The New York herald., 1863-12-25
Exchange OF Prisoncrs-No Quarters 10
Negroes.

FROM the mcnmond Enquirer Dec. IL.
In the matter OF exchange OF prisoners the United
sn,es commissioner has becn driven by hr. Oud from
point TO point, from position to position, until finally
Generals Meredith and Hitchcock have abandoned
every point in dispute except the treatment Of negro
prisoners. Tho message Of President Davis, OF
january IL, is made tho suspending ex-
change, notwithstanding that from January TO July this
"Meesage had been in orce and referred
20 suaeea caSse Tn 'or stopping the operations
upon ths Message" We have already
shown that the law of Congress for delivering
All negroes and their white officers, captured in
arme 10 state authortes for trial under state laws
600 wide IN lis language and covered matter that is not
within the province OF one nation 70 dictate another.
No nation has the right to say that IT'S enemy
shall net employ in its armies certain class
Ger belong ing exclusively TO the authorities OF the
nation itself II the Yankees like negro troops they have
in their arm,es and they have right to demand fer
them the prorer treatment as prisoInEs OF war. II
alton is proper and jostihabo, not because Of
sbe employment Of the savages but Tor any acts commit
ted by tue sodery not ~ accordance with the laws OF
war So, II the negroes'empoyed by the United states
COMPOSE part OF the people of those States, and
gre regularly mustered into their service; IT, after
capture. they can be proved guilty OF acts not
fecogued within the roles Of civilized warfare, they
are MT entitled TO the rights OF prisoners OF but
MAJ be punished bandits and robbers. And of
while 'roops-color mas nothing to do with soldiers.
but the case 10 different ~ the slaves and free
sroes these states captured in the ranks OF the enemy
Their detention is justified by the laws OF their
puni hmont we can provide for, though we should not
Ike 10 any enforced for the poor wretchos have
pOhsible for their conduct.
Congress, then, sholld modify the law o. apply
only ~ the slaves and free OF these states cap
tured IN the ranks Of the enemy. Let place oursclv
right under the laws Of war and the consequences
20 take IRE oL themselves.
u me enemy think proper TO leave their soldiers here
w prison because We viii not give right, under
tne laws OF war 10 continue their soldiers IN prison
our savca and FREQ negroes We do nothing but
oept the ssne and meet the responsibility. The law as
IL now Glands IS no, within the spirit Of the laws OF
var, and since e made the last and only for
pending the exchange. hope that 1t viii be amended
and s provisions conned 10 tho % slaves and
negroes of those States captured IN arms. Indeed
we zee no necessity for any law the sub
3ect. The Yankees are not going TO send their
gro troops 10 the Aed-they know well do that
no reliance can DO placed upon them; but depo,
guards, prison guards SC, they will relieve their
white troops. This Ia the use that will be made OF
then. Should they be sent TO the field and be put in
battle, none clN b. taken prsonsrs-our troops under
stand what TO do IN such cases. II any negroes have
been captured during the soldiers 10 the
ranks have not heard OF them We do think that
such case has been reported The law ~, therefore
pfeless.