New-York daily tribune., 1864-04-20

eminent of The Confederate States.
What was expected and desired of Mr.. Lin
coIn-what the country, and more especially her
colored soldiers, had right to expect-was
something quite other than this. 1t may be
well to ayengo the deaths OF our murdered sol
,rers. but il would have been far better to pro-
fcct and preserve their lives. And here is just
where our Government has fallen short OF its
imperative duty.
The President hesitated lOng-perhaps wisely
-before he authorized the enlistment or accept
auce of colored soldiers. We say, perhaps
wisely; for the force of Prejudice on our side,
as well as that of Rebel malignity, had to be
considered. He peremptorily annulled Gen. FIRE.
monts military order freeing the slaves OF
Rebels within his Department. He altered
Gen Camerons official Report as Secretary Of
War. in so far as it recognized and affirmed the
necessity of fighting Slavery in order to crush
the Rebellion. At later day, he reversed Cen
Hunters order abolishng Slavery within his
Department. To those with whom he familiary
discussed the matter, he explained that the re-
Iatons OF this War with Slavery presented a
complex problcm-Political as well as Military
that blow at Slavery in Missouri or South Caro-
lima might react against the Union cause IN Mary
land and Kentucky as well-so that its proprety
and timeliness could be determined nowhere
else than at the White House. And when,
months alterward, the President finally decided
that either Slavery or the Union must succumb,
he still, by public proclamation, gave the Rebels
one hundred days further wherein to submit and
return to loyalty before launching his edict OF
Emancipation. Nor was the organization OF
Black regiments even yet commenced, nor for
some time afterward.
Now. then-the President, having finally
after listening to and duly weighing all that
could be said on either side Of the question:
decided that in order Ito yanquish the
Rebellion, we must assail its source and inn
pulse. Sayery-and that we must employ Black
as well as White soldiers in our struggle, ought
at once and directly TO have taken the neces-
sary steps TO assure to all our soldiers the rights
and immuniiies of belligerents in war. Not
an hour should have been suffered to elapse,
after it was decided that colored men might
fight for us. before throwing around them
the broad mantle of National protec-
ton. But especially when the Rebel
Government gave notice, through public legls-
latiye act, that i would treat our col0red troops
and their officers as criminals and traitors, en-
slaying the former and executing the latter,
should our Government have met this outrage
by distinct proclamation that Rebel olhcer
Of high rank should suffer at our hands what
ever pain or privation should be inflicted on the
humbest of these defenders of the Republic.
And what was thus promised should have been.
infexibly made good. ...
What was required Of our Government was
not so much retaliation as such prompt vigorous
action as would have precluded any need OF
retaliation. This was not accorded. Many
months ago, the brave Massachusetts, 5ith lost
its Colonel and at least n third of its officers
and men in desperate heroic, but unsuccessful
night attack on Fort Wagner, leaving at least a
hundred OF them wounded in the hands OF the
enemy. Next day. an exchange of prisoners
was negotiated and partially effected; but not
man of the 54th was forthcoming Nor
has the public any knowledge that one OF
them has vet been forthcoming. So at Port
Hudson. at Helena, at AIillikens Bend,
at Olustee, aud elsewhere. We know that
our col0red soldiers fought well-that some
Of them, being wounded, fell into the enemy's
hands: but what became Of them aiterward,
who eau say Their tracks all lead one way;
and that the way pointed ont by the fulmina-
tions of the Rebel Congress. We have usually
found the Rebels as bad as their word; Is there
any probability that they are not in this insance'
For months, the general exchange of prisoners
has been arrested, and mainly because the
Rebels will not consent to exchange our
colored soldiers. We know not where TO look
for evidence that any of these or of their officers,
remain alive. May we not read their fate by
the baleful lightof the burning buildings at Fort
Pillow, into which the bodies of its colored de-
Tenders were thrown by their Rebel captOrs-
some of them while yet alive
oH, ShIu HiohdcH "Hoc I" mn '"iii'"i'''
whom he wished to send on a wrathful mission
TO a savage contemporary, and who had remon-
strated that he deemed the undertaking extra
hazardous, should he dare to molest y0a,
will cut off the head Of every one of his sub
jccts in my dominions." % am very much
obliged to your Majesty" was the courtly re-
sponse; "but | fear there is not one among
them that will fit my shoulders" The Presi-