The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-23

DR. A. wyeth. Of No 2si Madison avenue.
New York, is doing good seryicefor the South
ia tho defense he is making against the
charges that while the North, during the war.
WINS q model of humanity in its treatment OF
Confederate prisoners. the South was only
noted for fendish barbarity towards
Federal captives. lie first undertook to
show. from personal experience that the
Southern prisoners at Camp Morton we're
treated by their Northern captors with All the
inhumanity that could possibly be shown by
my people, even though barbarians, and his
statement 10 this effect called down upon
him wholesale abuse from Northern writer's
and journals. Determined to vindicate him
self and the South, however. he appealed 20
those Confederate survivors Of the war who
had been so unfortunate as to fall into fede-
raj hands. to send him accounts OF their
individual experiences. The result mas
been that he has completely dumbfounded
his asssilants and Northern viliihers OF the
South in general. By proving conclusyely
that although tho North had free access TO
the world. and was amply able TO provide
ordinary comforts for the Southerners that
had fallen into its hands. the unfortu-
mates were subjected TO suferings when
amounted 10 torture: while the South pro-
vidcd equally as well FOX the prisoners 1t had
captured az it did Tor its own soldiers IN the
field who though starving, compelled the
admiration Of the world by their gallantry.
DR.. Wyoth has even done more than this
for he has forced several Of the more intelh-
gent and less pTeiudiced journals Of the
North 20 unwilingy submit TO the power OF
the truth. The Springfield Mass Repubh-
can. for instance. in its Issue Of tho 4th in
slant has en- editorial article on Rebel
Prisoners at Camp Morton" and another IN
It's issue Of the 18th instant on Prisoners
North and South. in both Of which 1t con
fesses that tho Union was not alwags liberal
humane and honorable" and that the
Southern Confederecy were driven 20 their
last resources to keep their own soldiers
alive. and tAat the Federal prisoners had 20
fare poorly even in comparison" Such ad-
missions sound strangely, indeed, coming
ffom responsible Northern sources, who have
heretofore been eagerly Jealous TO hold up
Libby Prison and Andersonyille TO the OBJ
loquy Of mankind. while being discreetiy
silent as TO Johusons Island, Point Lookout
and Comp Morton.
Having gone so far in the interests Of justice
now let the Republican. and all the Northern
journals who have heretofore endeavored TO
hide the lnfamy OF Northern war prison
officials by malignant utilization of the
South, go further. and confess that not only
did the North have far less excuse for the suf
ferings of prisoners than did the South but
that the horrors and deaths at Anderson
vile, Libby and other Southern prisons
were directly traceable 20 the action of North
ern officials high in authority. Let them 20
on and publish the fact that although the
Confederate authorities urged an exchange of
prisoners on the very ground that the meagre
resources of the South prevented such com
forts TO Northern prisoners rs were absolutely
necessary to keep them alive. Lincoln Grant
and Sherman all opposed exchange because the
terms Of service Of most Of the Federal cap
tives bad expired, while. the conscript laws Of
the South placed the exchanged Southerners
Immediately back in the service
This is the truth, and it ia TOO mighty not to
eventually prevail The time will yet come
when the South will be completely exoner-
ated of the charges Of barbarity towards pris-
oners which have so frequently been brought
against her, and when it will be known that
poor Wirz was murdered TO appeaso popular
clamor in the North, and to divert attention
from the crimes against humanity committed
by the Federal administration and the lead
ing Federal commanders