Washington telegraph., 1864-06-08

~ / Sweetheart, sweetheart
The SLAVE SoLDrEns.-Amongst those etu-
pendous wrongs against humanity, shocking to
the moral sense Of the world, like Herod' :
massacre Of the Innocents, or the eve OF
st. Bartholomew, the crime Of Lincoln in
seducing our slaves into the ranks Of his army
will occupy prominent position. All minor
and local mas.acres pale before it. 1t would,
If accomplished as intended, consign four mil.
lions Of human beings to sure determination.
,Loathe.ome as the character Of Lincoln ap-
pears in other respects, in this it is prc-emin-
emily hideous.
The world has had it's Neros, and great con
ouerors delighting in human blood Never one
has before times dared the bloody height Of
wheedling million. of harmless, happy and in
nocent people to destruction by bloody death,
or sure starvation, and laughed at their calani-
ties. 1t towers aloft the acme of crime
The work ID in process, and has been partly
accomplished. Thousands of souls Of this un-
happy race, have already flown from the
crowded Lazar houses Of the North, from
bodies starved aud frJzen in their inho.pitable
cline, from carcasss weltering in their gore
upon battle 6eId., where they have been coldly
and hsartlessly exposed to slaughter, and stand
at nssren's cLancery with the black and
damning accusation a. aiast the author OF their
ruin. Will il not be
'.When they do meet at compt.
This look of theiI hurl his soul from heaven
And iends will snatch at it,"
God knows! We must not judge lest we be
judged. But on earth he is most foul ani hor-
rible.
1t is the curse of evil that it's effects are not
drawn unwillinSly into the vortex Of its conse-
qucnces, and may be compelled to courses
which may wiring our hearts with pity. A
great problem is forced upon US. The most
important ever presented in the history Of in
ternational law. We cannot shut our eyes and
pas. it by. 1t cries aloud for solution, and
that at once. No delay is possible, or worse
and more terrible complications will surrey
follow,
How shall we treat our slaves arrayed under
the banners Of the invader, and marching tc
desolate our homes and fresides! Who can
answer that fippantly, We do not envy such
q man. 1t is o case in which it well becomes
our rulers to pray most earnestly for Divine
guidance. May they have it soon. Meanwhile
Al Il A.
heat of battle, where there has been no time
fer discussion. They have cut the Gordian
knot with the sword. They did right. 1t was
not theirs to untangle its knotty folds. 1t is
far better for the deluded victims, and for US,
that the fate which may perhaps be considered
inevitable, should come upon them in hot
blood. and the excitement Of the battle field.
But it is nevertheless Of the most pressing
importance that our Government should adopt
some system in the treatment Of these unfor-
tunates, we'll defined to ourselves, and made
known to the enemy in order to be prepared to
meet its consequences. That we may make
no retractions, nor betray fatal vsscillation.
it is ihdispensa bic to be right Without firm
ness we cannot succeed. To be firm we must
be conscientiously right. Let us calmly ex-
anime the principles which apply, and as FAR
as may be, reconcile humanity with the safety
of those Institutions upon which our Govern
ment rests. All the time remembering. that
the loftiest humanity dictates the preservation
Of our Government, and the happiness and
welfare Of its citizens, at any cost however ter
rible.
Independently of the fact, that slavery under
our Constitution is the normal and proper con-
dition of the African race, we could not, under
the law of nations, objec. to the enlistment Of
free blacks in the enemy's ranks, or refuse to
treat them as prisoners of war. No nation
generally, has the right to dictate to hostile
power the race or color of its soldiers. Blu, the
existence Of slavery with us, fixes the status Of
the African as inferior and subordinate, and
precludes us from extending to the free negro
any consideration above what is paid to our
slaves. We have the right to require of all bel.
ligerents of every nation such consideration Of
our peculiar institution as not to force upon US,
as soldiers and equals, persons Of race whom
we cannot recognize as such without an aban-
donment of principle. The whole foundation
of our social system rests upon the subordina.
ton and respect of our slaves, which can never
be preserved if their fellows, persons Of the
same race and color, are allowed the naughty
privilege [of entering our houses, arresting,
guarding and commanding US as prisoners Of
war. 1t is al intentional insult upon the part
no. ,1r HM.MM u.M lIa~N
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