IflgP? - ' .*
BY MEYERS & MENGEL.
Election proclamation.
/ IENERAL ELECTION PBOCLA
t J MATION—WHEREIS. in and by .in set of
(ieneral Assembly of the Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania. entitled Ac Act to regulate the Gen
eral Elections within this Comnnmwefilth," it is
enjoined upon me to give public notice of said e
lections and to enumerate in said notice what offi
cers are to be elected, I. ROBERT tsTECKMAN,
Sheriff of the county of Bedford, do hereby make
known and give tbis public notice to the electors
~f the county of Bedford, that a General Election
will he held in said countv. on the
N ECONB TI~ES I) A Y{VUh)OF OCTOBER,
1 soiti. at the several election districts, vis :
The electors of the Borough of Bedford and
township of Bedford, to meet at the Court House
in said borough. , _ ,
The electors of Broad Top tuwnsnip and C >a
Bab- borough to meet at the school house in said
'1 he"elector? of the borough of Bloody Run to
incet at the House of Daniel B. Ott, in said bor
ough.
The electors ofColerain township to meet at the
house of And'w Penneli in Rainsburg in said town-
The electors of Cumberland Valley township to
meet at the new school house erected on the land
owned by John Whips heirs in said township.
The electors of Harrison township to meet at
the house of Jacob Feightner. in said township.
The electors of Juniata township to uiect at Key
scr- school house in said township.
The electors of IFpewell town-hip to meet at
the school house near the house of John Dasher in
said township.
The electors of Londonderry township to meet
at the house now occupied by Wm 11. Hill as a
shop in Bridgeport in said township.
The electors of Liberty township to meet at the
- h ."I house in -ttoio. rstown in paid township.
The electors of Monroe township to meet at the
house lately coupled by J.inn - C.irt.elt in Clear
ville in said township.
The eleetorsof Sehellsburg borough to meet at
the brick school h"U-e in sai l borough.
The electors of Napier townshij to meet at the
brick school house in the borough of Schel.sbarg
The electors of East Providence town-hip to
meet at the house lately occupied by John Xycain,
jr . in said township.
The electors of Snake Spring township to meet
at the school house near the Methodist church on
the land of John G. Hartley.
The electors of West Providence town-hip to
meet at the house of Philip Hollar in -aid town-
The electors of St. Clair township to meet at the
scb •! house near the residence of Joseph Griffith
in .-.rid towr^hip
The elector- of the borough of St. Clairtvilie to
meet at the school-house in said borough.
The eleetorsof Union township to meet at the
- 1 house near Mowry's mill in said township
The electors of South Moil berry township to
meet at the house of Samuel Oster, near Noble's
mill in paid township.
The electors of Southampton township to meet
at the house of Win. Adams in said township.
The electors of Saxton Borough to meet at the
iho.dhouse in said borough.
The electors of Middle Wood berry township to
meet at the house of Henry Fluke in the village f
M'oodberry.
The electors of Wood berry borough to meet at
the heuse of Win. M Pearson in said borough
At which time and places the qualified electors
W: 1 elect by ballot
ONE PERSON for the office of Auditor General
f the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
ONE PERSON for the office of Surveyor Gener
al el the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
ONE PERSON, in conjunction with the eounties
of S mcrset Fulton aud Franklin, for the office of
additional Law Judge.
"XE PERSON, in conjunction with the counties
. fS unerset. Fulton. Franklin and Adams, for the
• th-e of Representative in the Congress of the
United States.
TWO PERSONS, in conjunction wrth the coun
ties of Somerset and Fulton, for the office of Metn
b -- >f the House of Representatives of Pennsyl
vania.
ONE PERSON r the office of Commissioner for
said county.
ONE PERSON for the office of Poor Director for
said county.
ONE PERSON for the office of County Survey
or for -aid ceuuty.
ONE PERSON for county Auditor f r said
county.
i >NE PERSON fer Coroner of said county.
N Tn k is HEREBY GIVEN, That every person
ex ••(ting Justice-' of the Peace wbO shall hold any
- ffi-e i.r appointment of profit or tru-t under the
United States, or of tbi- State, or any etty !, r Cor
}M(r::t<-1 district, wbeiher a eufluaiwiwicd officer
. r otherwise, a subordinate officer or agent who is
. r shall be employed under the legislative, execu
tive r judiciary department < t this State, t.r of
ar v city, orofany iit -or]>orft£eJ district, an 1 also,
that every member of Congress and of the State
Legislature, and of the select < r common council
< f any city, or commissioners of any incorporated
district, i- by law incapable of holding or exercis
ing at the time, the office or appointment of Judge,
Inspector or Clerk of any election of this Common
wealth. and that ro> Inspector, Judge or other of
ficer if such election shall he elegible to be then
voted for.
And the -aid act of assembly entitled "an act
relating to elections of this Commonwealth,"
pi:--•• 1 July 2. IsISK further provides as follows,
viz f
• Thatthe Inspector ami Judges shall meet at
the respective places appointed for holding the
< . ,-tion in thedistriet at whieh they respectively
b ! tig. before s o'clock in the morning of the
.-ECOND TI'USDAY <>F OCTOBER, and each
said in.-pector -hall appoint "ne clerk, who shall
I, - a 'lualified voter of such district.
•■ln case the person who shall have received
the highest nutnb'-r of votes for inspector -hail not
attend on the day of any election, then the per
- Hi who shall have received the second highest
number of votes for Judge at the next preceding
election shall act as Ins]>eotor in his place. And
in case the person who has received the second
hi ghf " number of votes for Inspector shall not at
tend. the jXT-m elected Judge shall appoint an
Ins; - tor in his place, and if any vacancy still
continue in the board for the space of one hour
after the time fixed by law for the opening of the
election the qualified voters of the township, ward
or district for which such officer shall have been
elected, present a! the election, shall elect one of
t • IT number to fill such vacancy,
It shall be the duty of the several's-- ssors re
m-ctively to attend at the place of holding every
S oral -p.e- ial or township election, durii g the
whole time uek election is kept open, f>r the pur
p -eof giving informal'. ,n to the Inspectors and
Judge, when called on. in relation t the right of
any pers- n assessed by them to v cat -uch elee
ti n. and on such other matters in relation to the
a--- ---merit of voters, as the said Inspectors or
ether of them shall from time to time require
No person shall be permitted to vote at any
elc-'-ttun a* aforesaid. than a white citizen of the
age . f twenty-one or more, who shall have resided
in t'ni- S'ste at least one year, and in the election
di.trict where he offers to vote, ten days immedi
ately preceding -uch election, and within two
year- paid a S:ste or County tax. which shall
have been assessed at least ten days before the e
leetion But a citizen of the United .States who
ha- previously been a qualified voter of this State
and removed therefrom ami returned, and who
shall have resided in the election district and
p - 1 taxes aforesaid, shall be entitled to vote af
ter residing in this State six months. Provided.
That the white freemen, citizens of the United
S' te- between the age of twenty-one and twen
ty two years who have resided in the election dis
trict ten days as aforesaid shall be entitled to vote,
although they shall not have paid tax
"No person shall be permitted to vote whose
name i- not contained in the list of taxable inuab
i■acts, furnished by the Commissioners, unless :
First, be produce a receipt of payment, within
two years of state or County tax assessed agreea
bly to the Constitution, and give satisfactory evi
dence on hi- wn oath or affirmation of another
that he ha- paid such a tax. or in failure to pro
duce a receipt .-hail make oath to the payment
thereof: ur second, if he claim a right to vote by
being an elector between the age of twenty-one
and twenty-Two years shall depose on oath or af
firmation. that he ha- resided in the State at least
one year before his application, and make such
I roof of residence in the district a? is required by
this act. and that he docs verily believe from the
account given hint that be is of the age aforesaid.
a:.d gives such other evidence as is required by
tfii- act. whereupon the name of the per-..n so ad
mitted to v ote shall be inserted in the alphabeti
: t.l li t by the Inspector, and a note made oppo-
M't thereto by writing the word "tax," if he shall
he admitted to vote by reason of having paid tax,
and the word "age" lflie shall be admitted to vote
by reason of age. and in either case the reason of
such a tote shall be railed out to the clerks, who
shall make a like note in the list of voter* kept by
them
"In all case- where the name < f the person
claiming to vote is not found on the list famished
by the Commissioners, or bis right to vote wheth
er f - J:. 1 there-on or not, is objected to by any
qualified citizen, itshallbc tLe duty of the In
sj •.-tors to examine ucb person on oath as to his
qu iiiSeatioii". and if he claims to have resided
within the Mate for one year or tnore, hisoatb
•hull In- sufficient proof thereof, but he shall make
proof by at le.-i.-t one competent witness, wbo shall
be a qualified elector, that he bat resided within
the di- riet for more than ten days immediately
preceding sai l election and shall also swear that
his bona S le residence, in pursuance of his lawful
calling i- within the district, and that he did not
remove within the district for the purpose of vo
ting.
"Every person qualified a? aforesaid, and who
shall make due proof If required, of his residence
and payment of taxes aforesaid, shall be admitted
to vote in the township, ward or district in which
he shall reside.
"|f any person shall pTercnt or attempt to pre
vent any officer of an election, under this act from
holding such election, or use or threaten any vio
lencc to any such officer, and shall interrupt or
improperly iuterfere with hitu in the execution of
his duty, "shall block up or attempt to block up
the window or avenue to any window where the
iurne insy beholden, or shall riotously disturb the
oMrrtion i'rortamation.
peace of *uch election, or shall u*e or practice in
timidation. threats, force or violence, with the
design to influence unduly or overawe any elec
tor, or prevent him from voting, or to restrain the
freedom of choice, such persons on conviction shall
be fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred
dollars, to be imprisoned for any time not less than
one nor more than twelve months, and if it shall
be shown to the court where the trial of such of
fence shall be had, that the person so offending
was not a resident of the city, ward or district
where the said offence was committed, and not
entitled to vote therein, on conviction, he shall
be sentenced to pay a fine not less than one hun
dred or more than one thousand dollars, and be
imprisoned not less than six months nor more than
two years.
''lf any person or persons shall make any bet or
wager upon the result of an election within the
Commonwealth, or shall offer to make any such
hot or wager, either by verbal proclamation there
of, or by any written or printed advertisement,
or invite any person or persons to make such bet
or wager, upon conviction thereof he or they shall
forfeit and pay three times the amount so bet or
■ iffered to be bet.
And the election law? of the Commonwealth
further provide that "The Inspectors, Judges
and clerks shall, beforo entering on the duties of
their offices, severally take and subscribe the oath
cr affirmaticn hereinafter directed, which shall be
administered to them by any judge, alderman or
justice of the peace, but if no such magistrate he
present, one of the inspectors of the election shall
administer the oath or affirmation to the other
judge and inspector, and then the inspector so
qua :tied shall administer the ath or affirmation
to hint.
- The inspector-, judge and clerk? required by
law to hold township and general elections, shall
t ike and subscribe the several oaths and affirma
tions. required by the 19th, 2i>th and 21st sections
of the act of the 2d day of July 1339. entitled
•An act relating to the election? of this common
wealth,'' which oaths or affirmations shall be
prepared and administered in the manner prescrib
ed in the Ith acd 224 sections of said act. ar.d in
addition to the power conferred by the 13th sec
tion of said act. the judge, or either of the inspec
tors, shall have power to administer the oaths
prescribed by said act. to any clerk of a general,
special or township election.
"The following shall be the form of the oath or
affirmation to be taken by each inspector, viz : -I
(A. B. ) do that I will duly attend to the en
suing election during the continuance thereof, ns
an inspector, and that I will not receive any tick
et or vote from any person, other tbau such as I
shall firmly believe to he. according to the prn
visionsof the constitution and the laws of this
Commonwealth, entitled to vote at such election,
without requiring such evidence "f the right to
vote as is directed by law. nor will I vcxatiously
delay or refuse t > receive any vote from any per
son who I -hall believe to be entitled to vote as
aforesaid, but that I will in all things truly, im
partially and faithfully perform my duty therein,
to the best of mv judgment and abilities, and that
I am not directly, nor indirectly, iutcrested in
any bet. or wager on the result of this election.'
"The following shall be the oath or affirmation
of each judge, viz : 'I, A. B.) do that I will
as judge duly attend the ensuing election during
the continuance thereof, and faithfully a-sist the
inspectors in carrying on the same; that I will
not give my c msent that any vote or ticket shall
be received from any person other than such as I
firmly believe to be, according to the provisions
of the constitution an 1 laws of this commonwealth,
entitled to vote at such election, without requiring
such evidence of the right to vote as is directed by
law. and that I will use my best endeavors to pre
vent any fraud, deceit or abuse, in carrying on
the same by citizens qualified to vote, or others,
and that I will make a trne and perfect return of
the -aid election, and will in all things truly, im
partially and faithfully perform my duty respec
ting the same, to the best of my judgment aud
abilities, and that lam not directly or indirectly
interested in any bet or wager on the result of
this election. 1
"The following shall be the form of the oath or
affirmation to be taken by each clerk, viz : 'I A
B ' do tbat I will impartially and truly write
down the name of each elector who shall vote at the
en-uing election, which shall be given me in
charge and also the name of the towaship, ward
or li-tri t, wherein such elector resides, and care
fully and truly writedown the number of votes
that shall be given for each enndidate at the elee.
tioi a- often as his name shall be read to me by
the inspectors thereof, and in all things truly and
faithfully perform my duty respecting the same to
the best •f my judgment •:!"• v ' f
or nger n the result of this election "
The qualified electors will take notice of the
following act of Assembly, approved 12th day of
March, 1563: ANAA t, Regulating the mode of
votingat ail elections, in the several counties of
this Commonwealth.
SECTION 1. Beit enacted by the Senate and
Ilou-e of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is
hereby enacted by the authority of the same.
That the qualified voters of the several counties of
tbi- Commonwealth, at all general, township,
borough and special elections, are hereby, hereaf
ter, authorized and required to vote, by tickets,
printed, or wri'ten, or partly printed and partly
written, severally classified as follows : One tick
et -hall embrace the name- of all judges of courts
voted fv.r, and to be labelled, outside, "judicia
ry." one ticket shall embrace the names of all
state officers voted for. and be labelled, "state;"'
one ticket shall embrace the names of all county
officers voted for, including office of senator, mem
ber. and member- of assembly, if voted for, and
members of Congress, if voted for. and be labell
ed. county." one ticket shall embrace the names
of all township officers voted for. and be labelled,
"township;" one ticket shall embrace the name?
of all borough officers voted for, and be labelled,
• borough: and each class shall be deposited in
sepi rate ballot-boxes.
SKITION 2 1 hat it-hall be the duty of the Sher
iff-. in the several counties of this Commonwealth,
to insert in their election proclamations, hereafter
issued the first section of this act.
JAMES R. KELLEY.
Sneaker of the House of Representatives.
DAVID FLEMING,
Speaker of the Senate.
APPROVED— the thirtieth day of March. Anno
Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixtv-six.
A G CI'RTIX.
E'ection officers will take notice that the act
entitled "A Further supplement to the Election
Laws of this Commonwealth." disqualifying de
serters from the army of the United States from vo
ting.has recently been declared unconstitutional by
the Supreme Court of Penn-ylvauia, is now nnll and
void, and that all persons formerly disqualified
thereunder are now lawful voters, if otherwise
qualified The act decided unconstitutional by
tne Supreme Court provided as follow- :
"A FIKTHKK SUPPLEMENT TO THE ELECTION LAWS
OF THU COMMONWEALTH.
Whereas. By the act of the Congress of the U
nited States, entitled "An Act to amend the sev
eral acts heretofore passed, to provide for the en
roiling and calling out the national forces, and for
other purposes," and approved March third, one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, all per
sons who have deserted the military or naval ser
vice of the United States, and who have not been
discharged, or relieved from the penalty, or disa
bility therein provided, are deemed, and taken, to
have voluntarily relinquished, and forfeited,
their rights ot citizenship, and their right- to be
come citizens, and are deprived of exercising any
rights of citizens thereof :
And whereas, persons, not citizens of the Uni
ted States, arc Dot, under the constitution and
laws of Pennsylvania, qualified electors of this
commonwealth
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and
II use of Representatives of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it
is hereby enacted by the authority of the same,
That in all election- hereafter to be held in tbis
Commonwealth, it shall be unlawful for the judge
or inspectors of any such election to receive any
ballot, or ballots, from any person, or persons,
embraced in the provisions, and subject to the
disability, imposed by said act of Congress, ap
pr ved March third, one thousand eight hundred
and -ixly-five. and it shall be unlawful for any
-U h person to offer to vote any ballot, or ballots.
section 2 That if any such judge aud inspec
tors of election, or any one of them shall receive,
or consent to receive, any such unlawful ballot, or
ballots, from any sach disqualified person he, or
ihty. so oflending. shall he guilty of a misdemean
or. and. upon conviction thereof, in any court of
quarter cessions of tbis commonwealth, he shall,
tor each offence, be sentenced to pay a fine of not
less than one hundred dollars, and to undergo an
imprisonment, in the jail of the proper county, fir
not less than sixty days.
section 3. That if any person deprived of citi
zenship. an 1 disqualified as aforesaid.-hall, at any
election, hereafter to be held in this cotnmon
wealtb, rote, or tender to the officers thereof, aud
offer to vo'e a ballot, or ballots, any p-er-on, so of
fending, shall be deemed guilty of a mis leineanor.
and on conviction thereof, in any court of quarter
se-.-ion- of this commonwealth, shall, for each of
fence. be punished in like manner as is provided
in the preceding section of this act, in the ca-e of
officers of election receiving such unlawful ballot,
or ballots.
Section 4. Tbat if any person shall hereafter
persuade, or advise, any person, or persons, de
prived of citizenship, and disqualified a- afore
sui 1. to offer any ballot ar ballots, to the officers
of any election, hereafter to be held in this com
monwealth, or shall persuade. or advise, any such
officer to receive any ballot, or ballots, from any
pivr* n deprived of citizenship, and di.-qualifiod as
aforesaid, -uch person, so offending, shall be guil
ty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof,
in any court of quarter sessions of this common
wealth, shall be punished in like manner as is pro
vided in the second section of this act, in the case
of officers "fsuch election receiving such unlawful
ballot, or ballots.
JAMES R KELLEY.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
DAVID FLEMING,
Speaker of the Senate.
APPROVED —The fourth day of June, Anno Domi
ni one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
A. G. CURTIN."'
BEDFORD, PA., FRIDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 18, 1868.
oMcrtion yrorUunation.
And the Judges of the respective districts afore
said. are required to meet at Bedford, on the Iri
day next following the holding of said election,
then and there to perform those thing; required
of them by law.
Given under mv hand, at my office in Bedford,
this 1-t day of Sept . in the year of our Lord,
one thousand eigh' hundred and sixty-eight, and
in the ninety-third of the Independence of the
United States.
ROBERT STECKMAN, Sheriff
Sheriff" s Office. Bedford, i
Sept. 4. 1863. j
TERMS OP PUBLICATION.
THE BEDFORD GAZETTE is published every Fri
day morning by MEYERS A MKKCEL, at $2.00 per
annum, if fund strictly M advance j $2.50 if paid
within six months; $3.00 if not paid within six
months. A/l subscription accounts MUST be
settled annually. No paper will be Bent out of
the State unless paid for tx ADVANCE, and all such
übscriptions will invariably be discontinued at
the expiration of the time for which they are
aid.
All ADVERTISEMENTS for a less term than
three months TEN CENTS per line for each In
sertion. Special notices one-half additional All
resolutions of Associations; communications of
limited or individual interest, and notices of mar
riage.- and death- exceeding five line--, ten cents
per line. Editorial notices fifteen eents per line.
All treat Notices of every find, and Orphans'
Court and Jndin.il Sates, are repaired by /ate
t he published in both papers published in this
place
All advertising due after first insertion.
A liberal discount is made to persons advertising
by the quarter, half year, or year, as follows:
3 months. 6in mths. 1 year
♦One square $4 59 $ d till sl9 00
Two squares - 600 900 16 00
Three squares - 8 00 12 00 20 00
Quarter column - - 14 00 20 00 35 00
Half column - - - 18 00 25 00 45 00
One column - - - - 30 00 45 00 80 00
♦One square to occupy one inch of space
JOB PRINTING, of every kind, done with
neatness and dispatch. THE GAZETTE OFFICE has
just been refitted with a Power Press and new type,
and everything in the Printing line can be execu
ted in the most artistic manner anil at the lowest
rates.—TERMS CASH.
All letters should be addressd to
MEYERS A MENGEL,
Publishers.
STARTLING REVELATIONS I
The Exchange of Prisoners.
STATEMENT OF ROBERT Ol'M>. ESQ.
[From the National Intelligencer. Aug. 29 |
RICHMOND, VA., Aug. 17, 1863.
To the Editors of the
National Intelligencer :
GENTLEMEN I have recently seen
s i many misrepresentations of the ac
tion of the late Confederate authorities
in relation to prisoners that I feel it
due to the truth of history, and pe
culiarly incumbent on mens their a
gent of exchange, to bring to the at
tention of the country the facts set
forth in this paper :
The cartel of exchange bears date Ju
ly 22d, 180:1. Its chief purpose was to
secure the delivery of all prisoners of
war.
To that end, the fourth article pro
vided that all prisoners of war should
be discharged on parole in ten days af
*4tvit cnpitire. Froui tLo Jato of
the cartel until the summer of isiy the
Confederate authorities had the excess
of prisoners. During that interval de
liveries were made as fast as the Fed
eral Government furnished transporta
tion. Indeed, upon more than one oc
casion I urged the Federal authorities
to send increased means of transporta
tion. It has never even been alleged
that the Confederate authorities failed |
or neglected to make prompt deliveries I
of prisoners who were not held under j
charges, when they had the excess. ]
On the other hand, during the same j
time the cartel was openly and notori- j
ou-ly violated by the Federal nuthori- j
ties. Officers and men were kept in
confinement, sometimes in irons, or :
doomed to cells, without charge or tri- ;
al. Many officers were kept in con- !
tineuient even after the notices pub
lished by the Federal authorities had
declared them exchanged.
In the summer of 1863 the Federal!
authorities insisted upon limiting ex
changes to such as were held in con
finement on either side. This I resisted,
is being in violation of the cartel.
Such a construction not only kept in
confinement the excess on either side, I
but ignored all the paroles which were ;
held by Confederate Government, j
These were very many, being the pa
roles of officers and men who had been
released on capture. The Federal Gov- ;
eminent at that time held lew or no
paroles. They had all, or nearly all j
been surrendered, the Confederate an- |
thorities giving prisoners as equiva
lents for them. Thus it will be seen,
that as long as the Confederate Gov- j
eminent had the excess of prisoners j
matters went oa smoothly enough ; '
but as soon as the posture of affairs in
that respect was changed, the cartel \
could no longer be observed. So, as
long as the Federal Government held
the paroles of Confederate officers and
men, they were respected, and made
the basis of an exchange; but when
equivalents were obtained for them,
and no more were in hand, the paroles
which were held by the Confederate j
authorities could not be recognized.
In consequence of the position thus as- ■
sumed by the Federal Government. ;
the requirement of the cartel that all ;
prisoners should be delivered within
ten days was practically nullified. The I
deliveries which were afterwards made !
were the result of special agreements. ;
The Confederate authorities adhered j
to their position until the loth of Au- j
gust, 1804, when, moved by the suffer
ings of the men in the prisons of each !
belligerent, they determined to abate j
their just demand. Accordingly, on !
the last named day, I addressed thefol- j
lowing communication to Brig. Gen. j
J. E. Mulford, (then Major), Assistant j
Agent of Exchange:
RICHMOND, Aug. 10, 1804.
Major John E. Mulford, Assistant A
'jent of Exchange:
SIR:—You have several times pro
posed to me to exchange the prisoners i
respectively held by the two belliger
ents—officer for officer, and man for |
man. The same offer has also been ;
made by other officials having charge
of matters connected with theexchange i
of pri-oners.
This proposal has heretofore been de- :
dined by the Confederate authorities, !
they insisting upon the terms of the i
cartel, which required the delivery of I
the excess on either side on parole* In
view, however, of the very large num- |
her of prisoners now held by each par- ;
tv, and the suffering consequent upon
their continued confinement, I now
consent to the above proposal, and a
gree to deliver to you the prisoners |
held in captivity by the Confederate
authorities, provided you agree to de
liver an equal number of Confederate
officers and men. As equal numbers
are delivered from time to time, they
will be declared exchanged. This pro- j
posal is made with the understanding ;
that the officers and men on both sides I
who have been longest in captivity
will be first delivered where it is prac- I
ticable.
X shall be happy to hear from you as i
speedily as possible, whether this ar
rangement can be carried out.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBERT OULD,
Agent of Exchange.
The delivery of this letter was accom
panied by a statement of the mortality
which was hurrying so many Federal
prisoners at Anderson ville to the grave.
On the 22d day of August, IBG4, not
having heard anything in response, 1
addsessed a communication to Maj.
Gen. E. A. Hitchcock, United States
Commissioner of Exchange, covering a
copy of the foregoing let ter to Gen.
Mutford, and requesting an acceptance
! of my propositions.
No* answer was ever received to eith
er of these letters. Gen. Mulford, on
the 31st of August, 1864, informed me
in writing that he had no communica
tion on the subject from the United
Slates authorities, and that he was not
at that time authorized to make any
answer.
This offer, which would have instant
i !y restored to freedom thousands of suf
fering captives —which would have re
i leased every Federal soldier in confine
ment in Confederate prisons—was not
even noticed. Was that because the
! Federal officials did not deem it wor
thv of a reply : or that they feared to
make one? As the Federal authori
ties at that time had a large excess of
prisoners, the effect of the proposal
which I had made, if carried out,
would have been to release all Union
prisoners, while a large number of the
Confederates would have remained in
prison, awaiting the chances of the
capture of their equivalents.
n.
In January, 1804, and, indeed, some
time earlier, it became very manifest,
that in consequence of the complica
tion in relation to exchanges, the large
bulk of prisoners on both sides would
remain in captivity for many long and
weary months, if not for the duration
jof the war. Prompted by an earnest
desire to alleviate the hardships of con
finement oil both sides, 1 addressed
j the following communication to Gen.
E. A. Hitchcock, I". 8. Commissioner
I of Exchange, and on or about the day
of its date, delivered the same to the
Federal authority:
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, 'I
WAR DEPARTMENT, V
RICHMOND, VA., January, 24 1*64. L
Major General E. .4. Hitchcock, Agent
of Exchange.
ism :—ln view of the present difficul
ties attending the exchange and release
of prisoners, I propose that all such on
each side shall he attended by a proper
number of their own surgeons, who,
under rules to be established, shall be
permitted to take charge of their health
and comfort.
I also propose that these surgeons
shall act as commissaries, with power
to receive and distribute such contribu
tions of money, food, clothing and
medicines as may be forwarded for the
relief of prisoners. I further propose
that these surgeons be selected by their
own Governments, and that they shall
have full liberty at any and all times,
through the agents of exchange, to
make reports not only of their own
acts, but of any matters relating to the
welfare of prisoners.
liesspectfully, your obd't serv't,
Ro. OUI.D* Ag't of Exchange.
To t!ii~ communication no reply of
any kind was ever made. I need not
state how much suffering would have
been prevented if this offer had been
met iu the j.irit in which it was dic
tated. In addition, the world would
have had truthful accounts of the treat
ment of prisoners on both sides by
officers of character, and thus much of
that misrepresentation which has
flooded the country would never have
been poured forth. The jury box in
the case of Wirz would have iiad diff
erent witnesses, with a different story.
It will be borne in mind that nearly
all of the suffering endured by Federal
prisoners happened after January, 1864.
The acceptance of the proposition made
by me, on behalf of the Confedarate
Government, would not only have
furnished to the sick medicines and
physicians, but to the well an abun
dance of food and clothing from the
ample stores of the United States.
The good faith of the Confederate
Government in making this offer can
not be successfully questioned, for food
and clothing (without the surgeons;
were sent in 1866, and were allowed
to he distributed by Federal officers to
Federal prisoners.
Why could not the more humane
proposal of January, 1864, have been
accepted?
111.
When it was ascertained that ex
changes could not be made either on
the basis of the cartel or officer for
officer and man for man, I was in
structed by the Confederate authori
ties to offer to the United States Gov
ernment their sick and wounded, with
out requiring any equivalents. Accor
dingly, in the summer of 1864, I did
offer to deliver from ten to fifteen
thousand of the sick and wounded at
the mouth of the Savannah River with- ,
out requiring any equivalents, assur
ing at the same time the agent of the
United .States, General Mulford, that if
the number for which he might send
transportation could not readily he \
made up from sick aud wounded, I
would supply the difference with well :
men. Although this offer was made
in the summer of 1864, transportation
was not sent to the Savannah River I
until about the middle or last of No- j
vernber, and then 1 delivered as many
prisoners as could be transported— !
some thirteen thousand in number,
amongst whom were more than live (
thousand well men.
More than once I urged the mor- j
tality at Andersonville as a reason for
haste on the part of the United States
authorities, i know, personally, that
it was the purpose of the Confederate
Government to send off from all its
prisons all the sick and wounded, and 1
to continue to do the same, from time
to time, without requiring any equiv
alents for them. It was because the
sick and wounded at points distant :
from Georgia could not be brought to
Savannah within a reasonable time i
that the five thousand well men were j
substituted.
Although the terms of my offer did
not require the Federal authorities to
deliver any for the ten or fifteen thous
and which I promised, yet some three ;
thousand sick and wounded were deliv
ered by them at the mouth of the Savan- |
naii River. I call upon every Federal
and Confederate officer and man who
saw the cargo of living death, and who
is familiar with the character of the :
deliveries made by the Confederate !
authorities to bear witness that none |
such was ever made by the latter, even
when the very sick and desperately
wounded were alone requested. For,
on two occasions at least, such were
specially asked for, and particular re
quest was made for those who were so j
desperately sick that it would be doubt
ful whether they would survive a re- j
moval a few miles down James River. !
Accordingly, the hospitals were search
ed for the worst cases, anil after they
were delivered they were taken to :
Annapolis and there photographed as j
specimen prisoners. The photographs
at Annapolis were terrible Indeed;
but the misery they portrayed was
surpassed at Savannah.
The original rolls showed that
some thirty-five hundred had started
from Northern pri-uns, and that death
had reduced the number during the
transit to about three thousand. The
mortality among-t those who were de
livered "alive during the following
three months was equally frightful.
But why was there this delay be
tween the'su mm er and November in
sending transportation for sick and
wounded, for whom no equivalents
were asked? Were Union prisoners
made to suffer in order to aid the pho
tographs "in firing the popular heart
ot the North ?"
IV.
In the summer of IsGl, in conse
quence of certain information commu
nicated to me by the Surgeon General
of the Confederate States as to the de
ficiency of medicines, I offer to make
purchases of medicines from the United
States authorities, to be used exclusive
ly for the relief of Federal prisoners.
1* offered to pay gold, cotton, or tobac
co for them, and even two or three
prices, if required. At the same time
I gave assurances that the medicines
would he used exclusively in the treat
ment of Federal prisoners; and more
over agreed, on behalf of the Confeder
ate States, if it was insisted on, that
such medicines might be brought into
the Confederate lines by the United
States surgeons, and dispensed by
them. To this offer 1 never received
any reply. Incredible as this appears,
it is strictly true.
General John E. Mulford is personal
! lv cognizant of the truth of the most, if
not all the facts which I have narrated.
He was connected with thecartel from
! its date to the close of the war. During
a portion of the time he was Assitant
Agent of Exchange on the part of the
j United States. I always found him to
be an honorable and truthful gentleman.
While he discharged his duties with
great fidelity to his own Government,
he was kind, and 1 might almost say,
tender to confederate prisoners. With
that portion of the correspondence with
which his name is connected, lie is, of
course, familiar, lie iscquailyso with
the delivery made at Savannah, and its
attending circumstances, and with the
offer I made as to the purchase of medi
cines for the Federal sick and wounded.
I appeal to him for the truth of what I
have written. There are other Federal
co;orborations to portions of my state
ments. They are found in the report
i of Major General B. F. Butler to the
•Committee on the Conduct of the War.'
j About the last of March, ISG4, I had
' several conferences with General Butler
: at Fortress Monroe in relation to the
difficulties attending the exchange of
prisoners, and we reached what we
both thought a tolerably satisfactory
i basis.
The day that I left there General
Grant arrived. General Butler says lie
communicated to him the state of the
negotiations, and "mostemphatic ver
bal directions were received from the
Lieutenant General not to take any
step by which another able-bodied man
should be exchanged until further or
ders from him ;" and that on April 30,
1864, he received a telegram from Gen
eral Grant, "to receive all the sick and
wounded the Confederate authorities
may send you but send no more in ex
change." Unless my recollection fails
me, General Butler also, in an address
to his constituents, substantially de
clared that he was directed in his man
agement of the question of exchange
with the Confederate authorities, to
put the matter offensively, for the pur
pose of preventing an exchange.
The facts which I have stated are all
so well known to the officers connected
with the Confederate bureau of Ex
change.
At one time I thought an excellent op
portunity was afforded of bringing
some of them to the attention of the
country. I was named by poor Wirz
as a witness in his IK -half. The sum
mons was issued by Chipman, tlie
Judge Advocate of the Military Court.
I obeyed the summons, and was in at
tendance UJKJII the Court for some ton
days. The investigation had taken a
wide range as to the conduct of the
Confederate and Federal Governments
in the matter of the treatment of priso
ners, and I thought the time had come
when I could put before the world
these humane offers of the Confederate
authorities, and the manner in which
they had beer, treated. Iso expressed
myself more than once—perhaps too
publicly. But it was a vain thought.
Early in the morning of the day on
which I expected to give my testimo
ny, I received a note from Chipman,
the Judge Advocate, requiring tne to
surrender my subpoena. 1 refused, as
it was mv protection in Washington.
Without it the doors of the Old Capi
tol might have opened aud closed upon
tne. I engaged, however, to appear
before the court and I 'lid so the same
morning. I still refused to surrender
my subptena, and thereupon the Judge
Advocate endorsed on it these words: I
"The within subpoena is hereby revo
vokod ; the person named is dischar
ged from further attendance." I have
got the curious document before me
now, signed with the name of N. I\
Chipman, •Colonel," &c. I intend
to keep it, if I can, as the evidence of
the first case in any Court, of any sort,
when a witness who was summoned
for the defence was dismissed hy the pros
ecution. I hastened to depart, confi
dent that Richmond was a safer place
for me than the metropolis.
Some time ago a committee was ap
pointed by the IXouse of Representa
tives to investigate the treatment of
Union prisoners in Southern prisons.
After the appointment of the commit
tee—Hon. Mr. Shanks, of Indiana, he- j
ing its chairman—l wrote to tlie Hon.
Charles A. Etridge and tlie Hon. Mr.
Mungen (the latter a member of the
committee) some of the facts herein de
tailed. Both of these gentlemen made j
an effort to extend the authority of the
committee, so that it might-inquire in
to the treatment of prisoners North as
well a- South, and especially that it
might inquire into the truth of the
matter which I had alleged. AH these I
attempts were frustrated by the Radi
cal majority, although several of the
party voted to extend the inquiry. As
several thousand dollars of the money
of the people have been spent by
this committee, will not they demand
that the investigation shall tie thor
ough and impartial? The House of
Representatives have declined the in- i
quiry; let the people take it up.
Respectfully your obedient servant,
Ro. OIL I).
A resident of Brooklyn, New York, ,
lias been fined two hundred and fifty
dollars and sentenced to three months
in the penitentiary for raising a false
alarm of fire.
A fleet of 61 •" vessels is now on its
way from the Black Sea with grain for
Western Europe, most of which will
lie discharged in England. The quan
tity is estimated at no less than 6,000,-
040 bushels.
Fifty-three abandoned women were
arrested by the police of St. Louis in a
single house last Sunday night. I
THE W HITE SI I,l*lll 11 SI'KINt.S (OK.
LUJII'OSIUATI;.
I,?tter from General Rowmn? to Gen.
I.ee.
Kejily Of General l.ee mid oilier fMslin
eaished Southerner*.
The following correspondence fully
! explains the purpose of Gen. RosecranS'
late visit to the Virginia White Sul
phur Springs, in relation to which
there has been so much idle newspaper
gossip. The correspondence exhibits
in a very clear light the sentiments
and disposition of the intelligence of
the South, and ought to act as an anti
dote to the poisonous slanders of the
Radical press, which continually mis
represents and falsifies them,
j WHITE SCIRF'Ht'U SDKINGS, W. V.,
August 20, 18(58.
GENERAL: Full of solicitude for the
i future of our country, I cotne with ray
heart in my hand to learn the condi
tion, wishes, and intentions of the peo
ple of the Southern States—especially
to ascertain the sentiments of that
body of brave, energetic, and self-sac
rificing men who, alter sustaining the
i confederacy for four years, laid down
their arms and swore allegiance to the
government of the United States,
whose trusted and beloved leader you
i have been.
1 see that interpreting "State rights"
to conflict with national unity has pro
j dueed a violent reaction against them,
whicn is drifting us toward eonsolida
i tion ; and also that so great a country
as ours even now is—certainly is to be —
mint have State governments to attend
to local details, or go farther and fare
worse.
It is plain to us at the West and the
North that thecontinuanceofseini-an
! arcliv, such as has existed for the last
three years in len States of our Union,
largely increases the danger of concen
tration, swells our national expendi
tures, diminishes our productions and
our revenue, inspires doubt of our po
litical and financial stability, depreci
ates the value of our national bonds
and currency, and places the credit of
the richest below that of the poorest
nation in Christendom.
We know that our currency must be
depreciated so long as our bonds are
below par, and that therefore the vast
business and commerce of our country |
must suffer the terrible evil of a lluetu
i ating standard of value, until we can
remedy the evil condition of things at
the South. We also see other mischief
; quite possible if not probable to arise—
such as from a failure of crops, a local
insurrection, and many other unforseen
, contingencies—which may still more |
1 depreciate our credit and currency,
provoke discontent anil disorder among
our people, and bring demagogical agi
tation, revolution, repudiation, and a
thousand unnamed evils and villanies
upon us. We know that the interests
of the people of the South are for law
and order, and that they must share !
our fate for good and ill *
I believe—every one I know who re
flects believes—that if the people of the
Southern States could be at peace, and
their energy and good will heartily ap
plied to repair the wastes of war, re-or
ganize their business, set the freedmen
peacefully, prosperously, and content
edly at work, invite capital, enterprise,
and labor front elsewhere to come free
ly amongst them, they would rebuild
their ruined fortunes, multiply mani
fold the value of their lands, establish
public confidence in our political sta
bility, bring our government bonds to
premium, our currency to a gold stan
dard, and assure for themselves and
the whole nation a most happy and
prosperous future.
Seeing this, and how all just inter
ests concur in the work, I ask the offi-
and soldiers who lought for the
Union—every thinking man of the
great West and North asks—why it j
cannot be done.
We are told by those who have eon
trolled the Government for the last
four years that the people of the South
wiii not do it ; that, if ever done at all, :
it must he done by the poor, simple,
uneducated, landless freedmen and the j
few whites who, against the public
opinion, and sentiment of the intelli
gent white people, are willing to at
tempt to lead and make their living
offtiie ignorant, inexperienced colored
people, mostly men who must he needy I
adventurers, or without any of those
attributes on which reliance for good
guidance or government can be placed.
We are told that this kind of govern
ment must be continued at the South
until six or eight millions of intelli
gent, energetic white people give into
it or move out of the country.
Now I think, the Union army Ihinks,
and the people of the North and West
1 dare say believe, there must he, or
there ought to be, a shorter, surer way <
to get good government for all at the
South.
We know that they wlioorganizedund
sustained the Southern confederacy for
four years, against gigantic efforts,
ought to be able to give peace, law, or
der, ami protection to the whole peo- {
pie of the South.
They have the interest and the pow
er to employ, protect, educate, and ele
vate the poor freedmen, and to restore
themselves and our country to ail the:
blessings of whieh I have just spoken.
The question u e want answered is:
"Are they willing to do it? '
I came down to find out what the'
people of the South thinks of thi*, and
to ask you what the officers and sol
diers who served in the confederate |
army and the leading people who sus
tained it think of these tilings.
I came to ask more; I want to ask
you, in whose purity and patriotism
I here express unqualified confidence,
and so many good men as you can con
veniently consult, to say what you '
think of it, and also what you are wil
ling to do about it.
I want a written expression of views
that can be followed by a concurrence
of action. I want to know if you and
the gentlemen who will join you in
that written expression are willing to
pledge the people of the South to a
chivalrous and magnanimous devotion
to restoring peace and prosperity to |
our common country. I want to carry j
that pledge, high above the level of
party politics, to the late officers and
soldiers of the Union army anil the ;
people of the North and West, and to
ask them to consider it, and to take
the necessary action, confident that it
will meet with a response so warm so
generous and confiding, that we shall
see in its sunshine the rainbow of peace
in our political sky, now black with i
clouds and impending storm.
i know you are a representative man,
in reverence and regard for the Union,
the Constitution, and the welfare of
theeountry, and that what you would
say would* be endorsed by nine-tenths
of the whole people of the South ; hut
I should like to have the signatures of
all the representative Southern men
here who concur in your views, and
expressions of their concurrence from j
the principal officers and representa- ;
live men throughout the Soutli when |
they can be procured.
This concurrence of opinions and j
wills, all tending to peace, order, and
stability, will assure our Union soldiers
and business men, who want subHtan- .
tial and solid peace, and cause them to
rise above the level of party politics,
VOL 64.—WHOLE No. 5,460.
and take such steps to meet yours as
will insure a lasting peace with all
its countless blessings.
Very truly, your friend,
W: J. ROSECKANS.
GENKRAI, R. E. LEE, White Sulphur
Springs, West Virginia.
j WHITE St'LRIRURSPRINGS, W. VA.,
August 2C, 18GS.
GENERAL: 1 have had the honor to
receive your letter of this date, and in
accordance with your suggestion, I
have consul ted with a number of gen
tlemen from the South, in whose judg
ment I have confided, and who are
well acquainted with the public senti
ments of their respective States. They
j have kindly consented to unite with
me in replying to your communication,
and their names will be found with
my own appended to this answer.—
With this explanation, we proceed to
give you a candid statement of what
we believe to be the sentiment of the
Southern people in regard to the sub
ject to which you refer.
Whatever opinion may have pre
vailed in the past in regard to African
I slavery, or the right of a State to se
cede from the Union, we believe we
| express the almost unanimous judg
ment of the Southern people when we
declare that they consider that those
I questions were decided by the war,
and that it in their intention, in good
faith, to abide dy that decision. At
the close of the war the Southern peo
ple laid down their arms and sought
to resume their former relations with
the United States Government.
Through their State conventions they
abolished slavery and annulled their or
dinances of secession,and they returned
to their peaceful pursuits with a sincere
purpose to fultil their duties under the
Uon-titution of the 'Tii ted States which
they had sworn to support. If their
action in these particular-, had been
met in a spirit of frankness and cordi
ality, we believe that ere this old irri
tations would have passed away and
the wounds inflicted by the war would
in a great measure have been healed.
As far as we are advised, the people of
the South entertain no unfriendly feel
ing toward the Government of the Li
nked States, but they complain that
their rights under the Constitution are
withheld from them in the adminis
tration thereof.
The idea that the Southern people
are hostile to the negroes, and would
oppress them if it were in their power
to do so, is entirely unfounded, i hey
have grown up in our midst, and we
have been accustomed from our child
hood to look upon them with kindness.
The change in the relations of the two
races has wrought no change in our
feeling toward them. They still con
stitute the important part of our labor
ing population. Without their labor
the lands of the South would be com
paratively unproductive. Without the
employment which Southern agricul
ture alfords they would !>e destitute of
the means of subsistence, aud be
come paupers, decadent upon public
bounty.
Self-interest, even if their were no
higher motives, would therefore
prompt the whites of the South to ex
tend to the negroes care and protection.
The important fact that the two races
are, under existing circumstances, ne
cessary to each other, is gradually In
coming ap pa rant to both ; and we be
lieve, but for influences exerted to stir
up the passions of the negroes, the re
lations of the two races would soon ad
ust themselves on a basis of kindness
and advantage.
It is true that the people of the South,
together with the people of the North
and West, are, for obvious reasons, op
posed to any system of laws which
would place the political power of the
country iu the handsof the negro race.
But the opposition springs from no
feeling of enmity, but from a deep
seated conviction that at present the
negroes have neither the intelligence
nor the qualifications which are neces
sary to make them safe depositaries of
political power. They would inevita
bly become the victims of demagogues,
who for selfish purposes, would mis
lead them to the serious injury of the
public.
The great want of the South is peace.
The people earnestly desire tranquility
and the restoration of the Union. —
They deprecate disorder and excite
ment as the most serious obstacle to
their prosperity.
They ask a restoration of their rights
under the Constitution. They desire
relief from oppressive misrule. Above
all they would appeal to their country
men for the re-establish men t in the
Southern States of that which has just
ly been regarded as the birthright of
every American, the right of self-gov
ernment. Establish theseon a firm ba
sis, and we can safely promise on be
half of the southern people that they
will faithfully obey the Constitution
and laws of ttie United States, treat the
negro with kindness and humanity,
and fulfill every duty incumbent on
peaceful citizens loyal to the Constitu
tion of their country.
We believe the above contains a suc
cinct reply to the general topics em
braced in your letter, and we venture
to say, on behalf of the Southern peo
ple and of officers and soildiers of the
late confederate army, that they will
concur in all the sentimnts which we
have expressed.
Appreciating the patriotic motives
which have prompted your letter, and
reciprocating your expresions of kind
regard, we have the honor to be
Very respectfully and truly,
* R E Lee, Va.
G T Beauregard, La.
Alexander II Stephens, Ga.
Alexander 1111 Stuart, Va.
C M Conrad, l^a.
Linton Stephens, Ga.
A T Caperton, W. Va.
John Echols, Va.
F S Stockdale, Texas.
F W Pickens, S. C.
Win J Robinson, Va.
Joseph R Anderson, Va.
Win F Turner, W. Va.
C II Subee, S. C.
E Fontaine, Va.
John Letcher, Va.
15 C Adams, Miss.
Win J Green, N. C.
Lewis E llarvie, Va.
P B Daniels, Jr., Va.
W T Sutherlin Va.
A B James, la.
Toutant Beauregard, Texas.
M O H Norton, La.
T P Brance, Ga.
II T Russell, Ga.
Samuel J Douglass, Fla.
Jeremiah Morton, Va.
John B Baldwin, Va.
G W Boiling, Va.
Theodore Flournoy, Va.
James Lyons, Va.
Address:
W. S. ROSECRANS,
Minister to Mexico,
White Sulphur Spings, W. Va.
A general convention of the repre
sentatives of the several Workingmen's
Unions throughout the country, is call
ed to meet in New York, on the third
Monday in September.
A Lenox (Mass.) farmer expects to
have a thousand bushels of apples this
9 a on.