
any such thing. He thought he would
n divert me from the purpose Of my argu-
ment and break its force by
| Mr.. Blaine-Oh no.
Mr.. Hill--lIe thought he would get
up discussion about certain measures
presented in the Confederate Congress
having no relation {. the subject now
under discussion, but which grew ont
OF the peculiar relation of the Southern
States to a population then in servitude
"a population which the Confederate
Government feared might be melted to
insurTection--and measures were doubt.
less proposed which the Confederate
Government might have thought it
proper TO take to protect helpless wo-
men and children in the South from
insurrection. But | shall not allow
myself TO be diverted by the gentleman
TO 90 either into the history Of slavery
or Of domestic insurrection, or, as a
friendne me suggests, "John Browns
raid | know this, that if | or any
other gentleman on the committee was
the author of that resolution, which I
think moro than probable, our purpose
was not to do injustice TO any man,
woman and child, North or South, but
to adopt what we deemed stringent
measures within the laws Of war to
protect our wives and children from
servile insnrrection and slaughter erwhile
our brave sons were in the front. That
is all, sir.
But sir, have read letter from
the Confederate Commissioner Of Ex.
change, written in 1864, proposing
that each side send surgeons with the
prisoners; that they nurse and treat
the prisoners; that the Federal authori-
ties should send as many as they pleas.
ed that those surgeons be commits
stoned also as commissaries to furnish
supplies ofclothingan food, and every
thing else needed for the comfort Of
prisoners.
Now, sir, how did the Federal Gov
ernment treat that offer? 1t broke
the cartel of prisoners it refused to
entertain proposition, given when
Mr.. Stephens headed the commission,
to renew it; and then, sir, when the
proposed that their own
should accompany the prison
eS of the respective armies, the Fed
eral authorities did not answer the let.
Ter. No reply was ever received.
Then, again, in August, 1864, the
Confederatcs made two more PROPOSE
ions. will state that the cartel Of
exchange was broken by the Federal
for certain alleged reasons.
Well, in August, 1864, prisoners accu.
on both sides TO such an OK.
.ent, the Federal Government having
'efused every proposition from the
Confederate authorities to provide for
he comfort and treatment of these
prisoners, the Confederates next pro
,osed, in letter from Colonl Ould.
lated the 10th of August, 1864, waiv-
ng every objection the Federal Gov
had made, to agree to any
md all terms to renew the exchange
# prisoners, man for man and officer
or officer, as the Federal Government
hould prescribe. Yet, sir, the latter
elected that proposition. 1t took
econd letter TO bring an answer to
bat proposition.
Then, again, in that same month of
Iugust, 1864, the Confederate authori-
los did this Finding that the FEEDER
| Government would not exchange
risoners at all, that it would not let
irgeons 60 into the Confederacy;
nding that it would not let medicines
Q sent into the Confederacy; mean
lille the ravages of war continuing
nd depicting the scant supplies of the
outh, which was already unable to
ed adequately its own defenders, and
luch less able to properly feed and
othe the thousands of prisoners IN
onfederate prisons, what did the Con-
derates propose They proposed TO
md the Federal sick and wounded
risoners without equivent. Now, sir,
want the House and the country to
,derstand this that in August, 1864,
e Confederate Government officially
opposed to the Federal authorities
at If they would send steamships or
in any form TO Savan-
III, they should have their sick and
ounded prisoners without equivalent.
bat proposition, communicated to the
sderal authorities in August, 1864,
as not answered until December, 1864.
December 1864, the Federal Gov
nment sent ships TO Savannah. Now.
g records will show that the chiei
ffering at Andersonville was between
igust and December. The Conicd-
ate authorities sought TO avert il by
king the Federal Government to
me and take its prisoners without
uivalent without return, and it re
sed to do that until four or five
onths had elapsed
That is not the only appeal which
Is made to the Federal Government.
low call the attention of the House
another appeal. 1t was from the
deral prisoners themselves. They
ow as well as the Southern people
the mission of Mr.. Stephens. They
ew the offer of January "a, for sur.
Dns, for medicine and clothing. for
nforts and food, and for provisions
every sort. They knew that the
Moderate authorities had offered to
these be sent TO them by their own
vernment. They knew that had
IN rejected, They knew of the offer
August 10, 1864. They knew ofthe
Ter offer, to return sick and wounded
ihout an equivalent. They knew
these offers had been rejected.
creiore they held a meeting and
'sed the following resolutions and
all the attention Of the gentlemen
the other side TO these resolutions.
SIX If they will not believe the sur.
ms Of their hospitals if they will