New-York daily tribune., 1863-07-31

changed 10 tne savage mercies OF Rebel natreo>
The Rebels announce that none of the negro
regiment will be given up, aud unofficial re-.
ports say that the negroes have been sold into
slavery, and the white officers treated with
unmeasured abuse. Other officers, who have
been exchanged, certify that the first question
asked them was whether they commanded
negro troops and when they answered No.
were told it was fortunate for them, for that
every damned niger officer would be hung
or shot at sight"
For this condition of affairs the Administra.
tion is responsible. They have been urged
again and again since the issue Of Davis's
proclamation; urged in these columns and BY
journals all over the country, besought by indi.
yiduals, and in reference to this very regi.
ment, specially entreated by the Governor Of
Massachusetts and numerous citizens Of that
State, to take such action as should surround
the negro troops and their officers with tho
ordinary safeguards of war. Representations.
exhibitions of ghastly facts, appeals, entreaties.
prayers, have been Of no avail, and to-day we
have to deplore again the massacre OF the
wounded black soldiers and their officers. who
braveIy fought for the Republic. but whom tas
Government neglects to protect.
The proclamation Of jefferson Davis was
issued last December-almost year ago. IL
denounced slavery or death to all negroes
taken in arms under the National Flag, and
death to the officers commanding them. Look
once more at the list Of outrages BY which
that proclamation has been followed.
| At Galveston, Texas, the free black servants
of white ofiicers-free citizens of Massachu-
sets living in Roxbury and Dedham, Norfolk
County-were sold into slavery Immediately
upon the surrender of the national forces. The
banner of the Republic under which they served
gave them no shadow Of protection.
Near Murfreesboro, twenty black teamsters
in the employ Of the Government were captured
by the Rebels, tied to the nearest trees, Aogged.
and shot.
Near Lake Providence, Louisiana, large
number of negroes, also taken from Govern
ment employ, were captured. and either sold
into slavery or shot.
At Port Hudson, negro pickets who were
taken by the Rebels were instantly hanged, IN
ulain sight of the National camps. The ne
groes who led the assault on the Rebel works
we're none Of them taken prisoners, but all
bayoneted after they were wounded or had
surrendered
i At Vicksburg no negroes were found inside
} the works when the place surrendered AL
those captured had been shot.
At Miliken's Bend, in the desperate fight
which q portion Of negro regiment sustained
against a heavily superior Rebel force. every
prisoner aud wounded negro was instantly
shot bayoneted, or hanged-their officers
sharing their fate.
) In word. the threat of Jefferson Davis's
Proclamation, issued last December, has been
executed in every instance in which the Rebels
have fought against negro troops, or in which
they have been able to kidnap free blacks
soldiers or otherwise. For almost o year
they have logged, sold into slavery, shot,
bay oneted, hanged and burned the black sol
diers whom the Government calls into il
service, who fight under the National Flag fo'
the defense Of the imperied Republic, but
who are neither protected nor avenged by the
Government There has been no declaration
of purpose to protect them. There has been
in no single instance retaliation for the wrongs
they have suffered.
it seems idle to review the arguments By
which We have so often urged upon the Gov.
ernment to announce a policy and act on it.
If it 10 contended that the publication Of the
Lieber code was sufficient announcement
We answer that since that code was published
many OF the worst outrages have been per.
petrsted, and no retaliation has followed. II
the code was not meant to be the policy
of the Government, why was it published
| If it was, why has the retaliation which il
threatened never been executed The truth
7 is, it never was such formal and solemn
| proclamation as beth the Rebel authorities and
our own Generals were compelled 10 notcs
and act upon The section referring 10 this
subject was lost amid a hundred others, and
has had no practical effect
Had the President but issued his proclama-
tion declaring that oil soldiers under the flag
have the same rights. and that any violation
of them would be followed by merciless retalis-
tion; and had he acted on that announcement.
these horrors would long since have come to
an end. As matters now stand, we know not
when to hope the Government will do its duty.
If tho President will not heed an appeal. nor
that Of the country which is shocked BY these
outrages aud amazed at their permitted
continuance Wa inplOre him To