The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-25 00:00:00

THE EXCHANGE QUESTION,

The question is disk ute between the two Governments
relativa to the exchange of prisoners of war has been
frequently presented in former messages and reports, and
is fully treated by the Secretary. The solicitude of the
government for the relief of our captive fellow citizens has
known no abatement ; but has, on the contrary, been still
more deeply evoked by the additional sufferings to which
they have been wantonly subjected, by deprivation of ade-
quate food, clothing and fuel, which they were not even
permitted to purchase from the prison sutlers. Finding
the enemy attempted to excuse their barbarous treatment
by the unfounded allegation that it was retaliatory for like
conduct on our part, an offer was made by us with a view
of ending all pretext for such recrimination, or pretended
retaliation.
The offer has been accepted, and each government is here-
after to be allowed to provide necessary comforts to its own
citizens held captive by the other. Active effarts are in pro-
gress for the immediate execution of this agreement, and
it is hoped that but few days will elapse before we shall
be relieved from the distressing thought that painful
physical suffering is endured by so many of our fellow-
citizens whose fortitude in captivity illustrates the national
character as fully as did their valor in actual conflict.
EMPLOYMENT OF SLAVES.

The employment of slaves for service with the army as
teamasters, or cooks, or in the way of work upon fortifica-
tions, or in the government workshops, or in hospitals, and
other similar duties was authorised by the act of 17th Feb.
last, and provision was made for their impressment to a
number not exceeding 20,000, if it should be found imprac-
ticable to obtain them by contract with the owners. The law
contemplated the hiring only of the labour of these slaves,
and imposed on the Government the liability to pay for the
value of such as might be lost to the owners from casualties
resulting from their employment in the service.

This act has produced less result than was anticipated, and
further provision is required to render it efficacious. But
my present purpose is to invite your consideration to the
propriety of a radical modification in the theory of the law,
Viewed merely as property, and therefore as the sub-
ject of impressment, the service or labour of the slave has
been frequently claimed for short periods, in the construe-
Lion of defensive works. The slave, however, bears another
relation to the State—that of a person. The law of last
February contemplates only the relation of the slave to the
master, and limits the impressment to a certain term of
service. But for the purposes enumerated in the act, in-
struction in the manner of encamping, marching, andpark-
ing trains is needful, so that even in this limited employ-
ment length of service adds greatly to the value of the
negro's labour. Ilazard is also encountered in all the po-
sitions to which the negro can be assigned for service with
the army, and the duties required of them demand loyalty
and zeal.

In this aspect the relation of person predominates so far
as to render it doubtful whether :the private right of pro-
perty can consistently and benficially be continued, and it
would seem proper to acquire for the public service -the en-
tire property in the labour of the slave, and to pay there-
fore due compensation, rather than to impress his labour
for short terms--and this the more especially as the effect
of the present law would vest his entire property in all
cases where the slave might be recaptured after compensa-
tion for his loss had been paid to the private owner. When-
ever the entire property in the service of a slave is thus
acquired by the awornment, the question is presented,
by what tenure he should be held. Should he be re-
tained in servitude, or should his emancipation be held out
to him as a reward for faithful service, or should it be
granted at once, on.lthe promise of such service—and if
emancipated, what action should be taken to secure
for the freed man, the permission of the State from which
he was drawn to reside within its limits after the close of
his public service. The permission would, doubtless, be
more readily accorded as a reward for past faithful service,
and a double motive for zealous discharge of duty would
thus be off3red to those employed by the Government—
their freedom, and the gratification of the local attachment
which is so marked a characteristic of the negro, and
forms so powerful an incentive to his action. The policy
of engaging to liberate the negro on his discharge after ser-
vice faithfully rendered, seems to me preferable to that of
granting immediate manumission, or that of retaining him
in servitude. If this policy should recommend itself to the
judgment of Congress, it is suggested that in addition to
the duties heretofore performd by the slave, he might be
advantageously employed as a pioneer and engineer la-
bourer; and in that event, that the number should be
augmented to 40,000.

Beyond this limit and these employments it does not
seem to me desirable, under existing circumstances, to go.
A broad moral distinction exists between the use of slaves
as soldiers in the defence of their homes and the incitement
of the same persons to insurrection against their masters.
The one is justifiable if necessary, the other is iniquitous
and unworthy of a civilised people; and such is thb judgment
of all writers on public law, as well as that expressed and
insisted on by our enemies in all wars prior to that
now waged against us. By none have the practices of
which they are now guilty.beea denounced with greater se-
verity than by themselves in the two wars with Great Bri-
tain in the last and in the present century; and in the De-
claration of Independence of 177 G, when enumeration was
made of the wrongs which justified the revolt from Great
Britain, the climax of atrocity was deemed to be reached
only when the English monarch was denounced as having
"excited domestic insurrections amongst us."