The National tribune., 1893-01-12
UNION EX-PRIS0NERS.
Official Report of the Proceedings Of
the Late National Convention.

The Convention met Mt the City Hall at 10 O'Clock
n NJ, Sept. 81, 1892 and was opened by prayer by
the Chaplain, Rev. J. s. Ferguson.
The association was welcomed to the Capital by
Mr. l.. d. Wine. on behalf of the Citizens Com
mittee of the Encampment
The President appointed as a Committee on Gre
dentials: W. II. Cham berlin. of Massachusetts; w.
II. MattiDgly. of District of Columbia, George w.
Grant. of Minnesota: J. NJ. Riker, OF New Jersey,
and j. F. 1Ioger of Ohio. go
The Chair announced that in accordance with
the Constitution, individual members of the Ma
tohal Association. but not members of local organ
izations would be entitled to representation III the
Convention at the ratio OF one delegate to 10 men,
Pending the report of the Committee Gre
deniials, President Stephen NJ. Long submitted his
report, which was. in part, ms follows
Many years have passed since tho close OF tie
war. and the Union ex-Prsoners OF war have
insisted that they entitled TO special recog-
milton in view of their sufferings, and have urged
that their bill OF So day for The time they spent
in the 'hell-hol of the South was but small
part of what was due them; but year by year they
have received nothing but promises. and while the
officers and comrades Of this Association have Ia
bored faithfully for the passage of the prisoners oil
war BILL yet, to this date, have been unsucccss-
full in securing its final passage.
THE bill adopted at our last session at Detroit
was presented to the Pension Committee OF Con-
gress in April last, and able arguments were made
by Capt Mckee and other members and written
statement of our case was also submitted; but,
Is well known, the present Congress has been
opposed to all pension legisla;ion and 1t can be
readily seen how little prospect had OF the
passage of our bill. when it is known that % mem;
bers Of this Congress have served in the rebel
army, and as long that proportion of our former
enemies occupy the place of law makers, 1t VIII
be impossible TO secure the passage OF our Dill
But rs the years go by and the history of the
war Is written. we believe that in the near future
the business of our claims will be recognized and
shall yet receive from grateful people the
small pittar ce claim right.
Recent official publications have brought out
the fact, not heretofore generally known, that the
exchange OF Union prisoners in 1864 was stopped
side by high military authority, and our
comrades left to suffer and die, as an exchange
would restore to the rebel army men hearty ana
well, who would again enter the ranks and greatly
help TO build up the armies of the South Hence
military necessity required that the Union prison.
should be sacrificed and remain as prisoners to
suffer and die, that the war might sooner end
This was done, and. while it was great factor in
hastening the conclusion of the war, how many oil
our comrades were thus sacrificed the records
alone can tell. In the name of AZ 900 of our COM
rades who lie buried around Southern prisons and
who freely gave their lives for the business of
their caiise, and who in the light of recent events
thus sacrificed for the safety of the living we
ask that the survivors should be recognized BY a
just people. In the Language of former Presi-
dent. Gould our comrades who willingly gave
their lives TO suffer for their country spenk with
their pale lips. what must or would be the message
to Government that has so long forgotten their
surviving comrRdes?'
AT our last Convention we adopted protest
against the holding of a so-called Blue and Gray
Reunion at the Worlds Fair in Chicago in 1893: A
copy of the same was forwarded to the President
of the United States and to others interested, and
public sentiment created that has effectua!ly dis
posed of The movement.
:" Your President the last year has corresponded
with many local Prisoners of War Associations
and comrades individually aud is pleased to find
that the aims and objects Of our Association be-
come bet err known there Is q general desire among
those who suffered prisoners TO unite in organ
izaion with US. to strengthen the ties of fraternal
fellowship and sympathy formed by companies in
riu tltp off "a nil .ilry
OF rebel military PRISONS which - the object OF
this Association.
in closing my term of office as President de-
sire to THANK the comrades for the honor and trust
committed 20 my hands one year ago, and to as
sure them | shall ever be ready to work for the
interests of this Association III every possible way"
The report of Secretary and Treasurer L. +.
Williams contained in part the following:
1t no doubt should be source of cOngratnlation
that AssOcia ion has shown n healthy condition
during the past year, and though not materially
increased in numbers. a few new local associations
have been added TO the list and general interest
manifested in cause. Although great effort
was made. Congress failed utterly to recognize the
claims Of Union ex-prisoners to any legislation for
their benefit and yet by reason Of Legislation by
the last Congress and the liberal action OF the PEN
sion Office. a considerable number of our prison
comrades have had such relief during the past year
to greatly benefit them
whilst the justice of our cause has recently
been more plaiuly shown than ever, Congress mas
done less toward recognizing that fact than at any
previous session. Gen. Butler has made clear by
the statement in his memoirs that though confined
in prison pens prisoners OF war were doing more
to end the conflict than the same number in the
field at cost TO themselves Of greater percentage
of death and suffering than that Of hard-fought
battles. This fact. though strongly urged upon
the proper committee of Congress- entirely
ignored by any kind of report or any recommend
alton.
Owing to the certainty of not getting this relief
the financial condition of our association has not
light, and the receipts have barely been sufficient
TO meet expenses, debts have been created. and
we are therefore independent in that direction"
Comrade David 7. Davies, of Pennsy lyania,
offered The following resolution, which was agreed
Pesolped That hereafter the officers of the Ma
tionai Association of Union Ex- Prisoners of War
furnish printed report Id each Of the local ascot
atoms giving roster Of officers. location of local
socations. membership, report OF all receipts and
| expenditures from all sources, and such other
matters of information may be of interest to the
| membership of our Association"
Comrade l.. q. Mcknight, of Massachusetts, sub
mitted the following report in part from the Com
miltee OIL Publication of History OF Treatment and
Exchange appointed at the annual Convention in
| Detroit, Mich.
THE committee appointed at last annual
meeting to prepare and publish history Of the
treatment and exchange of prisoners OF war during
| the rebellion, together with reply TO Jefferson
| Davis beg leave to report:
THAT we have prepared the manuscript for a
| brief and authentic history. The statements
| therein contained have been approved by your
| committee and by II number of Intelligent eX-
prisoners of war who have read it,
VERY after entering upon the work as
| signed US we realized that had undertaken n
work of some magnitude, n work that involved
much labor and expense. We thought it best.
! therefore, before attempting the publication, to
refer the natter to the association at this meeting
| and ask the co operation and financial assistance
| of the Association to make the history what it
should be and give to it the circulation il should
| have.
| THE manuscript now presented comprises a
| brief com pation of the official correspondence
| md orders both Federal and Confederate in reia-
ton TO the treatment and exchange of prisoners OF
| war with brief notes aud comments. In order to
| lessen the cost of publication we have iii many
| cases copied only extracts from official commune
| cations and in various ways condensed the work
| AS much rs possible. In so doing have left o,.t
much valuable material which, if inserted would
add to the interest and style of the work. This
| and should be added, if necessary means can be
| obtained 10 publish it,
"Your committee, therefore, respectfully ask
| the Association to give the matter the time and
| consideration the importance of the subject de-
| mands We owe il TO ourselves. our children. and
| TO the memory of more than 50, 600 of our COM
| rades who lie buried in Southern prison graves,
aud to their children, that the memory OF the prs
oners of war shall not perish from the earth"
The report being before the Convention for de-
| bate, n long discussion was had.
| Comrade j. S. Ferguson offered the following
resolution which was adopted:
Resolved That the report ofihe committee to pre-
pare and publish a history OF the treatment and
! exchange of prisoners of war during the rebellion,
| with n reply to Jefferson Davis, be adopted; that