The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-26
opera&ion. a. well as for the hrst maj
treatment az prisoners.

CARTEL SUSPENDED
with the exception OF exchanges In in
aividual cases. this suspension OF the
cartel continued. SO that. on July =.
1853. Mr.. Davis addressed a ie,ter 70 ar. az
1Ancoln (Which, we have never seen be-
forao. an which he said. among other things
aftcr referring to tho differences that had
.r,enn hotweer, the commissioners IN car
r,fnp ont the cartel. and the hardsh ps
,ncnrred nv reason of its suspension. as
follows:
~ believe that have just ground OF
rn,nnlaint against the officers and forces
under your command for breach of trust
of the cartel; and being myself ready
10 execute II at all times and in good
faith ] nm not justified in doubling the
existence OF the same disposition on your
mart. IN addition TO this matter ] have
10 complain Of the conduct of Your of
1icars and troops in many parts of the
couatrr who violate all the rules of
war by carrying on hostilities. not only
against armed foes. but against non
combatants. aged men. women and chill
drcn while others not only seize such
property as is required for the, use of
your troops, but destroy all private prop
s,rty within their reach. even agricultural
implements. and openly avow the pIr-
Nofc or seeking to snidne the population
BY the starvation that must result from
tho destruction of standing crops and
agricultural tools. Still again others Of
Your officers in different districts have
recently taken the lives of prisoners who
fell into their power, and justify their
act by asserting a right TO treat as
spies The military officers and enlisted
men under my command who may pene-
trate into States recognized by us as our
eilies in the warfare now wased against
the United States but claimed by the
latter as having refused to engage IN
such warfare. have. therefore. on oil
ferent occasions been forced to make
complaints of these outrages, and to
ask from you that you either avow or
q disclaim having authorized them: and
have failed TO obtain such answer as
the usaEes Of civilized warfare require
to be given in such cases. These usuages.
justify. and. indeed, require redress i,y
retaliation as the proper means oi re-
pressing such cruelties are not*.r2eer-s
mitted In warfare between Christian
+ peoples ! have, Notwithstanding. e.
Trained from the exercise of such retail
alton because of its obvious tendency to
lead to war OF 5indiscriminate massacre
on both sides, which would be a sDecta-
Gle so shocking to humanity. and SO
disgraceful to the age in which we live.
and the religion profess. hat can
not contemplate 1T without a feeling of
horror that am disinclined to doubt you
would share With the view then of
making our last solemn attempt To avert
such calamities and 10 attest my car
nest desire 10 prevent them. if possible,
have selected the bearer of this let
Ter. the Honorable Alexander II. Steph-#
ems. as military commissioner to pro-
coed TO Your headquarters. under a flag
OF truce. there to confer and agree on
the subjects above mentionod. and do
hereby authorize the said Alexander II.
Stephens 10 arrange and settle all diff
ferences and disputes which have arisen
or may arise in the execution of Tie
cartel for exchange of prisoners of war.
heretofore agreed on between our re-
EpectiNe lanS and naval forces. also. to-
prevent further MISUNDERSTANDING as 10
the terms of said cartel. and finally TO.
enter into such Arrangement and under
standing about the mode of carrying on
ho.silities between the bellSerents as
shall conhne the seventies of the war
within such limits as are ligbtfullv irl-
posed. not only by modern civilization.
but by our common Christianity lse9.
Rec. Series III. Vol VI, p15-G.
SOUGHT TO SEE LTNSoI-N
On the 9TH Of July. 1867 Mr.. Stephens
accompanied by Judge 0ald. took the
foregoing, and proceeded down the James
River under flag of truce, for the puI-9
pose of delivering the letter and of con-
5eriing with Mr. Lincoln They We're
stopped by the blochading squadron, un-
der the command of Acting Rear-Admirals
+ s. n. Lee. near Newport News. and Mr..
Stephens then communicated to Admiral
Lee the nature of his mission. This com
lj6st Ada rom ted
TO the Secretary of the Navy. Mr. Gideon
Weiis, and by the latter to the Secre-
taiS of War. Mr. Edwin NJ. Stanton
After Mr. Stephens had been kept for
two days awaiting a reply. he WIS in-
formed that the Secretary of War re-
fused TO permit him to proceed further
on the ground that 1.-THE customary
agents and channels are considered ade-.
uuate for all INSTRUMENTATION afaa
conferences. See Mr.. Ste9hens' r port,
Id. y. ~.
Between the date of Mr.. Davis letter
md the 9th of July. when the refusal
came to allow Mr.. Stephens to proceed
further on his mission of attempted
IEercy and justice. Gettysburg had been
fought and Nicksburg had fallen, and
these disasters TO the Confederates had
not only made the Federals arrogant
i,s;t had also given them for the first
Time since the cartel. a prepondefance
OF prisoners. and hence from that fine
7crward their interest and their policy
was 10 ti:row every obstacle possible in
1he way of the furtllre exchange.
The foregoing letter OF Mr.. Davis ex-
1lii,its the loftiest craftsmanship and
Christian cl,ara cter. and should inspire
us Witha new desire TODD honor 10 his
memory, as well as fill US with pride
that We had as our ciri, leader one SO
noble. 50 humane, so just and so5trne.
GENERAL LEES REPLY.
1T is Interesting TO us. too. TO know that
Mr.. Davis and General Lee We're in full
accord in their views on the question of
1etalia'ins on prisoners for offenses com
1nitted by others On he 18th of July,
& 1S6i Mr.. Seldom, the Confederate Sec
rotary OF War. wrote 10 General Lee
calling his attention TO the murder of
two citizens in the Valley of Virginia by
General Hunters orders. or by his COM
snand. SUGGESTING that some course Of
retaliation should be put in operation