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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. TWO POXjT 1 A 'RS A-TTBAB, • INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. advertising cnntinunce. lot toy ilnw under one month. For longer pe- Hoffs, aUtoraldeduction will be made. LEGAL ADVERTISING.' ::::::::::::::::::: tuum js(Kvtbr Administrators,ExecutorsorGuard’!*!. WO CIMlbnff ofAdmlnl*tr*tlo» or Guardianship silxi a fordUmleekm of AdmlnWrutor: n m «« Guardian..... - - *• Meertaln the number at aguarea Iniu ^T^rtlnementor 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