Washington telegraph., 1864-08-24

have officially declared any fxc1 policy with re-
gard 70 them Ths declaration Of the President
that, when taken, they would be. together with
the officers commanding them, handed over TO
he State authorities To be dealt with according
TO their laws was sufficient to establish the point
that the ' could in no case be held as prisoners
Of war, nor lie entitled TO the consideration OF
soldiers Of beIigersnt party. This removed
tro1n them all protection Of the laws of war,
and although prescribing thtir treatment when
once captured and held left them to be dealt with
0pen the field ss the policy Of The officers or the
passiOne Of the soldiers might dictate The re-
suit has ten that almost none, if any OF them,
have btcn taken prisoners at all. Al have felt
this to be neceesity, though a crael one; and
t thus far the practice has met with the express
approval or silent acquiescencc, Of sll our peo-
pie In 10 other manner could that marked
| distinction between the races hare been main
| tanned, which is the basis OF our most important
institutions. and upon which rests our whole So
| ci@i system.
Oar free white population, the neg.o himself,
a1d :hs whole world required 10 be taught by
some such terrible examples that the status of
| the negro IN the Southern States could only be
o2a Of submissive spJordjnatior, aud that in no
event, nor under the sanction of any foreign
! authority whatever, could he ever raise an arm
a.5i-s. Iho suEerio. race Without beiug exposed
II Il. s;-as, Iaoa,liss.
/ Ecr another :cason, :. las te.n ul.&v citsbia
I T.--.c nave ben AulUnEs: Us many u.en. al.s-
, guided by narrow yiewe, who have neT,r ac-
cus;oac1 themselves TO look upwards TO the
] high and overriding principles which prompted
our separation from the North, and for which
/ tho vsr s maintained with such sweeping ga
/ crifcs-princiPles SIS important &c he poorest
/ child in the ConfaderScy; aye! more sO--thSn
! to the richest slavc-owncr Instead Of regard
/ ing tie war as grand contts. fer me freedom
ana dignity Of the white race, undeg laws and
I institutions which might preserve the child IF
tha poorest mother agairst the necessity of nc
nial services, or the worse oppression Of tnano-
/ tae';siag task-masters, they have looked only
/ 81 its immediate and tangible cause. and been
too prone TO regard It Is war fog the protection
Of the property Of sIave-ownerz. This WAS for
a long time most pernicioUs error amongst US,
ana existence die much to create IN The minds
9, she ,5,li;ionists of the North the hope Of di-
~idiaE Us. and setting lha poor against the rich.
= heyc much cause Of pride il the good sense
and patriotism Of the masses of the people, that
this 1ope proved Is 1riserabls r failure IS any
/ other OF those entertained by that blinded and
te:la:ical race.
Lincoln jgstifes lis e-aaI.e: .e:pation proclama-
ticu and he arrniug o: slaves. under his ccns;i-
tuition. as war measure prompted By military
Necessity II considered :: Indispensable to
the srhiugation OF the South. lie expected
that he Don-slayeholders of the South, finding
themselves confronted and slain by the very re
| aroes, the property in wLich they had taken up
arms to p-ctact, would become disguised with
the war, and refuse to fight any longer Sach
would doubtless have bepz the case had our gov
ernmert taltsrcd one moment in i.s dtteTE.na-
ton 70 deny them al the rights OF var, and
treat Them only IS 1evol:ed slaves, withou; any
claim 20 thoae rights which would put hem nPon
M egns.icy with our scitie.s n the hands Ct tie
enemy. The stern resolve to iafict upon ther,
th5 punishment OF death, which seems 70 nave
( spontaneously animated the officers and men OF
our armies WAS Eo: the cruelty Of hoartisssness
I. vas tyi: to te necessary, not only TO preserve
the due su5o.diua;ion @: The race IN al tim'
hereafter, bc,c also TO prove to the poorer classes
that the value OF the s,sys, az property, to Iii,
master, was a consideration not TO be wsighe,
acairs: Il le cl.rae Of attempting the life Of tn
poores. rbi;e soldier in our lines.
This lesson has been taught. This impress
siou has beea made. feaI.ully and .-i-llibiy
i rus taken bold O; the mind of the negro hin,
self. 4rd IS eviden, in tho Increased submission
ot the sla- At home and the total absence 70
ne -ast ycsr OF al INSTRUMENTATION. He IS fully
Impressed v;tl the awful nature and ccnsequcn
ccs Of tho crime Of lifting his haud in hostility
. t. the white race. We may now paus. to ron
s;3sr whether scrns cbsnga may not ba rermis
si5.e u the ,r5armeut ot negro soisig-s, or wheh
er, indeed, VIC mast coEiiGUo carnage forcjgI
our ra,uIe andrevo,t.ng to our feelings, forced
upon Us BY the hsa-t,css Vaccinations Of oul
> enemy,
Perhaps tAe lino ms colne when We may safe
ly allcw ourselves 10 feel towads them some o
that compassion which ail generous natures evt
extend to the unfortunate. Most Of then
certainly are more sinned against than shining
A few o. theu have escspcd and joined the ea
/ elay ~:l,uliy and maliciopsly, but tho CREATE
r.Rrnb-r have been forced unwil!;ngIy into tbt
ranks. and many have been dsIuded with prom
ises of freedom md future case. All arc no
equally guilty. a great many are entirely in
nocent, and would he glad humbly TO resume
thsr status as slaves. 1t has been their misfor
tune that our soldiers could lot make tie dis
unction, ana hey have all equally fallen victin:
to the necessity which compelled th, II des;ruc
lion
We take It lor granted that uone wish to xii
them from hiyst for blood. aud that all our pee
pie, cit;2r Is md soldiers, would be willing tC
extend to them al the lehity conpathl" with
the public safety. Moreover, it is 20 be consid
cred that VIC gain nothing By rendering then
desperate, as all mon are, OF whatever race. whC
hghz with hsit,.s around their rccks
Keeping it airsays in view that, on no account
nor under any pressure, are they TO b. treated
q spoken Of rs prisoners OF war, We sugges