Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1863-08-07
Our Flag must Fr6teCt all Our
Men.

Our Flag must Fr6teCt all Our
Washington and others in the War OF
the Revolution, and Perry, Jackson and
others in the War Of 1872, saw and &C.
knowledge the meri'orious services OF COL
ored men. They we're treated, as far as
their legal rights we.e concerned, as c:her
American Soldiers ard Sailors were treat
ed, without regard to color o. nationality.
1t was thought that all they who fought
for a country, were entitled to all the pro-
tection i, could Afford to all alike
When this Slave-E1tension War was
begun, however, so far was the public
mind detsucbed-so deeply had the Slave
Power sunk US into mental darkness aud
degrads,ion-tbas the President did Lot
deem it e.pedieut TO Offend the prejudices
of 8 g.ea, portion Of our people by en-
ploying colored men as soldiers. But the
Rebels employed them in various ways !:
Maj Winthrop is said to have been killed
by negro's FIRE: and there are many in
stances Of the Rebels driving or hiring
free and slave Blacks as we'll as Savagee
TO aid them in their dark designs.
FremoD, and Cameron we're condemned
for recon- ending the enlistment Of color.
ed men in our favor instead of having all
their power employed sgsinss US. But
successive disasters opened the mind of the
people, and the President at last felt At
liberty 70 invite the very arms that he had
Eel, compelled to reject. On tie Missis-
sippi, and the Atlantic coast, the enrolled
black men showed ,ha, they had an ear
nes,ness and . coursgs mos; surprising.
JEFF. Davis, however, issued sn order that
black soldiers aud their white officers
should no. be entitled to the benef. Of the
milder ussgas of war. Our Government
waited to see if the Rebel, would carry
out their threat 1t seems, that, At Port
Hudson, Mlllikens Bend, and Morris Is
land, our ,coan'ef U1cks rere Despatched
nth Jdy0nen's or t'ows, the unhdrmed
prisoners sold into .SIaUery, and ,rhite
eficsrs sent 10 prison. Freedmen 'eorkiny
plantations also, were arrested, and sho.
dotra, Nth toou.sn and chEdrcn, in cold
JIood Vice Pres. Stephens recent at
tempt to reach Washington, it is said, was
to demonstrate against our employing col.
orei soldiers, s. it dis not please the
Rebels. (W opde.ful, if cur peaceabls
people have got to ight only as our assail-
suts shall please to lie, us) Under these
circumstances, the following Proclamation
is issued:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, DC, July so, 1863.
1t is the duty of every government to
give protection 10 irs citizens. OF Whatever
class, color or condition, and especially 10
those who are dul ) organized as soldiers
in the public service. The isw Of nations
and the usages aud customs Of war, as
carried on by civilized powers, permit 20
distinction as to color in the treatment Of
prisoner. OF war as public enemies. To
sell or enslaSe any captured person, on
seeoun. Of bis color, and for no offencs
sgains, the laws Of var, is relapse into
barbsri.n and = crime against the civili-
Iation Of the age.
The Government OF the United States
will give the same protection to all its sol.
diers; and if the enemy shall sell or en-
slave any one because Of bis color, the
offence shall be punished by retaliation
upon the enemys prisoners in our posses.
sion.
|. i, therefore ordered that for every
soldier of the United States killed 10 vio-
lation of the laws of war, a rebel soldier
shall be executed aud for every one en-
saved by th 6 enemy or sold into slavery,
= rebel soldier shall be placed at hard
labor on the public works, end continued
1t such labor until the other shall be
released and receive the treatment due 10
! prisoner of war.
ABRAH M LlNCOLN.
By order of the Secretary of War:
f. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adja;ant General.
This is only common sense and fair
play the world over. Mr.. Stephens, and
ais brother Rebels in arms, seem still to
hink the Nation i. q mere slave-planta-
ion ths. they can shake their whips over
'ur heads as they like, aud We must oil
remble and obey. Isilly becomes Rebels,
utfering as they are, to assume . dicta.
orial air to our Government but the
more desperate they are, the more iupu-