The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-07-02
sketched IN the article which forms the


basis OF this, Is the only, Or the best one
that could be devised, even il that plan
were developed and perfected-l should
be mortified indeed, If | were compelled
10 suppose, that the United States, could
not furnish, and call into her service at
her will, many men, whose genius was st-
rerior to my own. All | intend TO say,
on behalf of that plan is, that 10 me 1t
appears to be based upon the pTtnctrles, by
the observance OF which only, 4 recon-
structloa OF this nation caiI ever De made
coherent and durable: and that the prac-
teal application Of those principles has
been pointed cut for operation in the
mode which seems to ME, at the present
momcnt, best calculated to make the
structure durable and solid. The BecesSi-
ty which compels a surrender Of the wall
liable principle, that numerical majors
" OF 4 nation shall rule It's destinies, is
undoubtedly to be regretted: but It was
not found possible 10 preserve II IL the
constitution Of the United States, and
seems to me far less possible now than
then. / see another reason wig the prInA
cIrles of such 4 plan may be Desirable
1t offers some probability of securing
some guarantees to the black man. ne
poor wretch. under the present tendency
OF events, Is and will be crushed between
the uryer and the neither milestone HUI
manity has been SO much abused, thaL II
hay seem almost matter OF deEEsion that
asy serious proposition should be mace
for the benefit of this unfortunate race.
But wise men are almost always humane
men, and when this government IS recon
structed, if 1t ever is, ii viii be by their
hands only, 1t IS possible that Il can be
done Such men will not feel 1t beneath
their duty, 10 provide guarantees for the
safety and ha -piHcss Of Il race, lIlh IoItInG
our soil, by our fault, not theils, uulitted
TO form a portion of the body petite, and
for that very reason having the tenderes'
claim upon its solicit de.
am tempted, confess, to proceed VIII
n development of the political workings
of the system | have sketched. Bat
shall forbear to do it now, for | DO not
think tie time has yet come fer entering
upon that qaeslion: under the rresen:
tendency Of events it IS certain Il Will nev~
or come When ii is taken up it will
have to be handled witt. g good deal OF
tact and Gelicacy, in order &c make It
available. But i may obserTe now, that
the constant tendency Of such s:steai
would be to bring forward the aJ.est r1cn
in both District as candidates Tor the
presidency, IN the Il pc, and with the prob
able result that such q p!an would get
some votes in the other district: and the
non residence clause in regard to the
election OF members Of Congress, il il
should have any effect whatever, would
tend in the same GIrectiOn-tO bring the
ablest men into the =ublic coanse!s-and
/ regard stem that shall secure, OF
tend to secure that re-ult, Is the best tina;
can e devised for it Is the pign:es that
have destroyed Us, and X Is Only the giants
that can res ore us.
am aware that such Ian tends to
place the KEYS of the Union in certain
hands, but if that is an evil, IS It really a
greater one than to leave them to be
scrambled for. rs they always have been
under the old system? Ny own opinion
really is, that such custody VIII be found
IN etfec TO be balance wheel that VII.
:erd TO regulate the whole machinery
requiring it is true good deal Of wisdom,
aud Ermness ca the part Of the custodian
but if they have il not, can they make
themselves the custOdiaus? That think
Is the answer-acd it IS equal to, and ID
fact is, in some sort putting them u"t:el
bonds 10 thu rest OF the Union.
| believe that for the present Eav'
tDlic tIlct-I !!ih = I'yi-ItS@i t''- " b'''i
] have pointed out the necessities UpOl
which the principles Of it rest. have give
it sufficient development to sGye Il q clam
To attention if it has any merit, -aFd if
has not, | am sure that rot any harm
done
know that these ideas are little i
advance Of the state Of public sent;n.en
at the resent moment, but in 4 te'
months ! know they may be much be
hind 1t | know too, that wiz out an
-r---- -.-----si@4ra rril.-t h. Al
right or not, that somebody has got 10 q
what l have tried to do-that i, attenI
to build op instead OF. destroy-that !
doing so, they will have to take step J
advance of the public sentiment Of th
moment - en- The a:teI - IS nIgde-aH
I can only hope, as | mos fervent dc
that such an attempt will 10 made il
some quarter that " Il enforce attention
and with an ability that will afford
presage of success.