St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-02-11

the imprisoned soldiers of the cOnfed-
eracy should be in like manner releas-
ed, and returned to us. This foul ac-
cusation, though directed specially
against me, WAS in no doubt intended
and naturally must he the arraignment
of the South, by whose authority and
in whose behalf my deeds were done.
He then refers to his concentrations
to the rebel army after their victories,
for their tenderness to the wounded and
captured Union soldiers. lie says:
1t is admitted that the prisoners i'll
orr hands were not as well provided for
us we would have liked, but it is claim
ed that we did not do for them as well
us we could. Can the other side claim
a. much? To the bold allegations of
cruel treatment of prisoners by our side
and of humane treatment and adequate
supplies by our opponents, it is only
necessary to offer two facts: First, II
appears from the reports of the United
States War Department that though we
had 6O,OOO more prisoners than they had
of confederateS, 6OOO more of the con
federates died in Northern prisons. Sec
ond, the want and suffering of the men
III Northern prisons caused me to ask
for permission to send out cotton and
buy supplies for them. The request
was granted, but only on condition that
the cotton should he sent to New York
and the supplies he bought there. Gen.
| Beale, now of ST. Louis, was authorized
| to purchase and distribute needtul sup
plies. Our sympathy rose with the Oc-
casiOu and We responded To its demands,
not waiting for ten years, then to vaunt
| itself when it could serve no good pur-
pose to the sufferers. Under the mel
| lowing influence of time and occasional
demonstrations ut the North of Il desire
for restoration of peace and good will.
the Southern people have forgotten
much and have forgiven much of the
wrongs they bore. lfit be less So among
their invaders, il is but another example
of the rule that the wrong docr is less
able to forgive than he who has suffer
ed Il caustlesS wrong. 1t is not. how
ever. generally among those who BRAY
ed the hazards of battle that unrclcntim"
| yindictivcmeSS is tn he found the brave.
generous and gentle. 1t is the >kulktrS
of the fight. The Blainc>. who display
their fame on an umtcmtrd field. They
made no sacrifice t" prevent Il >rpara
ton of the states. Why should they bc
expected to promote confidence and
good will. essential to their union.
Whcu closely confined at Fortress
Monroe. was solicited to add my name
to those of many esteemed gentlemen.
who had signed Il petition for my par
don. and an assurance WAS given that
on my doing 81 the President would or
der my liberation. Confident of the
Justice of our cause and the rertitudc OF
petition and remained subject to the
| in"Ncu>ahle priNatinn>a and torture " hich
Dr. Craven hut family dr>crihrs When
after two NcaIS of close confinement. |
Was admitted to bail a> often IT, rcduir-
ed. | Appeared for trial under an indict-
mcmt found against me. hut in which
Mr.. RlaInc> fcti"n> do not appear. The
indictment WAS finally pua>hrd. ON no
application of mine. nor have | ever
rNadcd nr avoided Il trial upon any
charge the general government might
choose to bring against me. and have
no view of the future which makes it
desirable To me- to Ice included in an
amnesty bill. Viewed in the abstract
"l ~ a general question would Il, glad
To see the repeal of all laws intiictimg
the penalty of political disabilities on
GLASSES of the people. that it might ~
| prescribed 10y the constitution. hc left
To the courts to hear and decide causes.
and To atilN penalties according to pre-
existing legislation. The discrimination
made against our people is unjust and
lmpolltIc If the fact he equality al, the
purpose lie fraternity among the citizens
of the United States. Conviction and
sentence without hearing. without juIS-
dIrtI"n and atiiNlug penalties 10y en-
post fact" Legislation are part of The
proceedings which. had its tpprnpriat,.
end IN the assumption 10y Congress of
the executive function nt granting par
dom>. |" remove political disabilities
which there WAS not legal power To- i'm
pose. W:iN not an act OF ~ much grace
~ t" form Il plausible pretrNt for the
reckless dlatrihc Of Mr.. Blaine.
The papers preserved 10y DIR. SteNcrr-
son happily furnish full proof OF the
CAUSES of disease and death in Audrr-
SonNille. They are now. believe in
Richmond. and it i to hr hoped their
publication will not Toe much longer de
laNcd. | have no taste for Ieclmna-
tIon. though the sad rccitals made b\
"ur soldiers returned from Northern
Prisons can never bc forgotten. and You
will remember the excitement those pro
duccd and the cenSoIiou> publications
which were uttered against me because.
| would not visit ON helpless priSoneIs
such haI baIltIc> as according to reports
lIad been inflicted upon oIn men, I'm
/ pll>oumcmt is Il hard lot at the best.
and prisoners are prone to cNag9rIltc
their SrIifcIimgs. and such was probably
.. the ease on both sides. hut we did not
seek 10y reports of committees. with
Photographic illustrations To intiamc the
passions of "ur people. How WAS it
with onr enemy ! Let one example.
suffice. lon may remember Il publish
ell report of the committee of the United
States Congress. which WAS sent to An-
nap"lis to visit some exchanged prison
crS. and which had appended to it pho
tographS of some cmaciatcd subjects.
which were offered Is samples of the
prisoners returned from the South
When Il copy of that report WAS re-
rcivcd | sent il to Col. Ould. commits
~ionrr for the exchange of prisoners.
and learned. aS had anticipated. that
the photographs. us far as they could he
identified. had been taken from men
who were in our hospitals when they
were liberated for exchange. whom the
hospital surgeon regarded as GONZALES
cent. but too weak to he removed with
safety to themselves. The anxiety of
the prisoners to he sent To their homes
had prevailed over the objections of the
surgeon. But this is not all. for | have
recently learned from priest who was
then at Annapolis, that the most wretch
cd looking of the photographs was taken
from man who had never been il pris-
"ner but who had been left on the sick
list ut Annapolis when the command To