Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-05-30

q slave had taken refuge acknowledged Slavery

slave had taken refuge acknowledged Slavery
in its own dominions
"43. Therefore. in war between the United
States and q belligereut which admits OF Slave.
ry, il person held 10 bondage by that belliger.
eDt, be captured by or come as fugitive un.
der the pro eclon OF the military forces the
United States, such person is Immediately emit
lied to the rights and privileges Of a freeman.
TO return such perssn into Slavery, would
amount to enslaving free person; aud neither
the United States, nor any officer under their
authority, can enslave any human being More
over person 80 mnde free by the law OF war
is under the shield Of the Law Of nations. and
the former owner or Stae can have, by the law
Of post.limine, no biigerent lien or claim OF
service.
81. So SION as man s armed by sover-
eign Government, aud takes the soldiers oath
Of fidelity, he is a bigereut; his killing,
wouudlng, or other wsrlike acts are no individ-
ua crIines or offenses. No billieerent has
rigtt to declare that enemies Of certain class
color. or condition, when properly organized as
soldiers, will not BIZ treated by him as public
enemies.
"58. The Law Of nstisns knows OF no di,tinc.
tion OF color; and If un enemy OF the United
States should eusave and sell any captared
persons Of their army, it would be u case for
the severest retaliation, IL not redressed upon
complaint. The United States csunot retaliate
by enslavement; therefore death must be the
retaliation for this crime against the Law OF Ha-
tions" ..-...
This is as II should be, aud seems 10
cover the ground, provided il is to be not
Only distinctly proclaimed, but stsrnly Ell
forced. do not know that what are here
correctly set forth - the established Laws
of War governing the employn as sol.
diers by Que beIiserent Of persons who
have been held as slaves by the other has
in any case been violated with impunity BY
The Rebels; yet there have been Black reg
lments serving the Union iu Louisiana aud
South Caroliua for months, Of whom have
not heard that single one, having been
captured by the Rebels, has ever been ex.
changed or returned by them. Perhaps
this is because none have been captured,
though that is barely possible. But it was
proclaimed at the time that quite number
OF Blacks, who were with our forces at
Ha pers Ferry when that post was so
shamefully surrendered to Stonewall Jack.
SON last Fall, we're seizHd by the Rebels,
aud have not since been heard from on our
side Of the lincsj while it is understood
that . number OF Blacks, who, under the
protection Of flag Of truce, went down to
Bull Run to carry relief to our wounded
soldiers after the disastrous fight of last
| August, we're most unjustihably seized by
the Rebels aud hurried Of into bondage.
Let us hope that there has been some mis-
4, take IN the premises, and that the instinct
i've, all but universal loyalty of the Blacks
to the Union cause is TO be requled by the
clear aunuucis,ion aud vigorous euforce
msut of q policy which will ensure to 81
many OF them ~ may be captured by tn
enemy while serving us the same treatmen
that is accorded to Whites similarly en-
ployed, so that thousands after thousand
may he induced to enlist in our Black req
ments, and ,hus replenish the :hinned rank
of the defenders Of our Union. Wber
Justice aud Policy walk so manfestly han'
in hand, i, canuot he that blind Prejudice
and stupid Prido will be suffered to iguor
or oyerbear Them.