The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-09
THE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.


From Ae TrrBuHs
We heartily rejoice over the release of oar
hfty officers at Charleston, and are willing
enough their fifty compensating Rebels should
go back In exchange. Az the same time, we
are utterly unable to perceive on what principle,
or IN virtue Of what decision OF our Government.
the exchange was effected.
.'' Not more curious muddle has been made
during all the war than in this exchange business.
We are not going into The history Of it--space
being valuable-but advert to the well-remem-
bered fact that all negotiations with the Rebels
on the general subject of exchange were finally
broken Off last winter, mainly In consequence of
disagreement on two points O) as to the number
sf duly paroled aud exchanged prisoners on
either side, and (2l as TO the recognition by the
kehel authorities of negro soldiers as prisoners
of war
II was understood that the Government would
nave waived differences on the first point IL the
Rebels would have yielded the second but they
declintd. Pending the diplomacies the exchanges
were stopped by an order OF the War Depart
ment and were never resumed. That is 70 saw
they were never re, umed formally by revocation
or suspension of that order, much less by agree
ment between the parties but from that time to
this, special irregular, unauthorized exchanges
OF limited numbers OF officers and men have
tai zen place.
Such exchanges were rather numerous in the
West and Southwest, and have even gone on
under the eye, and apparently by express drec-
Stion, cf the War Department, at City Point.
Every one Of these exchanges was clear gain 10
the Rebels in two wRys-giying them well men
for sick aud starved, and yielding tacitly the
question as TO negro troops. These irregular ex-
changes have continued even since the Fort Pill
low massacre.
We hold to-day 90, 900 and more Rebel prison
ers OF war Of our men the Rebels have perhaps
5O0O0-certtiniy less than $4,000. If, therefore,
flf "A Npn no
the cause OF the Rebellion would gain 30 900 men
equivalent TO a reinforcement OF twice that
number TO their armies, because we should send
them healthy, well-fed men, ready to shoulder a
musket ut once in exchange for whom we should
receive sckly and mainly disabled body of men.
But there is another element in the question
which deserves consideration. Nearly 100000
negroes are in the military service of the United
S,aies, more than so 900 of whom wear the uni.
form and fight for the flag Of the Republic. The
residue are employed as teamsters, laborSrs. SER
vants, &c.
Efforts are making towards general enlstments
IN the insurRent districts to reduce quotas for the
loyal States in addition to which General Canby
has recently issued an order for filling the ranks
of the Louisiana regiments from the plauta-
tons. II these efforts receive the encouragement
and co operation of the War Department, tho
number of co ored troops may be largely in
creased In q short time.
Right here interposes this question of exchange,
involving and resting upon recognition or deuial
by he Rebels of our right to enlist blacks, aud
their treatment OF prisoners. II has remained
now for nearly two years nominaly unsettled-
set led practically by the unswerving obstiuacy
Of the Rebels aud hesitation of the Government
r-eettl, d by the repeated murders aud enslave.
ments of colored troops fighting for the Union,
for DO one of which has there been retaliation on
our side.
We have got to meet ii BONE tme-aud there
ts no time like the present. For the new enlist
ments press 1t upon us in such form that we
cannot escape II without humiliation aud dis
grace. The Government has no right to ask a
negro TO enter its military service while it denies
him The ordinary safeguards of military service.
tic Union has no ella ms on its colored citizens;
the States have still less on citizens of other
States.
AS matters now stand, each is asking and one
is compelling the black man to march into the
field under The two-iold periI of death by the
chances of battle and death or slavery if cap
tuIed. He knows il, and in many thousands of
instances has proved generous enough and he
rolc enough TO ia G hat double peril. Nor can
We cXl ect that on such conditions the Goveru-
mtnt should obtain haf the number of meu
who, were they once assured Of recognition and
protection a. soldiers, would fl ck TO unfurled
'siandaEd all through the rebelous States.
IL, then, we are deaf to other considerations
the demands Of self. interest appeal TO us to be
i 1just TO the negroes We must do 1t in order to
get the men. We can afford TO make a bargain
70 SUR lehdtr 10000 Rebel prisoners in exchange
Ffr6O,OOO, five secure the rights of our coored
In oops by such au agreement, and by securng
l heir rights tier Them an nducemont to enlist.
The Rebel authorizes are very glad TO get back
beir fifty Officers, and will get fifty or five thou
l'snd more, II they can, on the same terms
erms which involve no surrender OF the purpose
murder colOred prisoners, which they have
4 hus far carried out. They yield in this lse TO
! be show OF trmness on our part-to the prompt
3faistion which exposed their officers to fire Ia
Charleston harbOr. So they yielded in the case
Xpf Sawyer and Flynn, whom they threatened to
lang bot released upon being assured that VIM
r and Fit Lee should hang also.
So will they yield whenever the Government
4 akts up its mind 70 ac decisively in the matter
n tOlored troops 70 retaliate for Fort Pillow,
i nd "a make the nnety thousand Rebel prisoners
our Lands praeticIily, as they are nJmnally,
= nstages for the security of negro prisoners in
II bel hands. Then, and not till then, may we
II ,Se general and an honorable exchange.