Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-08-11
Treatment of Captured CoIored Sol
dIers.
From Harpers' Weekly.

After the assault upon Fort Wagner
| there was the usual meeting of officers
| from both sides to negotiate for the care OF
| the wounded aud the exchange of priso-
ners. The Government officer said to the
| rebel agent that the officers and men OF the
colored regiments we're to be treated like
all others. The rebel agent replied that
| that WAS a question for the consideration
of his superiors.
That may be, but it lie no question for
the Government of the United States. Not
only do it's articles of war provide for the
case of foul play upon the part of the enc
NV, but it's honor is iueXtricubly associa-
ted with the enforcement of those articles
and the Government is bound to be espe-
cially alert il the case of these prisoners,
because they are peculiarly exposed. 1t
must take nothing for granted but the ILL
faith of the rebels. Their spirit is sufhci-
emily shown by the amusing indignation
they express at our employment of colored
| soldiers, and the poor insult they intended
| for Colonel Shaw of the Massachusetts Fiji
tv. fourth, in buryiug him under a score of
his own men. Where else could he be so
uobly and ftly buried? With these deVot.
ed soldiers of his and of the country, and
| for them and the country, be faced that
| storm of rebel fire, and died smilliug.-
| Where should he be buried but with themt
| On all the soil of South Carolina there rs
no spot so holy and prophetic as that grave.
| But the malice of the rebels is not less, and
their spirit is apparent, and that the OH
GERS aud soldiers of the colored regiments
will be treated as honorable prisoners is a
hopeless expectation.
We invited these men TO fight for US
We did not give them an equal pay with
other soldiers; we did not allot to them the
offices of honor; we adjured them them by
a flag whose protection we doubtfully con-
cede to them; we required, in a word, OF
these men, whom our pre- udices have hith-
erto kept at every conceivable disadvau-
tase. the qualities that only the proudest
and most self.dependent people show, aud
we promised them but q very uncertain
reward Tor all their fighting. Yet there is
not a man who has dispasiOuately studied
the subiect, who does not know that for
many year We must maintain colOred
army, and that that very fact furnishes a
solution of some of the most perplexiug
questions of the war. The experiment has
begun. The discipline, endurance, and
fiery heroism of these troops are already
established. The charge of the Second
Louisiana at Port Hudson and OF the Fiji
ty.fourth Massachusetts, at Fort Wagner,
are magnificent for their steadiness, i'm
petuosity, and dauntless courage. We're
we as single hearted as these soldiers, our
difficulties would disappear.
Now then is the time to show every col
ored man in the land whether we are in
! earnest, or whether he would be simply a
fool to fight for flag which does not pro-
tect him. Hew can a solitary man of that
race, except the few sublimely heroic, en-
list, until he knows the fate of his breth
rem captured at Wagner Or how can we
ask any man Whatsoever to imPeril his life
for Us, without promising him equal fair
piay with every other? The Government
canuoI eTsde the question. Already the
rebel journals declare that if the colored
prisoners are treated as prisoners of war,
the rebellion may be as we'll abandoned at
once. And the rebel Congress have long
siuee doomed every officer of our colored
regiments 70 the galloEs, and every SOL
DER to the slave pen.
II will, of course, be difficult for the
Government TO ascertain the fate of these
unfortunate men. But it should not suf
fer itself to be Cozened by the rebels. II
should a. once demand from the rebel ring
leaders an explicit guarao:se of the same
treatment that all cur soldiers in their
| hands receive, and the rebels shouId ne
sppriEed that an instant answer nust he
made. After due delay, if the Government
I should find that the natural suspicion of
I foul plsy Is correct, then lifts retaIist ton is
! not swift, sure and deadly, If The rebels are
not taught, as by ere, that every man Who
| fights beneath the national flag is equally
protected by the people whose Sovereignty
that dag symboliEes, we are simply un-
worthy of success.
TIE Presidents SALARY.-Presideu
haa