Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-12-12
EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.


FindicatiOn OF the Government.
General L. A. Hitchcock, in further viEdica-
tion OF the action of the Government in the mat
ter OF exchange of prisoners, quotes, in q con. i.
munication 70 the New York Times, 3 letter
addressed by Colonel William Ludlow las
Agent Of Exchange3 to the rebel Commissioner
OuId, in which Colonel L.expressly declines
10 acquiesce IN a proposition for the release OF
Grant at vicksburg. Gen = Hitchcock' sis,
quotes from the Richmond Enquirer OF the I'd
INST. which recites q portion of the language
OF the rebel act Of Congress on the question OF
the treatment OF the colored troops and their
officers. -. .r.s-.- .sr = 1l.-s.'--,sf -9sy fsI.
Here" says Gen. Hitchcock, .swe see that
the law, as staqdS, applies even to free eesorsE
men OF the North " no may engage in the service
Of the United States; and the editor takes ec3a-
zion TO suggest a modification of the law, 30
far Us they are concerned; but there is not 8
word against the law in other respects. As
the law is applicable to both the slaves andth
free colored people Of the South who may be
found in the army OF the Government, they are
the law, which is all the more distinctly de-
clared by ihe proposed exception iI fayor 0f tie
free colOred people ot the North.
"But the editor did not intend to leave the
smallest doubt as to the purpose of the South
on this question; for, after stating an exception
in favor Of the free coiored lnen OF the North,
whieh however, the law as it stands does not
recognize, he proceeds TO remark as follows.
nHera, then, Is the law of nations under
which the right to return a slave TO his master
is plainly and fully laid down, and upon this.
and also upon the right to punish him for being
found in the ranks OF the enemy, the Confed-
crate authorities win stand, and from which
they will not depart"
General Hitchcock concludes his letter as
follows:
sin view OF this .1pose no one can doubt tho
purpose OF The South on the subject OF coIored
troops who may be captured i'll the service OF
the Government and it is inconceivabls how
any one can favor the proposition of q general
exchange Of prisoners while the law in the
South is what their own papers represent and
approve, and while the practice unhappily,
according TO good deal of evidenc ce, goes be-
yond the law itself IN barbarlty. 1t may just
he remarked that the Richmond editor treats
the question as one between two nations al
ready acknowledged as independent; but tho
recognition of certain belligerent rights, prin-
cipally affecting prisoners OF war, does not re-
Eeye rebels from obligations under the Gov
ernment and laws OF the United States. The
ius post;liminii, which even Wheaton calls O
fiction Of the Roman law, Is wholly inapplica-
bie here and the rigkto OF the South to paaish any
one is without foundation, and must remain so
until all rights over the South under the Cen
eral Government shall cease; and this has now
become question Of power as between the /.
nent In the South, to reduce which involves the
very life of the Union and the Government OF
the United States Of America, ~
VERY respectfully, your obedient servant,
aai In 5c.si.tsll gey5 "E. a. HITCHCOCK" +.