Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-03-02
WASHINGTON.
Why the Government Refused to
Exchange Prisoners.
The Centennial Bill Passed.
Interesting Notes.
Special Correspond ence.
s WASHINGTON, Feb'y 10, 1876.


has appeared in print, in which he
comes to the aid Of Hon. 3. II Hill
Of Georgia. in his accusations against
the Government they endeayored to
destroy, that the Union prisoners were
treated better by the Slaveocracy than
the rebel prisoners were by the United
States, and holding the latter respon-
sible for not exchanging prisoners.
lie keeps out of sight the fact that
the proposition for the exchange of
prisoners, made by the rebels, was
coupled with conditions that would
have eyerlastingly disgraced the Nation
to have accepted them-to exclude col
ored troops and the officers command
ing them, thereby endeavoring to have
the United States adopt their IDEAS
that colored persons were not men and
not entitled to any Of the rights OF
man, which 1T was an impossibiIity to
adopt towards those who were fighting
for the very life of the Government.
With the we'll established horrors of
the Andersonville PEN it would be
surprising that he should not endeavor
to shirk the responsibility and the deep
and bitter curses Of those confined
therein, and who were so fortunate as
to survive the inhuman treatment re-
ceived there. He ought to be fully
aware that he can not escape by circu-
lating his false statements through the
country. Warren Lee Goss, President
of the National Union Of Anderson
vile survivors, shows from the official
records that the death ratio Of our
prisoners confined at the South was
over 81 81 per cent. and that it was
only 13 IL per cent. amongst the rebel
prisoners confined at the North, and
that Jefferson Davis was personally re
sponsible by quoting the official report
Of Col. D. I. Chandler, who is well
spoken Of by the Confederate Assist
ant Secretary Of War, to show that
recommendations were actually made,
to Mr.. Davis Cabinet, to replace Gen.
Winder, Commandment at Anderson
vile, with some one more humane, and
the only notice taken thereof was to
promote Winder to the position OF
Commissary-General Of all the Con-
federate prisons, which is in perfect
keeping with the spirit which organic
lied bands of outlaws, to burn our
cities, spread the small pox by trying
to introduce, through the North, rags
infected with the loathsome virus of
that fell disease, and to make raids
upon our northern frontier. The fol
lowing quotation from his letter shows
his rebellous spirit, '"Under the mel
Glowing influence of time and occasion.
cat demonstration at the north of de-
''sire for the restoration Of peace and
''good viii, the Southern people have
''forgotten much, have forgiven much
''of the wrongs they bore. IF it be
''less so among their inyaders, it is but
''another example Of the rule that the
wrong doer is less able to forgive
ethan he who has suffered causeless
wrong" The only difference be-
tween him and the rebels in Congress
is, that he frankly expresses what are
the true feelings Of the southern dem
ocracy, which they endeavor, for po-
litical reasons, to conceal hut by their
acts undertake to accomplish in anoth-
er way-by crippling the Government,
by depriving it Of the necessary ap-
preparations for the successful exercise
Of its governmental functions. Are
the people of this greet country ready
to humble themselves upon their knees
to Jeff Davis & Co., and ask to be for
given for not permitting them to des-
troy the Republic With the sym
pathy with JEFF Davis prevailing
among the old democratic shareholders
IS there any probability that lover of
free institutions, especially a colored
person, would be permitted to reside
among them in the full enjoyment of
his rights? Is it not evident that if
the southern democracy can again con-
troll the destinies Of the country that
it will be with the full determination
to carry out their well known princi-
pies of being masters of, or superior to
the colored people and the ''mud s.lls
of the north, = or in other words that