Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-02-02
rcbntinsued from the drst pay,s.l

v
Hes, and our country. And we would
beg this affair be explained to us, that
we may continue TO hold the Govern
ment in the respect which is necessary
to make good citizen and soldier"
Was this touching appeal needed 7
Let any gentleman who belonged to
the "clique or party" that the resolu-
tions condemn answer for his party.
Now, sir, II was in reference to that
state of things exactly that Dr. Jones
reported, asI have already read TO the
House, in his report which was mutt
lated before that committee of Congress
and In the trial of Wirz--it was In con-
sequence of that very state Of things
that DR.. Jones said that depression OF
mind and dependency, and home-sick-
ness Of these prisoners, carried more
to their graves than didphysical causes
of disease. This was not wonderful
at all.
But, Mr.. Speaker, why were all these
appeals rcsistcd2 Why did the Fed
eral authorities refuse TO allow their
own surgeons to 20 with their own
soldiers and carry them medicine and
clothing, and comfort and treatment 7
Why2 Why did they refuse TO ex-
change man for man and officer for
officer? Why did they refuse to stand
up to their solemn engagements, made
in 1862, for the exchange Of fprisoners ?
Who is at fault? There must be a
reason for this. That is the next point
to which | wish to call the attention
of the House. Sir, listen TO the read
ing. The New York Tribune, refer
ring to this matter in 1864, said--I
suppose you will believe the Tribune in
1864, if you do not believe it now
an August the rebels offered to re-
new the exchange man for man. Gen.
eral Grant then telcgraphed the follow
ing important order: 1T is hard on
our men held in Southern prisons not
to exchange them, but ii is humanity
to those left in the ranks to fight our
battles. Every man released on parole
or otherwise becomes an active soldier
against us at once, either directly or
indirectly. If we commence a system
of exchange which liberates all prison.
crs taken, we will have to fight on till
the whole South is cxterminated. II
we hold those caught they amount to
no more than dead men. AT this par
ticular time to release all rebel prison
ers North would insu re Sherman's de-
feat and would compromise our safety
here"
Mr.. Garfeld--What date is that?
Mr.. Hill-Eighteen hundred and
sixty-four. ~
Mr., Gar6eld-What date in that
year
Mr.. Hill do not note the day or
month. | have read the Telegram
which is taken from the New York
Tribune, after August, 1864
Here rs General Grants testimony
before the committee on the exchange
of prisoners, February II, 1865. You
believe him, do you notY
Question. 1t has been said that we
refused to exchange prisoners because
We found ours starved, diseased, and
unserviceable when we received them,
and did not like 10 exchange sound
men for such men.
That was the question propounded
to him. His answer was: m
Answer ''There never has been
any such reason as that That has
been reason for making exchanges.
| will confess that if our men who are
prisoners in the South were really well
taken care Of, suffering except little
privation OF liberty, then, in a military
point of view, 1t would not be good
policy for us 10 exchange, because
every man they get back Is forced right
into the army at once, while that is
not the case with our prisoners when
we receive them; in fact the half of
our returned prisoners will never go
into the army again, and none of them
will until after they have had fur
lough of thirty or sixty days. Still,
the fact of their suffering as they do is
a reason for making this exchange as
rapidly as possible"
=. ana never hAs pcen reason ior
no. making 'ne eAchangc.
ing been suspended by reason Of disa-
greement on tho part Of agents of ex.
cnahge on Doth sioes before l came in
command OF tne armies OF the omted
STATES anu IL theh oeing near tne
opening Oh the spring campaign, l uiu
not deem u advisable or just 70 the
men VINO nad 70 hght our oattles 10
reinforce the enemy WIN thirty or
iorty Thousand discipiined troops AZ
that time An immediate resumption
OF exchanges would have had that
ehect, without giving us corresponding
benefits The suffering said TO exist
among our prisonsrs South was pow
eriul argument against the course pur-
sued, and so 1 ielt II,
Ihere IS no disputing the TACT that,
with the knowledge that his prisoners
II
were sniieringin tue south, he insisted
that the exchange should not be re-
newed, because u would increase the
military power OF the enemy. NOW,
That may nave been good military
reason. do not quote i for the pur-
pose OF rejecting upon General Grant
in the slightest ! am giving the facts
oil history. ! insist that the Conied-
eracy shall not be held responsible Tor
the results OF the war policy OF the
Federal government, especially when
tho record proves that the Confederate
authorities made every possible effort
to avert these results Nor DO ! allege
inhumanity on the part Of General
Grant or the Federal Government. l