, 1864-04-09
TREATMENT OF BLACK SOL

DXEn9s
The precise statue Of the black soldiers
when taken prisoners by the rebels, is in con-
siderable doubt, as yet, so far as the public
have eny info1mxuonss The Gunfedcracy 41as
passed laWe enough, and Of, sufficiently
trucuIcnt Character. They have made am:
nouncemcnts enough as to the terrible ven
geance they viii visit upon the poor fellows
and their officers when taken, and "atnoa1
doubt in come II not several cases 1nsse ~
threats have been carried into execution tus
black soldiers have been ruth]esat1 mutoeteu
or perhaps takon possession u oeo-
Tho rehc1s on this subject arc full Of the very
-,rns of fdiabolisrn-tlcy feel ugly enough to
aa,, t,,c ,nost Internal crue1ties wherever
abcv have the power.
But low far they will dare to give express
sion to their fcclings-to execute their laws-
to enact their threats, is another question.
War, like wrestling, is double game: 1t
lakes two to play ct it; and the rebels, much
Us they have cursed and affected to contemn
the Yankees, have found the National Gov
crnmcnt thing not TO be despised. 1t has
now In hand q goodly number Of their pris-
oncrs-not alone Of the rank and file Of the
buttcrnut persuasion; but also OF officers
the bloods Of the South-lords Of the lash
The "chfyalry," of which VIC lnve been 1or
some years reading. Now 1t may not be
thing altogether safe to play the fury upon
the soldiers Of the nation, whatever the color
Of their intcgumcnts. There may be retribu-
tion laid up for future day not pleasant to
be riskcd. Is the rebels are Of all men giyen
to act the tyrant, and appeal to fear, for
bringing others to compliance With their own
will, SO no men are more quickly Influenced
by 1t themselves, Let them once understand
that they will be sure Of retribution, and no
men arc more quickly put upon their good
behavior.
We have therefore the matter in our own
hands, If We haye but the courage to use it
The black soldiers can be protected And
the Government may be pretty sure OF one
thing. If 1t docs not protect the blacks,
they will take care, as fur rs possible, to pro-
tect themselves. Let It be understood that
they arc to expect no quarter, and they will
give none. Let the rebels act upon their
thrcat, "to take no black prisoners" and the
blacks will take no prisoners. The rebels
a.c beginning to understand that the blacks
will fight. They have never got the better Of
them In single engagement since arms were
put In their hands, The Nubians will hold
their own with their former masters, when
II comes to a fur trying Of conclusions. If
the war then is to be carried on under the
black flag, where black mcn handle the guns,
II is not difficult to sec who will get the
worst Of II in the long run.
So far, there is a good deal Of secresy
thrown over the matter as to what has been
the precise treatment Of black soldiers. The
Coniederates are evidently afraid to take the
responsibility and avow their acts II they
kill, or enslavc, our soldiers, it is done in &C.
crct; and the cndeayor will be to cover up
their tricks. But they may be sure that such
things will not stay covered up. Wholesale
murder will get airing after while. The
United States authorities will hesitate, OF
course, to act without evidence; and eri-
dcnce mny be slow in coming; but 1t will get
ulong aftcr while; and mu1dcrers viii not
escape with impunity.
1t has been announced; that IN exchange
of prisoners has been agreed on; but It is
subsequently explained, that the exchange
does not apply to b1aek soldiers-the rebel
Commissioner being st111y uncomplomising
on That point OF course then the exchange
will not 60 beyond the limits oftheir number
In captivity. We must keep the staff in our
own hands. II they have thousand pris-
oncrs in durance, We must hold on to fifteen
hundred Of the chiyalry.