The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1882-11-16

lions VI luis uisease, seizinB upon
that portion Of the physical system
which was weakest. Scurvy in the
mouth produced scurvy in the
bowels, which was followed by a
general disorder Of those functions.
Old diseases, which were supposed
to DO erudicated, were revived by its
Influences, such was its tendency to
seize upon tue weakness of the sys
tenn. l claim 1 have in these mat
ters scientific knowledge aud hav-
tug been q wituess to it's workings
10 thousands Of cases. | make this
statement as result OF my observa-
tions OH the subject, in order to iu-
form tho public, Of the murderous
proceedings against true aud loyal
men, who, our government were iath-
or lenient iu releasing from a state
verse I q, bondage.
II is true that starvation aud men,
tai despondency blended with so
many forms Of physical horror as to
make il difficult to trace tho district
action OF any particular disease.
At Florence as at Andersonville
the combination OF them all produce
cd feeble-mindedness and very often
insanity, which never partook in
th, ir character OF fierceness. but
were rather characterized by timid-
lity OF demeaner and incoherence Of
speech, in which were mingled often
piteous tones Of entreaty, low and
tremulous with weakness Some-
times CLEANS of Intelligence lighting
the stony eye, or thrilling the voice
with vail Of hopeless despair No
pen can picture or language express
it, only those who are familiar, to
their sorrow, with these scenes, will
recognize the full import Of my writ
ten history Of those abomniable plac-
es Of starvation, and human suffering
Of those who were go unlucky as to
fall into r, bel hands.
l seldom recall, willingly. these
pictures OF wretcslhness but they
arc too iudelibly impressed upon
memory, by tue fierce brand Of sif
fering, to be forgotten.
Those sad, wailing voices, those
clutching restless hands, those pinch
cd, dsspairiug or meaningless faces
all unbiidcn como back to mo, with
tho horror Of reality.
Perhaps it might bo better to let
such memories slumber in their pris
on houses but they seem to rise re-
proachfully, and bid me speak.
am almost glad that language fails
to convey half my meaning, for the
hearts Of parents and kindred would
freeze with terror aud wrath could
they but 500 those loved ones in all
their hopeless wretchoduess as |
seen them. Poor fellows.
Revenge is not tolerated in the
light Of our high, enobling civlliza-
ton but when l behold tho south,
stricken aud suffering from fro fam
iue, and the sword, as ono OF the res
salts of the awful civil contest just
closed they are in manner getting
their rewards aud / seem to see the
hand OF Gods rotribution seeking
out aud visiting her crimes with
chastisement. II in coming times,
as in the past, the south shall sin
against the moral ideas of the age,
or il we, as then, become participants
in her crimes, SO shall zoe reap, with
her, the punishment OF those crimes.
There was a phase Of character
developed by prison lifo which was
neither joyous nor sad in its out
ward expression, seemingly quiet
bracing Of every nerve, and the cons
centIation OF all the powers Of mind
and body against disease and death,
in which men neither laughed, nor
smiled, nor cried, nor could any,
thing move them from their imper-
yious calmness Of demeanor.
| Not even exciting rumor Of ex-
change, or prospect Of speedy deliv-
erance, seemed to start them from
their impenetrable pac idity.
| 1 .Imbued with q quite infexibleness
OF purpose, that to lire,-they
calculated every chance Of life in
each moment OF time, vet never
seemed to feel disappointment OF
passion. Like q rock 10 mid-ocean,
lashed by the storm, they stood un
moved by the passions and longings
that swsyed and actuated tho great
- vz.k.l:k.,