The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-06-26
Sflistellaneous.
Justice to the Blacks.

At the present time the great question for
this nation to solve is not whether the Union
shall he preserved. for the Union is indisso
luble; MT when the war is to be finished,
for the war will end when rebellion ceases:
nor is it any question about constitutional
rights or natural libertics,-but it is the old,
the tiresome, the heretofore Unanswered qucs..
ton of the position and treatment Of the
black race. The answer given to this ques
ton will DO the touch stone OF American
principles, and the prophecy OF national
prosperity or decline. We have tried one
way Of treating them, that OF slavery, which
has plainly been wrong one. and has re-
suited in national corruption, dishonor, and
suffering. Slavery is very near its end The
Proclamation Of the first of January, 1868,
is not dead letter. Ii sworkins like yeast
to leayen the whole lump OF the Southern
social system. Already rs we learn, upon
unquestionable authority, in the heart Of the
blacklist States, Of Mississippi. Alabama and
Georgia. the slaves are no longer coerced to
work. Nor is the Proclamation lie, "to
keep the word OF promise to the ear, and
break il to our hope" IL is to be maintained
according to its spirit, aud to its full inten-
ton. with tho whole force Of the Govern
inent. and the entire support of the nation.
The new policy that 1t inaugcrited commends
itself daily moro and more, no less to the in
telligence than to the conclence of the pco-
pie. The enlsting OF negroes in North and
South Carolina, in Louisiana, and in the
Western slave States, the enrolment Of black
VOLUNTEERS in Massachusetts,, Kansas, and other
free States; the employment of freed men
on abandoned plantations under government
al authority and inspection, are evidences of
tho practical operations, and OF the sincerity
Of tho administration and Of the people in
the work Of freedom.
But although all these other facts afford
evidences Of the destruction of slavery, and
OF the establishment of new policy towards
the black race, there is vet need OF some
thing more. The treatment Of the blacks in
tho long run must be based not on the neccs-
sites OF war, or any emergency or transient
circumstances, but should be founded on prin-
ciples of universal application, and Of etcr-
nal force. The nation, -that is the individ-
uals who compose the nation.-must learn
to treat the blacks on the simple principle OF
even Justice. They arc to be treated neither
with harshncss nor with softness not rs q
seryile class, nor rs natural interiors, not as
degraded racc,-but simply rs men. The
nation, If it would secure its own prosperity
and happiness, must conquer the predjudices.
which has led, and if INDUCED, will lead to
outrages and calamitious injustice. We put
in no plea for compassion and kindness to q
long suffering, deeply wronscd, and blame
less race. Ii is not on any ground OF pity or
of compensation that we rest our claim for
the blacks, but we claim justice for thcm rs
their right and therefore Us the only rule OF
treatment which will not endanger and en-
feeble the life of the nation itself, and expose
il TO inevitable penalties. Seli.intercsts on the
part of the white race requires justice to the
blacks. Their work is to be paid for like the
work of other men, if they do fnll DAYS
work,-full wages not half wages are their
duo. n they are idle let them suffer the con-
sequences. The system Of apprenticeship,
or of forced labor, is to DO applied to them,
no more than to white men,-that is it is to
be applied only when their is danger of their
becoming burden on the ccmmlnity, and
then they deserve pay for their forced labor
in the sime proportion as white men would
receive il.
lucEt ~ UD w luCt
that, whether we like it or not, the blacks
are n part of this nation for veal or for woe.
IL they are treated fairly, like men, with
equal democratic justice, they will as n race
soon learn to take care Of themselves, and
soun raise themselves from the depth of slave
ry to homes, independence. More than this
they will become class OF immense impnr.
lance to the country. both as producers and
consumers. They will form laboring class
of freemen such as no other nation possesses.
and their rise from bondage into enjoyment
of freedom and Justice, will involve con-
slant steady increase in the source Of national
prosperity, security and power.
The same FREQ and equal justice that each
one demands for himself. is demanded by the
negro. He has as good right to it as we
have. IL il the duty Of every man who loves
his country, who believes in the inalienablc
rights of man and who would serve God, to
help secure il. N.