Newspaper Page Text
by JOHN H. CHRISTY.
DEVOTED TO NEWS, POLITICS, AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION AND GENERAL PROGRESS.
.OO per Annum, in advance.
VOLUME XXII.
ATHENS, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1876.
THE SOUTHERN WATCHMAN
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY.
NUMBER 41.
0«!m «nur •/ Broad awl trail Street*, (up-*tain.)
terms.
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ibttnnnr, ooanttho word*—one hundred being a aquare. All
Vaqttaw are coated aa full squares.
Lallan conn am. a. nwm. nowiu. ooaa.
C OBB. ERWIN & COBB,
Attorneys at law,
A THEXS, GA.
rrrofflcc In Deupree Building. I jan—tf
r PE HARROW,
Attorney at Law, Athens, Ga.
Office In the Newton Building, on Clayton at.
land
F\ WOFFORD,
Attorney at Law, Earner, Ga.
Will rzeottc promptly all business entrusted to his care.
(toUectlng claims s specialty. apfl—<tf
B.'
D BS. BRAWNER &. YOUNG,
Camesville, Ga.
Haring associated In the practice of Medicine nod
tender their professional services to their friends and the pul
IWOSce nearly opposite Un court house, spll
x SPEER,
Lawyer, Athens, Go.
* of Western Circuit, will attend the
Gwinnett, Hall, Banks, Jackaon,
on and White, and giro attention
flalwe In thfjf 1 COQlltiOS. mar 19,73
It. HARDEN,
U, 8. Courts Nebraska and Utah, and now
lodge of Brooks County Court,)
at Law, Quitman, Brooks Co., Ga.
MADISON BELL.
I'EN A- IIELL,
Attorneys at Law, Gainesville, Ga.
Will practice in the counties composing the Western Circuit,
and Dawson and Forsyth counties of the Bine Ridge Circuit.
tn the
inayU
r OYD As 8ILMAN,
Attorneys at Law,
Will practice In the counties of Walton and Jackson.
JOHN J. VLOYD, J, B. SILMAK,
Cu\ ington, Ga. mart Jefferson, Ga.
T P. O'KELLKY’IS
dt Photograph Gallery,
Chrtf 8e«m1 & Co. 1 * Shoe (tore, Broad street, Athena, Geor
gia. ; * ecptS
*
I
.<*»■
. HUGGINS,
Wholesale and Retail Dealer In
•Lry Goods, Groceries, Hardware, Ac.
Broad Street, Athena, Ga.
J AMES R. LYLE, -
Attorney at Law,
dec** 1 WATKIXSVILLE, a A
TOHN M. MATTHEWS,
.^ Attoraw-at Law, jDonielsville, Go.
Proifffci attention drill bu gWra to afiyoualneM entn
J AMES X.. LONG, M. D.,
Surgeon, Acconehcnr and Fnysician,
(0£es at Ur. Tnoma* ShcaU' Start, Bead Hope Bittrict, Weir
ton county. Georgia.)
cumny. wviyut.j
Offers his professional services to the citizens of the snr-
rounding country. aug*7
F ELIAS,
IVi Attorney at law, Franklin, N. C.
Practices in nil the Courts of Western North Carolina, and
nthe Federal Court-.. Claims collected In all parts of the
apt#—ly
State.
L IVERY, Feed & Sole Stable,
GAXN A REAVES, Prop's, Athens, Cm.
WJ1 be foe nd st their old stand, rear Franklin House build*
uuicarefulcr* 1 ”* 1 ' Kecp ai ' st l a on band good turn-outa
Stock well cared for when entrusted to our care.
Stock on band for sale at all time*. dec*5—tf
c rzErucs. e. p. howell.
gEEPLES Ac HOWELL,
A Attorneya at Law,
*0 and **, Kimball Uouae, Atlanta, Ga.
Practice In the State aud Federal Courts. and attend rotru-
firlv tell the IVinrta In ktlanta l„ A l,..tl.... •» — *v a
UriT nil the Court* in Atlanta, including the Supreme Coart
ol the state, aud will argue cases upon bricis lor absent par-
ties, on reasonable terms.
They also practice in the Courta of the counties contiguous
or accessible to Atlauta by ltnilroad. septll
HILL’S SPEECH,
nrnupLr to ex-speaker dlatse, ofhalve.
Delivered in the House January llth, 1870.
The House having under consideration the bill (IL R. No.
*M) to remove the disabilities imposed by the third section of
the fourteenth erticlo of the amendment of the Constitution
of tbs United Mates, the pending question being on the mo
tion of Mr. Blaine to reoonsidertU motion which the bill
was rejected—
Mr. Hill said:
Mr. Speaker—The Hoase will bear wit
ness that we have not sought this discussion.
.Nothing can be farther from oar desire and
purpose than to raise sneb a discussion.
Mr. Atkins—I rise to a point of order. The
whole House desires to bear tbe gentleman
from Georgia, but it is impossible for'them to
do so unlessgentlomen retain their seats.
The Speaker—The* point of order is well
taken, at>4 gentfemen will reteitf-their scats;
and order must jBejttoaervM Attwfly witbia
tbe bar, and tbe Chair directs tbs Doorkeeper
to give special attention to the maintenance of
ordorqaUido the bar. . r,*r**- V ' —
Mr. Hill—I say, Mr. Speaker, thgtenotbiog
could have been fa-ther from tbo desires and
purposes of those wbo with me represent itn
mediately tbe sect ion of country which on
yesterday was put upon trial, than to re open
ibis discussion of tbo events of onr unhappy
past. We bad all bopod that tbe country
bad snfferod long enough from fends, from
strife, and from inflamed passions, and wo
came here, sir, with a patriotic purpose, to
remember nothing bnt the country and the
wholo country, and, taming our backs upon
all the horrors of the past, to look with all
oarneatness to And glories for the future.
Tbe goutlemnn who is tho acknowledge:!
leader of the Republican party on this floor,
who is tbe aspiring leader of tbe Republican
party of this country, representing most man
ifestly tbo wishes of mauy of bis associates—
not all—has willed otherwise. They seemed
determined the wounds which were healing
shall bo re-opencd, that tbo passions which
wore bushing shall bo re-iaflamed. Sir, I
wish tbe Home to understand that we do'uot
reciprocate either the purposo or the mani
fest desire of the gentlemen on tbe other side,
and while we feol it our imperative duty to
vindicate tho truth of history as regards the
section which we represent, feeling that it is
a portion of this common country, we do not
intend to say anything calculated to aid the
gentlemen in their work of crimination and
recrimination und of keeping up the war by
polititiciaus after brave men havo said the
war shall end. Tho gentleman from Maine
on yesterday presented to the country two
questions which he manifestly intends to be tbe
fundamental principles of tbo Republican par
ty, or at loast of those who follow him in
that party. Tbe first is what he is pleased to
term tbe magnanimity and grace of the Re
publicans ; tbe second is tbo brutality of those
whom bo is pleased to term “the rebels,’’
Dpon the first question I do not propose to
weary tbe bouso to-day. If, fresh in the
memory of his people, tbe country is prepared
to talk about tbe grace and magnanimity of
tbe Republicau party, argument would be
wasted. With mastors enslaved, intelligence
disfranchised, society disorganized, industry
paralyzed, States subverted, Legislatures dis
persed by tbe bayonet, tbe people.can accord
to that party tbo verdict of grace and magna
nimity, may God save the futnro of our coun
try fromgraco and magnanimity.
I advanco directly to that portion of the
going to any of tbo authorities at Richmond.
Here is wbat Dr. Jones says;
I had jut cwipletod the which I placed initae larnda
of the judge-advocate, under orders from the Government,
when the Confederacy went to pieces. That report never was
delivered to the Surgeon-General,and I MSB unaware that OUT
one knew of fta existence until I received orders from the
United States Government to Bring it and deliver It to thia
court in testimony.
Now, be was ordered by the United States
Government, the first time this report ever
saw the light, to bring it and deliver it on
tbe trial of Wirz. In accordance with that
order be did bring it and deliver it to the
Jadgo-Adrooate-General. And when the re
port itself, or that which purported to be the
report, was presented to him while be was a
witness he discovered that it was mutilated
and lie asked permission to state the fact.
Hear what he says on tbe subject :
I beg leave to makk a statement to the court. That portion
of my report which has been read Is only a smaB part of the
report* Tfoyeal report contain! the excuses which were given
guilty. Tbe argument is false. It is a libel
upon the American rule of law- and English
precedent. Ton.cannot find-its precedent
anywhere in any civilized country. I acquit
And Andersouvillo, sir, embraced twenty
Gen. Grant of complicity in.tbe whisky frauds '° Vea acrc8 ~
AndeTSonvlIle, which I thought it
HgWUmcontalus documents
|Dr. Stevenson, mm
and revenue frauds, and the faCls acquit Mr.
Davis of complicity in any atrocity anywhere.
Now, Mr. Speaker, I pass from the con
sideration of that, qnestiou to (Jie real facts
about Andersonville. First, I want to call the
attention of tbe House'to the law of the Con
federate government on the subject of the
treatment of prisoners. I read from the act
of the Confederate Congress, on .vtitt subject;
it was very simple, And directed— j
The rations furnished prisoners of war-ahaQ he tho same iu
quantity and quality as those furnished to cnSsted men ill the
army or the Confederacy. . , ; - ■. •
That was the law; that was ids law Mr
Davis approved, and that was th# law, that
be, so far as bis agency was concerned, exo
anted. ■ . ■ ./-fir *
The gentleman in-his epeedb ids gone-st>
y that.; A1 - TM*wt rtAfi-yir
. at part of tbe report is suppressed ;
and with that snpprosrion in this magnificent
receptee of truth is filed away in tbe docu-
inent room for tho information of posterity !
Tbe cotnmitteo ask him:
our conclusions correctly stated in this ex
it tfr-say
ral Winder]
a den of bun-ore anal
do not quote exactly
it is” to organize a'<
sure I cannot uso any
Ah! why that homesickness, that longing
and the distress consequent upon it, and its
effect in carrying those poor, brave, unfortu
nate heroes to death ? I will toll this House
before I atn done.
Now, sir. there is another fact. Wirz was
put on trial, but really Mr. Davis was tbe man
intended to be tried through him. Over one
hundred and sixty witnesses wore introduced
before the military commission. The trial
lasted three months. Tho wholo country was
... w un-lor military despotism; citizens labored un-
enmtswtno- gentleman's argument whichrelatesto-tbo. jLerjdutess; and qnito a number of Confeder-
marchu question belore the Honse.
The gentleman
from Pennsylvania, Mr. Randall, has present
ed to this House, and be asks it to adopt, a
bill oh tho subject of amuesty wbicb is pre
cisely tbo same as tbe bill passed iu this
House by the geutloman’s own party, as I
understand it, at the last session of Con
gress. Tho gentleman from Maino has
moved a reconsideration of tbe vote by wbicb
it was rejected, avowing his purpose to be to
offer an amendment. Tho maiu purpose of
that amendment is to except from tbe opera
tion of this bill one of the citizens of this
country, Mr. Jefferson Davis.
He alleges two distinct reasons why ho
asks the House to make tho exception. I
will stato those reasons in the gentleman’s
own language. First, he says that “ Mr. Da
vis was the autbor, knowingly, deliberately,
guiltily, and willfully, of iho gigantic murder
at Andersonville.” That is a grave indict
ment. Ho then characterized in bis second
position wbat be calls tho horrors of Ander-
sonviilo. And he says of them:
]) H. ADAMS, M. D.,
Ala Surgeon, Accoucheur anil Phyilclaa.
Office at residence. Mountain District, Walton county, Geor
gia—otters hi* profcadonal services to the citizens of the sur-
nraudlug country. aug*d—ly
Anti I here, before God, measuring my word*, knowing
their full extent und iui|>urt, declare that neither the deeds of
the Duke of Alva iu the Low Countries, nor the massacre of
St. Bartholomew, nor the thnmb-screws and engines of tor
ture of the Spanish Inquisition, In-gin'to compare in atrocity
with the hideous crime* of Andersonville.
S AMUEL P. THURMOND,
Attorney at Law, Athena, Ga.
Office on Broad street, over the store of J. M. Barry—will
give special attention to cases In Bankruptcy. Also, to the
collection of all claims entrusted to his care.
S C. DORRS,
t Wholesale and Retail Dejdcr in
Staple and Knacy Dry Goods, Groceries, Ac.
feb* Lower cud of Broad Street, Athena, Ga.
i G. THOMPSON,
s Attorney at Law,
„ , ATimxs, o.t.
Office over Barry's store. Special attention given to crimi-
nal precUre. For reference, apply to Ex-tiov. Thomas 11.
W alts and lion. David Cloptoq, Montgomery, Alabama. fcb3
X A. SALE,
s Dentist, Athens, Ga.
All operations on Teeth warranted to give satisfaction, iu
work and prices. Terms, very low for cash. Rooms over
S. M. Office, Clayton street. augll
o. g-ahuey,
CITY AUCTIONEER,
BROAD ST., A THBSS, GA.
^onsfgnmcuts respectfully solicited. Furniture sales every
w
J. RAY,
Attorney ani Counsellor at Law,
MONROE, GEORGIA.
tW-Wffi give prompt attention to all buxlneas entrusted to
aug*S—tf
hi* care.
H. CHRISTY,
• Book and Job Printer,
Corner Broad and Wall streets, (up-stSnu) S ’
E. A. WILLIAMSON,
Practical Watchmaker and Jeweler,
WTenns, positively CASH.
Medical Notice.
A t the solid tstion of many of my former patrons. I resume
th. prattoeaf Medicine from tUsdateTldailreto nay
••pedal attention to Dm diseases of INFANTS and pitii
DREN,and tbeCURONIC DISEASES OrSttw™ 1 ’
June M, 1US—junto WM. RING, M. D.
BOOT & SHOE
establishment.
which he
— pair, tor cash. They are line
-'-ottlMM boots win bo sent
offer, for Bale at
arch calf aUiuffB
General Ticket Agency
RAILROAD TICKETS
Itcaate, byall roctos, to all principal points In tbe
United States.
Agent 8onthem Express Co„Ath«^”
•s rAT A JL? GlE «f New Keeks sa BbIMIh.
VAff free. BICKNELLJbCO. S7 WOTenwTJI*Y.
Question.
tract?
. Answer. Part of po oondndoos are etntod—not the whole.
A portion of ray copdosiona, -and olao my recommendations,
are not stated. 'A*
Q. Well, touching tho subject of exchange?
A. Yes, sir; tho general tnaSculties environing the prison
ers and their oflicere.
Q. What beearae of your original report?
A. This is my origiual report.
That is, ho had there the extract as far as
it went.
Question. Did yon make this extract yourself?
Tbe committee seem to suspect that be was
tbo man that simply made tbe extract and
brought it beforo tho committee. Now, here
is bis answer:
I did not. My original report Is in tho hands of the judge-
advocate. I delivered it Into his bauds immediately upon my
arrival In Washington.
And this committee of Congress to which
.the gentleman refers absolutely tells us that
this mutilated report wa6 tbo one introduced in
evideneo against this man Wirz, and it is tbe
one incorporated in this book.
Now I want to call attention to another ex
tract from that original report—a part not in
cluded in this book. Thcro aro a great many
such omissions; I have not been able to got
ail of them.
Dr. Jones in his report is giving an account
of tho causes of tbe sickness and mortality at
Andersonville; and ho says, among other
things:
in.; to organ:
ral soldiers. ]
language, but I know
f horrors;” but I atn
.jmJSPwMetimfer
than the gentleman haedvhimself. Therefore
the next thing I w’fll reacy» the nrrthr given
for tho purpose of locating this prised at An-
dersonville, or wherever St should b5*,proper
ly located. Tbe official order for thalpcation
of tbe stockado enjoins that it shnullTbe in a
“ healthy locality, with jitenty of pure water
with a running stream, and. if possible, with
shade trees, and in the immediate neighbor
hood of grist and saw mljls.” That does not
look like the organizatjod of a den of horrors
to eommit murder. TliftTwas the official or
der. That was not all. These prisoners, at
Andersonville were not only allowed tuo ra
tions measured out to Confederate soldier?
both in quantity and quality in every respect,
but they were allowed also to buy as much
outside as they desired; a privilege, lack re
liably informed, which was not extended to
many of the Confederate soldiers. I do npi
know how that is.
I do uot wish to charge it if tho facts were
otborwiee. But in the book which the gen
tleman from Maino himself produces wo find
this testimony, given by a Union Soldier. He
says: —
But 41 why ?” i? a query which I will allow your readers to
infer and to draw conclusions therefrom. Out of the number
of prisouers, us before mentioned, over three thousand of
lay bnried in the cemetery located near the camp
lor that purpose—a mortality equal, if uot greater than any
prison in the South. At Andersonville, aa lam well inform-
We never had any difficulty in getting vegetables; we u*od
to buy almost anything that we wauttil of the sergeant who
tiled the roll mornings anil nights, liis name was Smith, !
. K..n-.N* * We were divided
Surrounded by these depressing agents, the postponement
of the geuetfll exchange of prisoners and the constantly re-
cedaigHiopes of deliverance through the action of their own
Government, depressed their already despouding spirits and
destroyed those mental and moral energies so necessary for a
successful struggle against disease and its agents. Home-
slckucss and dlsapjKiintment, mental depression and distress,
attending the daily longing for an apparently hopeless release,
think; he was Capt. Wirz’* chief «ergeimt. ,
into messes, cfcht in each mess; my mess used to buy from
two to four bushel- of sweet potatoes a week, at the rate of
$15 Confederate money per bushel.
They got $20 of Con federate money for SI
of greenbacks in those days.
are felt to he os potent agencies in the destruction of these
prisoners as the physical causes of actnal disease.
Turnips we bought at $20 a bushel.. We had to buy our
own soap for washing our own persons and clothing; we
bought meat and eggs anil' >'$ouit. There seemed to be abun
dance of those things; they wore in the market constantly.
That sergeant used to come down with a wagon load of pota
toes at a time, bringir -*■ * * * ** * * * * *
sometimes.
Now, sir, Mr. Davis birasolf alluded to that
privilege which was allowed to the Federal
soldiers. The Confederate authorities not
only allowed them to purchaso supplies as
they pleased outside, in'addition to tho rations
allowed them by law—tbe same rations al
lowed to Confederate soldiers—but he says:
By an indulgence |**rhaps unprecedented, we have even al
lowed the prisoners in our hands to be supplied bv their friends
at home with comforts not enjoyed by the men who captured
them in battle. *
Tbe Confederate Government gave Feder
al prisonars tbe same rations that. Confedor..
. ate soldiers in tbs field received. Federal
mqnil quite a number of Confeder- nrisonja bad ufiuaisslaa to bay iff
Beeking tornakefhror wiuiihe pqw-’ _ _
Yet, sir, during those frionda ath$tne permission tq furnish”the
‘ ’ the means tado so. And .vet, Mr. Speaker,
it is true that. In spite of a)t tflbo advantages
enjoyed jiy these prisoners, tlTer’e wore horrors,
and great horrors, at Anaersonville. What
were tho causes of those horrors? Tho first
was want of medicine. That is givon as a
cause of Dr. Jones iu his testimony ; that is
given by this very Father Hamilton, from
which tho gentleman read. Father Hamil
ton savs:
Sir, he stands hoforo the country with bis
very famo in peril if ho having made such
charges, shall not sustain them. Now I take
up tho propositions of the gentlemen in their
order. I hopo no gentleman imagines I am
here to pass an eulogy ou Mr. Davis. Tho
record oa which his famo rests has been made
up, aud bo and bis friends have transmitted
tbatrecord to tbe oDly judge who will give him
an impartial judgmeut—an honest, unimpas-
sioned posterity. In tbe meantime, no eulogy
from mo can help him, no censure from tbo
gentleman can damage him, and no act or
resolution trom this Honse can affect him.
But tbe charge is that be is a murderer, and a
deliberate, wilful, guilty, scheming murderer
of “ thousands of our fellow-citizens.” Why,
sir, knowing tbe character of tbe bonorable
gentleman from Maine, bis high reputation,
when I beard tbe charge fall from bis lips 1
thought surely tbe gentleman bad made a
discovery, and I listened for the evideneo t»
justify that charge. Ho produced it; aud
wbat was it f To my utter amazement, as
tbe gentleman from Pennsylvania, has wel
stated, it is nothing on earth bnt a report of
a committee of this Congress, made when pas
sions were at tbeir height, and it was known
to tbo gentleman and tbo whole country eight
years ago.
Now, I^ay. first in relationjto tbo testimo
ny that it is exclusively ex parte. It was ta
ken wben tbe gentleman wbo is now pnt upon
trial by it before tbe country, was imprison
ed and in chains, without a hearing and with
out an c pprrtunity to be beard. It was tak-'
on by enimies. It was takon in tbo midst
of fury and rage. If there is anything in An
glo-Saxon law wbicb ought to be considered
sacred, it is tbe high privilege of an English
man not to be condemned until be shall be
confronted with witnesses against bim. But
tbat is not ail. The testimony produced by
the gentleman is not only ex parte, not only
exclusively tbo production of enemies, or at
least takon by them and in tbe midst of pas
sion. but tbe testimony is mutilated, paloably
mutilated, most adroitly, 'mutilated. Wby,
sir, one of tbe main witnesses is Dr. Josepb
Jones, a very excellent gentleman, who was
called upon to givo bis testimony in wbat is
called tbe Wirz trial, and much is produced
before this House and attention called to it by
tbe gentleman. Tbe object of tbe gentleman
was to prove tbat Mr. Davis knew of these atro-
cites at Andersonville, and be calls tbe atten
tion of tbe House to tbe report of this commit
tee, and thanks God tbat it has been taken in
time to be pnt where it can neither be con
tradicted nor gainsaid, as a perpetual guide to
posterity to find out tbe anthora of these
crimes.
One of tbe most striking and remarkable
pieces of evidence in this wbole report is
found in tbe report made by Dr. Joees, a
surgeon of fine character, and sent to An'der-
sonville by tbe Confederate authorities to in
vestigate the condition of tbat prison. Tbat
gentleman made bis report, anti it is brongbt
into this House. Wbat is it I The first
point is as to tbo knowledge of this report
■' • ' ' V
ates were
ers of tbo Government,
throe mouths, with all the witnesses they could
bring to Washington, not ono single man ever
mentioned tbo name of Mr. Davis in connec
tion with a single atrocity at Andersonville
or elsewhere. Tbo gentleman from Maine,
with ail bis research into all tbo histories of
tbe Duko of Alva and tbo massacree of St.
Bartholomew and the Spanish inquisition, has
not been able to frighten up such a witness yet.
Now, sir, there is a witness on this subject.
Wirz was condemned, found guilty, sentenced
to be executed; and I have now before mo tbe
written statement of his counsel, a northern
man and a Union man. He gave this state
ment to the country, aud it has nover been
contradicted.
Hear what this gentleman says:
On tin- uiqht before the execution of the prisoner Wirz, a
telegram was sent to the Northern press from thia city stating
that \S irz had liisde important disclosures to Gen. L. C. Ba
ker, the well known detective, implicating .Tetferson Davis,
and that the confession w ould proluthly lie given to the puh-
Bj- Ou the same evening some parties came to the confessor
of Wirz, Key. lutuirr Bayle.nnd nlsotoinuashi.**counsel,out*
of them informin'' mo that a hiph Cabinot officer wished to
assure Wire that it he would implicate .fefterson Davis with
the atrocities committed ;u Andursouville, his sentence would
lie commuted. The messenger requested me to inform Wirz
of this. In nresenee of Father Boyle I told Wirz next inorn
ili£ what U.id happened.
Hear the reply :
Capt. Wirz simply and quietly replied: “Mr. Scliade, yon
i * ’ 9 told yo” «*'-•* * —- »
that I have always told you that 1 do not know anythin;
about JeltenKHi Bavin. lie hud no connection with me iu» to
tat wjh done at Andersonville. I would not become a traitor
oust him or anylnxly else, even to save my life.”
Sir, wbat Wirz, within two hours of his exe-
cutiou, would not cay for his life, <bo gentle
man from Maino says to the country to keep
himself aud his patty in power. Christianity
is a falsehood, humanity is a lie, civilization is
a cheat, or tho man who would not make a
false charge for his life was never guilty of
willful muijlor.
Ho who makes a charge must produce bis
witnesses. They must bo informed witnesses.
They must bo credible witnesses. The gentle
man from Maino makes charges, but produces
no witnesses. He says that men sent by Jef
ferson Davis to Andersonville were his officers,
executing bis orders, commissioned bv him,
and bo therefore charges Mr. Davis with these
atrocities by inference. It was only wben the
gentleman reached that portion of his argu
ment that I thought I began to discover tho
real purposeof hisargumeut. I will not charge
him with it, but a. suggestion came immediate
ly to my mind.
Wbat was tho proposition which the gentle
man proposes to establish ? Is it tbat those
in authority are to be charged with the sins
and treacheries j>f thffir agents, commissioned
by thorn and acting under their orders? Is
tbe geutlemau artfully—I beg pardon—under
tho prejudice and passion against Jefferson
Davis, seeking to assault President Grant? If
Jefferson Davis sent Geueral Winder to An-
der8ouvillo, why President Grant sent McDon
ald and Joice to St. Louis. [Laughter.] Nay,
more, sir; is not the very secretary of the
White House, tho private confidential secreta
ry, indicted to-day for complicity in these
frauds ? Doe3 the gentleman want to establish
a rulo.oi construction by which be can author
ize tho country to arraign General Grant for
complicity in tbo whiBkey frauds? [Laughter.]
Sir, is General Grant responsible for the
Credit Mobilier ? Was be a stockholder in tbo
Sanborn contracts ? Was he copartner iu tbe
frauds upon this District? Witb all his wit
nesses, the gentieman nover can find a single
man wbo was confidential secretary cf Mr.
Davis and charged with complicity in crimo,
or that Mr. Davis ever endorsed any man as fit
for office who was even gravely charged with
any complicity in fraud. Yet the gentleman’s
President, as I understand it, absolutely sent
to tbe Senate of the United States for confir
mation to a high office tbe very man who
stood charged before tbe country witb the
grossest peculations and frauds in this Dis
trict, and tbat, too, after these charges were
made and while tbe investigation was pending.
Sir, I am neither theauthor nor tbe disciple
of socb political logic. And I will. not. nor
would I for any consideration, assume the pro
position before this Honse to punish an enemy
wbicb would implicate tbe President of tbe
United Spates in tbe grossest frauds. Yet if
tbe gemelnan’s proposition be true General
Grant, instead of beiog entitled to a third
Presidential term, is entitled to twenty terms
mortality among them. The aurroandinj
lowing nature, namely: narrow, confine*
acres iu extent-
only souree of supply, for an extended period, that the pri-
f*ouers could possibly use for the purpose of ablution ana to
s akc their thirst from day to day; the tents and other ehelter
allotted to the camp at Elmira were insufficient and crowded
to the utmost extent; hence, small-pox and other *ktn «n<u
ragud through the camp.
•e I may note that, owin
Here I may note that, owing to a general order from the
Government to vaccinate the prisoners, my opportunities were
ample to observe the effects of spurious and diseased matter,
aud there is no doubt in my mind but that syphilis was en
grafted iu many instances; ugly and horrible ulcers and erup-
ijous ot a characteristic nature were, alas! too frequent and
oovious to lie mistaken. Small-pox cases were crowded in
such a manner that it was a matter of impossibility for the
surgeon to treat his patients individually; they actually laid
so adjacent that the simple movement of one case would cause
his neighbor to cry out w an agony of pain. The confluent
and malignant type prevailed to such an extent and of Buch a
nature that the body would frequently be found one continu
ous scab.
The diet and other allowances by the Government for the
-nro aBawSdl^w ampIe ’ yet the P°° r unfortunates
No\?£ 8ir,\tfcfo'Confederate regulations aa-
ample provision for Federal prisoners,
tho same tbat wa3 mado for Confederate sol
diers, and yob charge that Mr. Davis is re
sponsible for not having those allowances hon
estly supplied. Tho United States made pro
vision for Confederate prisoners, so far as ra
tions were concerned, for feeding those in Fed
eral hands; and yet what says the surgeon f
‘ They were allowed to starve.*
«d by brother oflicers who endured confinement there, a» well
as by the records at Washington, the mortality was twelve
thousand out of, say forty thousand prisoners. Hence is it
readily to be seen that the range of mortality was no less at
Elmira than at Andersonville.
Mr. Platt—Will tbe gentleman allow me to
interrupt bim a moment to ask bim where be
gets that statement ?
Mr. Hill—It is tbo statement of a Federal
surgeon published in tbo Now York World.
Mr. Piatt—I desiro to say tbat I live wittiin
thirty six miles of Elmira, and tbat those
statements aro unqualifiedly false.
Mr. Hill—Y'es, aud I suppose that if one
rose from tbo dead tbo geutleman would not
believe him.
Mr. Platt—Doe3 the gentleman say tbat
those statements are truo ?
Mr. Hill—Ccrtaiuly I do not say that they
aro truo, bnt I do say tbat I believe tbe state
ment of tbo surgeon in charge before that of a
politician thirty-six miles away. Now will
tbe gentleman believe testimony from tbo
dead? The Bible says, ‘ 'iho tree is known
by its fruits.’ And, after all, wbat is tho test
of suffering ot these prisoners North and South’
Tbo test is tho result. Now I call the atten
tion of tbo gentlemen to this fact, tbat tho re
port of Mr. Stanton, tbo Secretary of War—
tmty ur twenty-fivebushels ut a loud Lyon will bolievo him, will you not?—on the
Confederate States or Ax erica, War Department,)
Richmond, Va., January *4, ISM. /
Sir: In view of the present difficulties attending the ex
change and release of prisoners, I propose that all such on
either side shall be attended by a proper number of their own
surgeons, who, under rules to be established, shall be permit
ted to take charge of their health aud comfort. I also propose
that these surgeons shall act as commissaries, with power to
receive aud distribute such contributions of money, food,
clothing and medicines us may be forwarded for tbe relief of
tbe prisoners. I further propose thut these surgeons shall be
selected by their owu Government, and tliat they shall have
full liberty, at any and ull times, through the agents of ex
change, to make reports not only of theirown acts, but of any
matters relating to the welfare of the prisoners.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
Robert Oulu, Agent of Exchang
Maj. Gen. U. A. Hitchcock, Agent of Exchange.
I conversed with Dr. White with regard to tlic condition of
the men, and he told me it was not la his power to do any
thing for them; tliat he had no medicine, und could not set
any, and that he was doing everything in his power to help
them.
in twenty, penitentiaries. Bat, sir, he is not lute
Now, how was it that medicines and other
essential supplies could not be obtained ? Un
fortunately they were not in tbe Confederae.y
Tbe Federal Government made medicine con
traband of war. And I am not aware that any
other nat ion on tbe earth ever did such a thing
before—not even tbo Duko of Alva, sir. The
Confederate Government, unable to introduce
medicines according to its rights under the
laws of nations, undertook to run tho block
ade, and whenever possible the Federal Navy
captured its ships and took tho medicines.
Then, wbon no otbor resource was left,, when
it was suspected that the women of tbe North
—tbe earth’s angels, God bless them—would
carry quinine and other medicines of that sort,
so much needed by tho Federal prisoners in
tho South, Federal officers wero charged to
cnptur.o tbe wonion and examino their petti
coats, to keep them from carrying medicines
to tho Confederate Soldiors and to Federal
prisoners, and they were imprisoned. Suicly,
sii, tho Confederate Government ami tho
Soutborn people aro not to be blamed for a
poverty of medicines, food, and raiment en
forced by tho stringent war measures of the
Federal Government—a poverty wbicb bad
its intended effefit of immeasurable distress to
the Confederate armies, although it incident
ally inflicted unavoidable distress upon the
Federal prisoners in the South.
Tbe Federal Government made clothes con
traband of war. It sent down its armies nnd
they burned up tbe factories of tho South
wherever they could find them, for the express
purpose of preventing tbe Confederates from
furnishing clothes to their soldiers, aud the
Federal prisoners of course shared this depri-
vation of comfortable clothing. It was tbe
war polioy of tbe Federal Government to make
sapplies scarce. Dr. Jones ha his, testimony
and Father HatnW^qJn bis testimony, wbicb
I will not stop to rort:tV-<jgyr ‘ ”
wliy clotbiog was so scarce to Fedifral prison-
ers,... .
. Now, then, air, whatever horrors existed at
Andersonville, not one of them -could be at
tributed to a siugle act of legislation -of the
Confederate Government, hot every horror of
Andersonville grew out of the necessities of
the occasion, which necessities were cast upon
tho Confederacy by tbe war policy of tho other
side. The gentleman from Maine said that
no Confederate prisoner was ever maltreated
in the North. And when my friend answered
from bis seat ‘ a thousand witnesses to the
contrary in Georgia alone’the gontleman from
Maine joinod issue, but as usual produced no
testimony in support of his issue. I think the
gentleman from Maine is to bo excused. For
ten years, unfortunately, ho and his ‘ people
have been reviling tbe people who were not
allowed to come here to meet tho reviling.
Now, sir, we are face to face, and when you
make a charge you must bring your proof.
The time has passed wb«o the country can ac
cept the impudence of assertion for tho force
of argnment or recklessness of statement for
the troth of bistofy. :!
Now, sir, I do pot wish to unfold the chap
ter on the other side. Iam an American. I
honor my country, and my whole country, and
it conid be no pleasure to me to bring forward
proof that any portion of my countrymen have
been guilty of willful murder j»r of cruel treat
ment to poor manacled prisoners. Nor will l
make any such: charge. Those horrors are
inseparable, maby of tbem arid most of them
from a state of war. I bold in my band a let
ter written by one who was a; surgeon at the
prison at Elmira, aud he says I
*n>e winter of 18Mt’C5 w as an m.ufkiUy screre End rigid
**■ ”” “ nHsnmsSsMrirfwtnjin tliR Southern States tiur-
wa and lads, clothed in attire
19th of July, IStiti—send to tbo Library and
got it—oxhibits tbo fact that: of tbo Federal
prisoners in Confederate bands during tho war
only 22,570 died, while of tho Coufedorate
prisoners in Federal bauds 26,436 died. And
Surgeon General Barnes reports in an official
report—I suppose you believo him—that iu
round numbers the Confederate prisoners in
Federal bands amounted to 220,000. while tbe
BcAerai prisbners in Confederate bands
amounted to 270,000. Out of tho 270,000 in
Confederate hands 22,000 died, while of the
220.1100 Coafi^ratee in Federal bands -over
26,CiM) died- ; Tho ratio is this: More than
t. of the Coufederatus iu Federal
y and-fcsB'tbfvn 9 per .ce«. of ( lbc
Federa'.s in tho Confederate bands died. AYbat
is tbe logic of thoso facts according to the gen
tleman from Maine? I scorn to cbarga> mur-
dor upon tbo officials of Nortborn prisons, as
tbo gentleman has dono upon Confederate
prison officials, I labor to demonstrate that
such miseries are inevitable in prison life, no
matter bow humane tbe regulations. I would
scorn, too, to use a newspaper article, unless
it were signed by one who gave his own name
and whose statement, if not truo, can be dis
proved, and I would believe such a oue in
preference to any politician over there wbo
was thirty six miles away from Elmira. Tbe
gentleman, so prompt to contradict a surgeon,
might perhaps have smelled tbe 6mall-pox
bnt be could not see it, and I venture to say
that if be knew the small-pox was there be
would have taken very good care to keop
thirty-six miles away. He is a wonderful wit-
dcss. lie is not oven equal to tbe mutilated
evidence brought in yesterday. But, sir, it
appears from tbo official record tbat the Con
federates eauio from Elmira, and Fort Dela
ware, and from Rock Island and other places
witb tbeir lingers frozen off, with tbeir toes
frozen off, and witb tbeir teeth dropped out.
But tbo great question is behind. Every
American, North or South, must lament that
onr country has ever impeached its civiliza
tion by such an exhibition of horrors on any
side, and i speak of these things witb no de
gree of pleasure. God knows if I could hide
tbem from tbe gaze of the world I would glad
ly do it. But tbo great question is, at last,
who was responsible for this state of things?
And that is roally tbo only material question
witb which statesiueu should now deal. Sir,
it is well known tbat, when tbo war opened
at first tbo authorities of tbo United States
determined tbat they would not exchange pris
oners. Tho first prisoners captured by the
Federal forces wero tho crew of tho Savannah,
and thoy were put iu chains and sentenced to
bo executed. Jefferson Davis hearing of this,
communicated through tbo lines, and tbe Con
federates having meanwhile also captured
prisoners be threatened retaliation in case
those men suffered, and tbe sentences against
the crew of tbe Savannah was not executed
Subsequently our friouds from this way—I
believe my friend before mo from New York
[Mr. Cox] w;ts one—insisted that there.should
bo a cartel for tbe exchange of prisoners. In
1862 that cartel was agreed upon. In sub-
stauce and briefly it wa3 tbat there should be
an exebango of man for man and officer for
officer, and whichever bold an excess at the
time of exchange should parole tbo excess.
This worked very well until 186:?. I am going
over the Tacts very briefly.
In 1863 this cartel was interrupted; ' tbe
Federal authorities refused to continue tho ex
change. Now commenced a history which the
world ought to know, and which I hope the
Houso will grant me the privilege of stating,
and I shall do it from official records. This,
I say frankly to the gentlemen ou tbe other
side, was in truth ono of the severest blows
stricken at the Confederacy, this refusal to
exchange prisoners in 1863 and continued
through 1864. The Confederates made evory
effort to- renew tho cartel. Among otbor
things, on the 2d of July, 1863, the Vice- Pres
ident of the Confederacy, to whom the gentle
man from Maine alluded the other day in
so complimentary terms, Mr, Alexander H.
Stephens, was absolutely commissioned by
President Davis to oross tbe lines and come
to Washington to consult with the Federal an-
thorities, with a broad commission to agree
apon any cartel satisfactory to the other side
for the exchange of prisoners. Mr. Davis said
to him, * Your mission is simply one of human
ity, and has no political aspect.’ Mr. Ste
phens undertook tbat work. What was the
result f I wish to be careful, and I will state
this exactly correct. Here is his letter
Now, sir, I have read a letter from the
confederate commissioner of exebango, written
in 1864. proposing tbat each side send sur
geons witb tho prisoners; that they nurse and
treat tbe prisoners -, tbat tbe Federal authori
ties send as mauy as they pleased; tbat tboso
surgeons bo commissioned also as commissa
ries to furnish supplies of clothing and food
and everything else needed for tbe comfort of
prisoners.
Now, sir, bow did the Federal Government'
treat that offer? It broko tbo cartel for tbe ex
change of prisoners; it refused to entertain a
proposiiion, oven wben Mr. Stephens headed
the commission, to renew it; and thou, sir,
when tbo confederates proposed tbat their own
urgeons should accompany tho prisoners of
tbo respective armies, tbo Federal authorities
did not answer tho letter. No reply was ever
received. *
Then, again, in August, 1864, confederates
made two more propositions. I will stato tbat
tbe cartel of exchange was broken by tbe Fed
oral authorities, for certain ‘alleged reasons.—
Well, in August, 1864, prisoners accumulating
on both sides to such extent, tbo Federal Go
vernment having refused evory proposition
from tbe Confederate authorities to provide
for tbe comfort and treatment cf these pris
oners, tbo confederates next proposed, in a let
ter from Colonel Ould, dated tbo 10th of Au
gust, 1864, waiving every objection tbo Fod-
eral Government bad made, to agree to any
and all torms to renow tbe exebango of pris
oners, man for man and officer for officer, as
tlm Federal Government should prescribe.
Yet, sir, tbe latter rejected that propodtiou.
It took a second letter to bring an answer to
tliat proposition.
Then, again, in tbo same month of Angust,
1864, the Confederate authorities did this :
Finding tbat the Federal Government would jMflWy »i»raon;U friend* would teui any interest; tiust
nZvsLL. at a Tt .Zr l , 1A :»!?'?ecreta» ot WzrwM that
not exchange prisoners at ail,
not let Surgeons-go-loto the„’_
t it would not let medic
sent';' meaqwhi
ravages of war
one, and tho prisoners arrivi
this season wereimo.-il.t
only to thu gsuial cihrAte of tho South. I need not
' that this alone wes ample cause for an unusual
Confederate. States Stbaxeb Torpedo,)
^ In James River, July 4,1843. f
Sir: As military commlsstnuer, I am the bearer of a com
munication In writing from Jefferson Davis, commander-in-
chief of the land and naval forces of the Confederate 8tates,
to Abreham Lincoln, commander-in-chief of the land and
naval forces of the United States. Hon. Robert Ould, Con
federate States agent ot exchange, accompanies me as Secre-
This was directed to S. H. Lee, Admiral.
Here i» the answer:
AMng Rear-Admiral R. a. Lee, Hampton Road* :
Thu request of Alexander H. Stephens is inadmissible. •
' ‘ Gideon Welles, Secy of the Navy.
You will acknowledge that Mr. Stephens’
humane mission failed. The Confederate au
thorities gave to that mission as much dignity
and character as possible. They supposed
that of all men in the South Mr. Stephens
most nearly had your confidence. They se
lected bim to be the bearer of messages for
the sake of humanity in behalf of the brave
Federal soldiers who wore unfortunately pris
oners of war. Tbo Federal Government would
not oven receive bim ; the Federal authorities
would not hear bim.
What was tho next effort ? After Mr. Steph
ens' mission failed, and after the commissioner
for the exchange of prisoners, Colonel Ould,
having oxbaustod all bis efforts to get tho
cartel renewed, on the 24th January 1864,
wrote tbe following letter' to Major General
E. A. Hitchcock, agent of exchange' 1 oh the
Federal 6ide:
scant supplies of the South, which wasaju
unable ta feed adequately its own defenders,
aud much less able to properly feed hud
clothe tho thousands of prisoners iu Confed
erate prisons ? They proposod to send tho
Federal sick and wounded without equiva
lent. Now. sir, I want the Houso and tbe
country to understand this : that in August,
1865, the Confederate Government officially
proposed to tbe Federal authorities tbat if
they would send steamships or transporta
tion in any form to Savaunah, they should
bave tbeir sick and wounded without equiva
lent Tbat proposition communicated tn tbe
Federal authorities in August, 1864, was not
answered until December, 1864. In Decem
ber, 1864, tbe Federal Government sont ships
to Savannah. Now, the records will show
tbat tbe chief suffering at Andersonville was
between August and December. The Con
federate authorities sought to avert it by ask
ing tho Federal Government to come and
taka its prisoners without equivalent, without
return, and itrefusrd to do that until four or
five months bad elapsed.
Tbat is not tbe only appeal which was made
to tbo Federal Government. I now call tbo
attention of the Honse to another appeal. It
was from tbe Federal prisoners themselves
They knew a3 well as the Southern people
did the mission of Mr. Stephens. They know
tho offer of January 24,^for surgeons, for
medicines and clothing for comforts and food,
and for provision < of every sort. > They know
that the Confederate authorises had offered
to let these be sent to tbem by their own Go
vernment. They knew that had;boen reject
ed. They knew the offer of August 10, 1864.
They knew of the other offer to return sick
and wounded without an ^equivalent. They
knew all these offers had been rejected.
Therefore they held a meeting and passed
the following resolutions ; and I call the at
tention of the gentlemen on the^othor side to
iheso resolution. I ask if they will not be
lieve the surgeons of their hospitals'; if
they will not bolieve Mr. Stanton's ao-
report, if r,hoy will not believe Surgeon-Gen -
ral Barnes’ r eport, I beg from j’liem to know
if they will not believe the earnest, heart
rending appeal of those starving, suffering
heroes ? Here are the resolutions passed by
the Federal prisoners the 28th ef September,
1864.
Retolved, That while allowing the Confederate authorities
all due praise for the attention paid to onr prisoners,- numbers
ot our men are daily consigned to early graves, in the prime
of manhood, far from home aud kindred, and this is not caus
ed intentionally by tbe Confederate Government, but by the
for man and officer for officer? Why did
they refuse to stand ud to their own solemn
engagements, mado in 1862, for the exchange
of prisoners ? Who is at fault ? There must
be a reason for this. That is tbe next point
to which I wish to call tbe attention of tbe
Honse. Sir, listen to tbe reading. The New
York Tribune, referring to this matter in 1864,
said—I suppose.von will believe the Tribane
in 1864, if you do not believe it now :
In August the rebels offered to renew the exchange *n«n r or
man. Gen. Grant then telegraphed the following important
order: It is hard on our men held in Southern prisons not to
exchange them, bnt it is humanity to thoso left in the ranks
to fight onr battles. Every man released on parole or other*
wise becomes an active soldier against ns at once, either dl-
recUy or indirectly. If we-commence a system or exchange
which liberates all prisoners taken, we will have to fight on
till the whole South is exterminated. If we hold those caught
they amount to no more than dead men. At this particular
time, to release all rebel prisoners North would insure Sher-
mau s defeat and would compromise onr safety here.
Mr. Garfield. What date is that?
Mr. Hill. Eighteen hundred and sixty-four.
Mr. Garfield, What date in that year.
Mr. Hill. 1 do not noto the day or month.
I have read tbo telegram which is taken from
tho New Yo^k Tribune, after August, 1864.
Here is Gen. Grant’s testimony before the
committee on tho exebango of prisoners, Fob.
11,1865. Yon believe him, do you not?
Question. It has been 6aid that we refused to exchange pri
soners because we found ours starved, diseased aud imservico*
able when we received them, and did not like to exchange
sound men for such men. *
That was the question propounded to him.
His answer was:
Answer. There never baa been an
Tbat has been a reason for making exchanges. I will confess
•hat if onr men who are prisoners in the South were really
well taken ezre of, suffering nothing but a little privation of
liberty, then, in a military point of view, it would aot lie good
policy for us to exchange, because every man they get back is
forced right into the army at once, while thnt is. not the esse
with our prisoners when we receive them; in tact, the half of
our returned prisoners will never go into the army again, and
none of them will until after they havo had a furlough of thirty
or sixty days. Still, the fact of their suffering as they do la a
reason tor making this exebango as rapidly as possible.
Q. And never has been a reason for not making the ex-
lanjre ?
A. It never has. Exchanges having been suspended by rea
son of disagreement on tbo part of agents of exchange on
both sides oefore I came iu command of tho armies of tbo
United States; and it then being near the opening of tbo spring
ca-finalon. I did not deem it advisable or just to the men who
bad to fight onr battles to reinforce the enemy with thirty or
forty thousand disciplined lroo]«iat tliat time. An immedi
ate resumption of exchanges would havo had that effect, with
out giving ua corresponding benefits. The suffering uaid to
exist among our prisoners South wasanowertul argument
agaihat the course pursued, und so 1 felt ft.
Now, sir, wo havo other authority upon that
subject. Here is a letter by Junius Henri
Browne. I do not know tho'gentleman. He
signs his narao to tho letter. He writes like
a scholar. Ho is a northern gentleman, and
I a.u not awaro that Ilia statement has ever
been contradicted. Now what does ho say ?
New York, Aug. 8,186S.
. . Ids speech nt Iziwell, Mass.,»tut-
0*1 positively that lie-had been ordered by Mr. Stanton to put
ionviird the ne^ro question to complicate and prevent tbe ex
change. * * * Every one is aware that when tbe exchange
did tike place not the slightest alteration hail occurred in the
question, and that our prisoners might as well have been re*
leased twelve or eighteen months before as at the resumption
of the cartel, which would have saved to the Kcpublic at leai“
twelve or fifteen thousand heroic lives.
That they were not saved is due nlbne to Mr. Stanton’s pe
culiar policy and dogged obstinacy; aud, as I have remarked
before, he is unquestionably the digger of the unnamed graves
that crowd the vicinity of every Southern prison with historic
and never-to-be-forgotten horrors.
Thai is tbo testimony of a Northern man
igRiost Mr. ->tanton. And be goosou :
I regret the revival ot this painful subject, but the gratuit
ous effort of Mr. Dana to refleve the Secretary of War front
a responsibility he seems willing to hear, and which merely as
a question of policy, independent of all consnlerationi of hu
manity, must be regarded as of great weight, has compelled
me to vindicate myself from the charge of making grave state
ments without due consideration.
Once for atL let me declare that I have never found foul
with anyone because 1 was detained Iu prison, for I am well
aware that tbat was a matter In which no one bat myself and
force of circumstances.
Brave men are always honest, and true sol
diers nover slander, Thoy say the horrors
thoy havo suffered were not intentional, that
tbe Confederate Government bad done nil it
could to avert them. Sir, I believe thia testi
mony of gallant men a» being of tho highest
character, coming from the snfferers them
selves.
They further resolved:
The prisoner u obliged to go without shelter, and In a great
portion of cases without medicine.
Retolved, That whereas in the fortune of war it was our tot
to become prisoners. We have suffered patiently, and are
still wUling to suffer, if by ao doing we can benefit the coun
try ; but we would most resoectfull; '
the people of the loyal North might know to whom they wero
r understand tbat Mr. Browne is a contri- -
butor to Harper’s Monthly, and was then.
-Thajaao sohe tells yop, who was responsible
for there atrbenn*u nTAiludamonville was the
late Secretary of War, MsTStanEmr >
Now, Mr. Speaker, what have I provenf
bave proven that tbe Federal authorities broke
tho cartel for tho excbauge<of prisoners do,
liberatoly; I have proven that they refused
to re open that cartel wben it was proposed
by Mr. Stephens, as a commissioner, solely
on the ground of humanity ; I have proven
that they made medicine coutrabaud of war,
and thereby left the South to the dreadful
nocesaity of tratiog tbeir own prisoners with
such medioines as could bo improvised iu the
Confederacy; l have proven that they refaied
to allow surgeons of tbeir own appointment
of tbeir own army, to accompany tboir prison
ers in the South, with full license and liberty
to carry food, medicine and raiment, and ev
ory comfort that tbe prisoners might need ; I
bave proven that wheu tbo Federal Govern
ment made the pretext for interrupting the
cartel for tbe exchange of prisoners, the Con
federates yielded every point and proposed to
exchange prisoners on tbe terms of the Fed
eral Government, and that the latter refused
it; I have proveu that thu Confederates then
proposed to return the Federal sick and woun
ded without equivalent in August, 1864. and
never got a reply until December, 1864; I
bave proven that high Federal officers gave
as the reason wby they would not exchange
prisoners that it would be humanity to the
prisoners but cruolty to tbo soldiers in tbe
field, and thorefore it was a part of tbe Fed
eral military policy to lot the Federal prison
ers suffer rather than that the Confederacy
should bave an increase of its military force,
and the Federal Government refused it wben
by such an exchange it would have received
more prisoners than it returned to the Con
federates.
Now, what is the answer to all this ? Against
whom does the charge lie, if there are to be
accusations of any, for the horrors of Ander-
sonviile ?
Mr. Bright. What was the percentage of
deaths in the prisons ?
Mr. Hill. I have already given it. I have
proved also that, with all the horrors at An-
dersonvillo, the gentleman from Maino has so
ostentatiously paraded, aud for an obvious
partisan purpose of oxciting upon this floor a
bitter eecttoDal discussion, from which his
party, and perhaps himself, may bo the bene
ficiary, greater sufferings occurred in tbe pris
ons whore Confederate soldiers were confined,
and that the percentage of death was 3 per
cont. greater among Confederate troops in
Federal hands than among Federal soldiers
held by the Confederates. And I need not
state tbe contrast bstween the needy Confed
eracy and the abundance of Federai supplies
aDd resources.
Now, sir, wben tbe gentleman rises again to
give breath to tbat effusion of unmitigated
genius without foot to sustain it, in wbioh he
says—
II j beg to aay that we are
not willing to suffer to further the ends of any party or clique
to the detriment of our own honor, our families and our coun
try. And we would beg that this affair be explained to us.
that we may continue to hold the Government In the respect
which is necessary to make a good citizen and soldier,
-manded by Lieut. Hunter Davidson, of the Confederate States
Was this touching appeal heeded? Let
any gentleman who belongd to tbe “ clique
or party” that the resolutions condemn an
swer for hie party.
Now, sir, it was in roforence to tbat state
of things exactly that Dr. Jones reported, as
I have already read to the House, in his re
port which was mutilated before tbo commit
tee of Congress and in the trial of Wirz—it
was in consequence of that very state -of
things tbat Dr. Jones said tbat depression
of mind and despondency and home sickness
of these poor prisoners carried more to their
graves than did physical causes of disease.
That was not wonderful at all.
Bnt, Mr. Speaker, wby were all tboso ap
peals resisted ? Wby did the Federal author
ities refuse to allow tbeir own surgeons to go
with their soldiers, and carry tbem modicine
and clothiog and comfort 'and treatment t
Why? Why did they refuse to change mao
And I here, before God, measuring my words, knowing
their full extent and import, declare tint neither the deedtol
the Duke of Alva In the Low Couatrk-a, nor the massacre of
St. Bartholomew, nor the thumb-screws and the engines of
torture of the Spanish Inquisition, begin to comueroln atro
city with the hideous crime of Anderson villa.
Let bim add tbat tbe mortality at Andorsoa-
vilie and other Confederate prisons falls short
by more than 3 per cent, tbe mortality in Fed
eral prisons.
Sir, if any man wilt reflect a moment he
will see that there was reason why the Con
federate Government should desire exchange
of prisoners. It was scarco of food, pinched
for clothing, closed up with a blockade of its
ports; it needed troops; its ranks were thin
ning.
Now, Mr. Speaker, it is proper that I should
read one or two sentences from tbe mnn who
has been arraigned as the vilest murderer in
history. Alter tbo battles around Richmond,
in wbioh MoClellan was defeated, some ten
thousand prisoners fell into the hands of the
Confederacy. Victory bad perched upon ite
standard, and the rejoicing naturally following
victory was hoard in the ranks of tbe Confed
erate army. Mr, Davis wont out to make a
gratnlatory speech. Now, gentlemen of the
Honse, gentlemen of the other side, if you
are willing to do justice, let me simply call
your attention to the words of this man tbat