The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-08

aliiawsfnfiieHng thepenalty OF political dlsa-
biities on classes Of The people that It nigh, as
prescribed by the Constitution, be left to the
courts TO hear and decide cruises, aud to aff1x
penalties according to preexistipg legislation.
The discrimination made against our people
Is unjust and impoltic IL the fact be equality
aud the purpose be fraternity among the
citizens of the United States. Conviction
and sentence without hearing, without
jurisdiction, and afhXing penalties by er posi
facto legislation, are part Of the proceeding
which had its appropriate end in the assump-
ton by Congress Of the Executive functlon
of granting pardons. To remove political disa'
biIities which there was not legal power 10
impose was not an act Of so much grace as
10 form plausible preteXt for the reckless
diatribe of Mr.. Blaine.
The papers preserved by DR.. Stevenson
happily furnish full proof OF the causes OF
disease and death at Andersonville., Ihey
are now, believe, in Richmond, ana IL IS 10
be hoped their publication will not be mucn
longer DELAYED. l have no taste Tor recriml'
nation, though the sad recitas mace by our
soldiers returned from northern prisons can
never he forgotten. And you will -remem'
her the excitement those produced, and the
censorious publications which were uttered
AGAINST me because I would not Visit on the
hcInless prisoners in our hands such bar
barities as, according to reports, had been
inflicted upon our men. 49,,
IMPRISONMENT is q hard lot at the best, anu
prisoners are prone to exaggeratc their SUI
f.rings, and such was probably the case on
both sides. But we did not seek by reports
of committees. with Photographic lllustra'
lions, TO infiame the passions OF our people.
How was it with our enemy! Let one eA'
ample suffice. You may remember a pup
lishcd report of n committee Of the United
States Congress which was sent 10 Annapolis
20 visit some exchanged prisoners, ana
which had appended 10 it the photographs
Of some emaciatcd suhiectS,'which were Of
Gered as samples Of prisoners returned from
the South.
When copy Of that report was received
| sent it to Colonel Ould, commissioners for
the exchange of prisoners, and learned, as l
anticipated, that the photographs, as far as
they could be identified, had been taken
from men who were in our hospital when
they were liberated for exchange, and whom
the hospital surgeon regarded as GONZALES
cent but too weak to be removed With safely
to themselves. The anxiety OF the prisoners
to be sent to their homes had prevailed over
not all: for I have recently learned from Il
priest who was then at Annapolis that the
most wretched-looking Of these photographs
was taken from q man who had never been
prisoner, but who had been left on the
"sick list" at Annapolis when the command
to which he was attached had passed that
place on its southwark march.
Whatever may be said in extenuation oil
such imposture because Of the exgencies OF
war, there can be no such excuse now for the
attempts of Mr.. Blaine, by gross misrepre-
sentatien and slanderous accusation, to re-
vive tie worst passions of the war and 1t Is
to be hoped that, much as the event is 10 be
regretted, it will have the good effect OF
eyokiug truthful statements in regard to this
lttle.understood subject from men who
would have preferred to leave their sorrow
lul story untold if the subject could have
oeen allowed peacefully to sink into oblivion.
Mutual respect is needful for the common
iuteres', is essential to friendly union, aud
when SANDER is promulgated from high
places the public welfare demands that truth
should strip falsehood of its power for evil.
lam, respectfully and truly, your friend,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.