Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-12-18
EXCHANGE OF Observation-Disclosures


United States Commissioner has been driver
by Mr. Ould from point to point, from posi-
tion 70 positioo. until finally Gems. Meredith
and Hitchcock have abandoned every point il
dispute except the treatment of negro prison
ers. The Message" Of President Davis, Of
January 18th, is now made tho reason Of sus
pending eschanse, Notwithstanding that from
January to July, this Message" had been in
force, and was never once referred t, as suff.
sient cause for stopping the operations of the
cartel. The enemy naxrest thair-eese eTon
.liia ssMasSena '-2f,"o IIuvc already shown
that tho.la Of Congress for delivering all
negroes and their white officers, captured in
arms, to State antaorities, for trial under State
laws, was too wide in its language, and Gov
cred matter that is not within the province Of
one nation to dictate to another. No nation
has the right to say that its enemy shall moi
employ in its armies certain class of its
people The composition of armies is matter
belonging exclusively to the authorities Of the
nation ITSELF If tho Yankees like negro
troops, they have the right to employ the free
negroes Of the United States in their armies,
and they have the right to demand for them
the proper treatment as prisoners of war. If
nation employs savages in its armies, retail
alton is proper and justiGabie. not because Of
the employment of the savages, but for any
acts committed by the solGery not in accord.
ance with the laws of war. So, if the negroes
employed by the United States compose part
Of the people of those States, and are regu-
larly mustered into their service If, after caps
ture, they can be proved guilty of acts not
recognized as within the rules Of civilized
warfare, they are not entitled to the rights Of
prisoners Of war, but may be punished as
bandits and robbers. And so of the white
troopS-eolor has nothing to do with soldiers.
But the case is different as to the slaves and
free negroes of these States, captured in the
ranks Of the enemy. Their detention Is iusti
fed by the laws Of war; their punishment We
can provide for, though we should not like to
sec any enforced; for the poor wrotches have
no will of their own, and being forced into
the ranks are not responsible for their CONDUCT
Congress, then, should so modify the law Us
to apply only to the slaves and free negroes Of
these States captured in the ranks OF the
enemy. Let US place ourselves right under
the laws of war, and leave the consequences
to take care of themselves.
If the enemy think proper to leave their
soldiers herein prison, because we will not give
up our right, under the laws of war; to continue
their soldiers in prison for our slaves and free
negroes, we can do notbing.bat accept the issue
and meet its responsibility The law as It now
stauds ig not within. the spirit Of the laws o.
war, ana since it is made the last and oni5
cause for suspending the exchange, we hope
that it will be amended, and ;ts provisions
confined to the case of slaTes and free negroes
of theso .Statna n~r.a-ad - ------ rnLeru, We
see no necessity for any law on the subject
The Yankees are not going to send their ne
gro troops into the feld-they know as well
as we do that no reliance can be placed upor
them; but as depot guards, prison guards,
,Sc., thoy will relieve their white troops
This .is the use that will he made Of them.
Should they he sent to field, and bo put in
battle, mcns acW be token. priSoners-oul
troops understand what TO do in such eases
IF any negroes have been captured during the
war, as soldiers in the enemy's ranks, VIC
have not heard of them. We DO not think
that such case has been reported. The Law
is, therefore, useless