Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1876-01-21

son Davis from its operations Now | do
not place that exception on the ground
that Mr.. Davis was, as ne is comGlonly
called, the head and front of the rebellion,
because on that ground do not think the
exception would be tenebe. Mr.. Davis
was just rs guilty, no more, no
less, than thousands Of others who will get
the benefit Of grace and amnesty.
Probably he was far less efficient as an
enemy of the United States; probably he
was far more useful as disturber OF the
counsels Of the confederacy. 1t is not be-
cause Of particular or special damage
which he above others did TO the United
State, or because he is particularly of any
special consequence that expected him,
but 1 except him on this ground, that he is
ths author, knowingly, deliberately, guilt
ly, willfuIly of the gigantic murder and
crime at AndersOnville.
"A member-And Libby
Libby pals in insgnifcance as compar-
ed to Andersonvile. 1 place It on that
ground and believe that so rapidly does one
event follow on the heels of another in the
rapid aye which we live that even those OF
us who were contemporaneously cognizant
of what was Iranspiring there, still less
those Of US who have grown up since, have
failed to realize the gigantic crime which
was there committed.
Since the gentlemen from Pennsylvania
introduced this bill have taken occasion
TO read over the details Of those atrocious
massacres under the Duke of Alva in the
Low Counties which are mentioned with
thrill of horror througout Christendom !;
| have read the details of ST. Barthomew's
which stood out as one of the atrocities be-
yond imagination; l have read anew the
horrors untold and unimagined Of the
Spanish inquisition, and here, before God ,
measuring my words, knowing their full
extent and import, declare that neither the
Duke OF Alva in the Low Counties, nor the
thumb-screws and dungeons and atrocities
of the Spanish Inquisition begin to COM
pare in atrocity with the hideous crime OF
Andersonville.
(Sensation in the hall and galleries and a
remark by Mr.. Robbins, of North Caroli-
M, uuhcard by Mr.. Blaine. that it was an
| infamous slander.) Thank God, Mr..
Speaker, that when this Congress was un'
der different control ftom that under which
it is to day, with committee composed o.
members Of both parties, that the tale o.
horror was placed where it could not be
denied or gainsaid. l hold in my hand the
story written by committee of Congress
and by it's authority l state that Winder
who is now dead, was sent to Anderson
vile with full knowledge Of his prev!ou:
atrocities, and that these atrocities in Rich
mond we're so bitter, 80 terrible that con
federate papers (the Richmond Examiner
for one, said when it was done that they
thanked God that Richmond was rid ofh
presence.
We in the north know from returnin!
skeletons what he had accomplished a
Belle Island and Libby. Fresh from thos
accomplishments ne was sent to Mr.. Davis
against the protest of others in the conied
eracy, TO construct this pen Of horrors a
Andersonville. | undertake here TO sa,,
that lido not ask gentlemen to take tn
testimony of single witness. | do no
ask them To take the testimony of singl
Union soldier. | only ask them TO tax
the testimony Of men who themselves wer
cause, and If that Jes.lsa ~ suo .1S Gu
tirely carry out aud justify this declaration
| will state that have been entirely in er
ror in my reading.
Mr.. Blaine then read extracts from th
report Of the Committee on the Conduct @
the War ann from Father Haniltons tes
timony on the Wirz, trial, and continued
do not desire to go into such horrible de
tails from any purpose Of raising bat
feeling desire only to say that the mai
who administered that prison went Their
by the order of Mr.. Davis and was sustain
ed by him, and that this VIM. J. Hamil
ton whose testimony L have just read, wen
TO General Howell Cobb, commanding tina
department, and asked that the condition
of the prison should be transmitted TO th,
confederate gov ernment at Richmond.
In fact there are a great many instance
and proofs TO show that Mr.. Davis was il
entire possession of the facts in relation Il
| Andersonville. When General Sherman
invasion Or some other invasion of tha
portion OF the country WAS under way, ,anr
when there WAS il danger OF supposed dan
ger that it might come to that neighbor
hood, the regular military order -, dated
| Headquarters of the confederate States
Military Prison, Andersouyille, July "a
1864, and signed by Brigadier Genera
| Winder, WAS issued in these words
1.-The officer on duty and in charge o.
the battery Of Florida artillery will on re
ceving notice that the enemy has ap'
| preached within seven miles of this coast,
open fire on the stockade with grapeshot,
IclSItGCC ~ the slIudL LlOu DCyOUU
this line OF defence" Here were those
| $4,000 poor, helpless, naked, starving, sick.
ened, dying men. Thi. Catholic priest
states tina! he went TO General Cobb to re-
present TO him that if he could not ex-
change them they should be taken before
the Union lines IN Florida and rarolled
and let 90 free, and yet if the Union forces
were to get within seven miles that regular
| of Mr.. Davis officer was to open battery
of grapeshot on those poor wretches with
out the slightest possible regard to what
| was going on outside.
| do not arraign the southern people for
this. God forbid that should charge any
people with sympathizing with such an
| order. There were many evidences of
gr eat uneasiness among the southern peO-
pie about it, and one of the great crimes OF
Mr.. Davis was that he concealed il from
the southern people. We have obtoined a
complete series ef Mr.. Dayis' message, with
l,o nfft,io1 tnh, a.