Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-01-22

4 49,
All good aud wise men sbt tbaf ahvory Il
about 70 pass away fiom our uati5h fqrtter--
/ Our work now is the formation 81 pdhlic sem
timent In favor Of freedom for ell men Of an coI-
ors and races. This s great work Indeed. =.
As people We have hated the eDslaved race,
simply because we have sbuscd and trnmpled
it down. We have debasdd and crushed the
African, and then have hated and scornsd him
for being degraded.
great many people who formerly hated him,
and joined hands with his oppressors, arc now
quite ready TO say, ~We want nothing more TO
do with the negro, send him away when the
war is over, we do not care where,so that we are
not troubled with hiip" They are, like Phar-
aoh OF old eager to drive out the people they
have wronged. Bot they will not get offso cas-.
| lily: The only possible basis Of national peace
aud prosperity, IL the recognition Of the equal
manhood and citizenship Of every man Of eve
ry race on American soil, without regard
70 color, nationality, or previous social cond-
ton.
The people are getting ready for this, but
there is yet need Of earnest labor by all who In.
hueDce the popular mind, that prejudice may be
out-grown and that all our people may come TO
love justice and do it.
We have never yet comprehended the Ameri-
can Idea. This idea is FREEDoM FOR ALL MES;
freedom Of body and soul, Of thought, Of con-
science Of worship and labor Everything that
can and must be rooted out. Everything that
seeks TO subordinate Man to institutions is false
and must perish Every assumption ofautbor-
ty over the free soul Of man in respect TO relig-
ious opinion is an obstacle inthe way of our true
national development Allintolerance is oppos-
ed to whatever is good in our Institutions
Dissent must have the same rights as conformi-
ty. Men have right to be Catholics or Prot
estants Jews or Mohamnedans, Pagans or Athe-
lists in their opinions il they will. In matters
Of belief there must be perfect freedom in this
land We may persuade, instruct and enlght-
en-; but we cannot compel. This is the original
and essential American Idea, in relation TO spir-
itual liberty; but il is older than American in
stitutions, it is the idea of the Divine Man Of
Nazareth, the teaching Of the Son of God.
Every man, ofevery race, has also right to
live where he may choose, provided he does not
encroach upon the rights Of his fellow men,
This nation can have no authority or right to
send persons Of African descent out of the coun-
try, il they obey our laws and try to perform
the duties of citizenship. The white people Of
Indiana have no more right to say as they have
said in their constitution, that black people
shall not come into this State and remain, than
black people would have to come here and drive
us out
Every man has right to choose his work in
life; has right to do anything that ought to
be done, if he can; and the proceeds or results
Of his labor belong to the laborer, to be used
and enjoyed as he WILL subject in all things to
the law which requires him to regard every
other mans interest and rights as equal TO his
own.
Finally, every man in this country has an
equal right to all that American citizenship,
freedom, and sovereignty mean and include
This right is original and inalienable and is
entirely irrespective of color, descent and social
position. 1t can only be forfeited by crime
Men of every nation should be welcomed to
home among us, fettered by no disabilities, and
required only to obey our laws Winchester
lind )Jo1Tual