Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/128

 120 Southern Historical Society Papers

6. Then offer was made to deliver the sick and wounded without any equivalent in exchange. There was no reply for months.

7. Finally, and as soon as the United States would receive them, thousands of both sick and well were delivered without exchange.

The record leaves no doubt as to the responsibility for refusal to exchange. General Grant assumed it, saying in his letter of August 18, 1864 : ** It is hard on our men in Southern prisons not to exchange them, but it is humanity to those left in the ranks to fight our battles. If we commence a system of exchanges which liberates all prisoners taken, we will have to fight on until 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 Sherman's defeat and would compromise our own safety here."

Alexander H. Stephens declared that the effort to fix odium on President Davis constituted ** one of the boldest and baldest attempted outrages upon the truth of history which has ever been essayed.'*

Charles A. Dana, of the New York Sun, formerly Assistant Sec- retary of War, nobly vindicated President Davis while he lived, declared him " altogether acquitted '* of the charge, and said of him dead, "A majestic soul has passed.**

When General Lee congratulated his army on the victories of Richmond, he said to them : '* Your humanity to the wounded and the prisoners was the fit and crowning glory of your valor.** And could that army now march by, they would lift those laurels from their bayonets and throw them upon the grave of the Confederate President.

HE RESENTED W^RONG, BUT BORE NEITHER HATRED NOR MALICE.

Resentment wreaked itself upon him ere these truths were fully known, and while, indeed, passion turned a deaf ear to them. And if he struck back, what just man can blame him ? With a reward of $100,000 offered for him as an assassin ; charged with maltreating prisoners ; indicted for treason, and imprisoned for two years and denied a trial ; handcuffed like a common ruffian ; put in solitary confinement ; a silent sentinel and blazing light at watch on his every motion — where is there a creature who can call himself a man who could condemn — aye, who does not sympathize with the goaded innocence and the righteous indignation with which he spurned the accusations and denounced the accusers ?

But whatever he suffered, the grandeur of his soul lifted him above the feelings of hatred and malice.