Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-09-09
gen. Butler on the Exchange of Pris-


Gen. Butler on the Exchange of PrIs-
Oners. .t--:
Gen. Butler publishes in the New York
Times letter addressed by him to the
rebel Commissioner Ould, in regard to the
exchange Of prisoners. A few days ago
this rebel ould professed 70 be greatly af-
fected by the condition of Union prisoners
in the South, and offered to exchange, man
for man, but making no concessions on the
subject Of black soldiers. Gen Butler re-
fuses to exchange until every man, dressed
IN the uniform of a United States soldier,
shall be recognized and treated as soldier,
not as one to be sold into slavery. The
reasons for this position of Gen. Butler are
verv logically stated, and as this subject
interests large number Of the people OF
the North, we offer few reflections, based
upon Gen. Buffers letter. The rebels at
present treat all colored soldiers as runa-
way slaves. All officers of colored regi-
ments, By an order from JEFF. Davis, which
Is yet unrepealed, are delivered over to the
State authorities, to be treated as
criminals deserving death.
General Butler declares it is neither cen
sistent with the policy, dignity or honor Of
tho rnitAd States. upon any consideration.
to allow those who, by our laws solemnly
enacted, are m ade soldiers Of the Union,
and who have been duly enlisted, enrolled
and mustered as such soldiers-who have
borne arms in behalf of this country, and
who have been captured while fighting in
vindication of the rights Of that country,
not to be treated as prisoners Of war, and
remain unexchanged, aad in the service of
those who claim them as mastersi and
cannot believe that the Government Of
the United States will ever be found to
consent to SO gross a wrong
This position of General Butler is sus-
tanned by every principle Of national and
municipal law. 1t is an international law
of war, well recognized by all civilized ma
tions, that when one belligerent gets pos
session of naova5zs property, the title there
to becomes vested in the captor, and the
former owner Is divested of lis title II
the rebels capture horses from the United
States, the animals become the property OF
the rebel authorities. On the same. prin-
ciple, if slaves are property as is claibed
at Richmond, their capture vests them in
the United States. Now the United
States have given that right of property to
the man himself, that is, have emaneipated
him, SO that there are no sIares in our
army. They are free men. Considered
therefore merely as property, General
Butler argues that when taken by the
rebels, negro soldiers are free men. No
law of civilized warfare iustifes the en-
slavement of free men taken in battle
Negro soldiers must therefore
be treated as white soldiers.
This doctrine applies to nloua6le property.
The rebels, however, claim that when
property that has been taken from an enc
my is recaptured the former owner is re-
ha5ititatsd in the right to such property.
But, replies General Butler, this right, as
understood and defined by all writer's on
national law, is simply applicable to I'M
zgOva6ls property, and that too, after the
complete re-subjugation of the country in
which the property is situated. This right
by the laws and customs OF war, has never
been claimed for naoUa5Je property. For
two thousand years ne nation has endeav-
ored to apply it to slaves, until now by the
rebel authorities.
The argument thus stated is unanswera-
bic. The most violent Copperhead in the
North cannot get around it. The rebels
regard the right Of property in man as the
cornerstone of their fabric of government.
Considering the question of exchanging
negro soldiers merely in that light, regard
ing them as property before they come into
the possession of the United States, the re-
bells cannot quote one principle of in
ternational OF municipal law which
justihes them in re-enslaving black men in
the uniform of an American soldier.
Their shameful abuse Of our soldiers in
Georgia, over which Ould affects to she'd
tears, has been solely for the purpose of
compelling our government to barter away
It's honor and its faith which it pledged to
every black man on entering the army
Copperhesds may whine about the gov
ernment refusing to exchange without re-
ference to the negro. But loyal men be-
heve that the dignity, the honor the faith
Of our government demands that black
soldiers shall be treated, when recaptured
by rebels, as free men. This is merely in
conformity with a principle of innation-
al law that has been established for two
Thousand years. So long as rebels refuse
to conform to this law, the only way left to |
secure the release of our brethren isto fill
up the army. Give Sherman fifty thous-
And more men and he will release every
prisoner in Georgia. His cavalry are
within few hours ride of Andersonville
and Macon. Let the ranks be filed up
therefore and our brave men will be re-
leased
Wilmington next in order.