Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Humanity to Prisoners

     On August 23, 1776, the Marine Committee of the Continental Congress wrote to Lieutenant John Baldwin, commander of the Schooner Wasp, “Use your people well, but preserve strict discipline; treat prisoners, if any you make, with humanity, and in all things be duly attentive to the honour and interests of America.” 
     More than once, the Marine Committee implied a link between kindness to prisoners and the honor of the country.  "...If you make any:" The Marine Committee was not reserving for the captain the right to refuse to take prisoners, but was simply giving instructions in case prisoners fell into his hands.  

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