The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1865-10-20

things rs we'll, aud now when YOU have laid
down your arms, thero are othcr objects of
equal importance TO You. Now that this
Government has trinmphanty passed
through this mighty rebellion after the
most gigantic battles the worl ovor aaw,
the problcm is before you aud il is best that
you should understood It. aud, therefore,
speak simply aud plainly. VIII you now
whom you have returned from the army of
the United States aud taken me position IF
citfseHs. When you have returned to the
avocations OF peace, willyou give evidence
to the world that yoN a. cpd6ie dad COM
pefem 70 gorera gOHrSciccs? ? That Is WhW
VoW nW haze 10 10. Liberty is not mere
idea mere vagary. II is AN idea or it is
reality, and when you come to examine this
question Of liberty you will not he mistaken
in mere idea Tor the reality. II does not
consist in idlenoSs. Liberty does not con
sist IN being worthless. Liberty docs not
consist in doing I'll things as we please and
there can be no liberty without law. In Is
government of freedom aud of liberty there
must be obedience and submission to the
law without regard to color. [Ohcers.l
liberty--dpd B,ay aOt i cdR goa my coHA.
f,ymen liberty consists in the glorious
privilege of work, of pursuing the ordinary
avocotions of peace with industry aud with
economy, and that being done all those who
have been industrious aud economical are
permitted to appropriate and enjoy the pro-
ducts OF their own labor. lChoers,l This
lie one OF the greatest blessings of freedom,
and hence We might ask the question and
answer it by stating that liberty means
freedom to work and enjoy the products of
your own labor, You will soon be mus
tered out of service. 1t is for you to es-
tablish the great fact that you are ct aud
worthy to be free. lleuce freedom is not
q mere idea, but it is something that
exists in fact. Freedom ia not simply the
privilege 10 live in idleness. Liberty does
not mean simply 10 resort to low saloons
and other places of disreputable character.
Freedom and liberty do not mean that the
people should live in licentionsness, but
means simply to be industrious, to be vir!u.
Gus, to be upright in all our dealings and
relations with men, Aud to those now
before me, members of the First Colored
Volunteers for the District of Columbia and
the Capitol of tho United States, have to
say that great deal depends on yourselves.
You must give evidence that you are com.
potent for the rights that the Government
has guaranteed TO you. llencefortli each
aud all of you must be measured according
to his merit. If one is more meritorious
than the other they cannot be equals, aud
he as The most c,rdtted, that is, Me most
meritorious ,cithom regard 10 col9r and the
idea of having q law passed In the morning
that will make white man black man
before night and black man white man
before day is absurd That is not the stan.
dard, 1t is your own conduct, it is your own
merit, 1t is tho development of your own
talents, and Of your own intellectually and
moral qualities. Lot this then be your
course abstain from all licentuusness, and
let me say one thing, for avn going to talk
plain, have lived in II Southern State all
my fife and know what has too often been
the case, there is one thing yon should es.
teen higher and more supreme than almost
all others, and that is the solemn contract,
with all the penalties in tho association OF
married life, Men and women should
abstain from those qualities aud habits that
too frequently follow a war inculcate
among your children and mnOng your,
associates, Notwithstanding you are just
back from the army of the United States,
that vfftue, that merit, that intelligence are
the standards to be observed and those
which youare determined to maintain during
your future lives. This is the way to make
white men black and black men white.
[Cheers.l lie that is most mcritorious, and
virtuous, Intellectual and well Informed.
must stand highest without regard to color.
is the very basis upon which Heaven
itself rests each individual takes his de.
gree in the sublmer ard more exalted re-
g:ons in proportion to his merits aud his
virtne.l Then i shall say to you on this oc-
casion, in returning 10 your homes and your
lircsides after fecliug conscious and proud
OF having faithfully discharged your duty
returning with the determination that you
viii perform your duty ino,he future as you
have in the past; abstain from all blckor,
ings and jealousies and reyengeful feelings,
which too often spring up between differ
ent races. There is great problem before
us, and may as well allude to it. hero IN
this connection, and that is, whoiherl this
race can be incorporated and mixed with
the people of the United States to be M de
harmonious and permanent Ingredient in
the population. This is problem not yet
solved, butwe are in the right line to 90 so.
Slavery raised its head against the Govern
mcnt, and the Government raised it's strong
arm and struck 1t to the ground. So that
part OF the problem is settled. The institu-
tion Of slavery is overthrown, bat another
part remains to be solved. and that is, can
four millions OF pcople, raised AZ they ha 70
been with all tho prejndoes Of the whites,
can they take their places in the community
aud be made to work harmoniously aud
in our system? This is prob
lem 30 he considered. Are the digestive
powers of tho American Government suffi
cient 10 secure this element in a new shape
and digest 1t and make it work heallhlully
upon the system that has Incorporated il
This is question 10 be determined. Lei
ms make tie experiment and make il ia good
faith II tits caBhot be done, there Is
another problem that is before us--if We
have to hec2me a separate and diStinc
people, although 4 trust 1tta the system can
be made 10 ioO1'k hlzrmohioi4sly and that the
great problem will be settled withOutg going |
any further. II ii should he SO HAT the tw0i
races cannot agree and live in peace aud |
yand the lava Of Providence re-
llire that they should he separated--in
that event, looking to the far dietant future !
and trusting tlat.it may mover como. Ii it 4
should come, Providence, that works mys, !
but unerrngly aud certainly will |
point, out the way and the mode and the |
manner in which these people are TO be /
and they are TO be taken to these !
aIds VI inheritance and proIpisc, for such I
: one IL before then. Hence iceate mai iag .
he eeperimc4L Hence let ipe impress mp I
9n YOU the Importance Of controlling your
passIons, developing your Intellect aud Of
applying your physica ppwsls 10 the IL.
iustrIal interests ol the couiliry, and thAt