Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1865-12-09

freedmen, by act Of the President OF the
United States, must have been extended
10 all colored men, wherever found, and so
must have established Q change OF suffrage
in The Northern, Middle, and Western
States, not less than 10 the Southern and
Southwestern. Soch an act would. have
created new class Of voters, and would
have been an assumption Of power by the
President which nothing In the Constitution
or laws OF the United States would have
warranted.
/ On tho other hand, every danger Of
conflict is avoided when the settlement oi
the question lsrefered TO the several States.
They can, each for itself, decide on the
measure, and whether II is to be adopted
OF once and absolutely, or introduced grad
ually and with conditions. In my judg
ment, the freedmen, II they show patience
and manly virtues, will sooner obtain par.
ticipation in the elective franchise through
the States than through the General Gov
ernment, even II it had power to intervene.
When the tumult Of emotions that have
been raised by the suddeuness Of the social
change shall have subsided, It may prove
that they will receive the kindiest usage
from some Of those on whom they have
heretofor most closely depended. .-.
WHAT MUST BE DONE FOR THE FREEpMEN.
But while l have no doubt that now af
ter the close of the war, IL is not cOmpe'
teut for the Government to ex end the elec.
tive franchise in the several States, IL Is
equally clear that good faith requires the
security Of the freedmen In their hoerty aud
their property, their right to labor, and
their right to claim the jsst return Of their
labor, cannot too strongly urge dispas'
sioaats treatment OF this subject. which.
should be carefully kept alcof from ell par
ty strife. We must equally avoid hasty
assumption Of any natural impossibilty for
the two races TO live side be side in o
state Of mutual benefit and good will. The
experiment involves Us 10 no inconsistency |;
let US then, 20 on aud make that expert
ment in good faith, aud not be too easily
disbesr,eped. The country is in need OF
labor, aud the freedmen in need Of
employment, culture and protection. While
their right Of voluntary migration aud ex
pa.riation is not to be questioned, l would
not advise their forced removal aud coloui
za,iop. Let Us rather encourage them to
honorable and useful industry, where IL
may be beneficial to themselves and TO the
country; and, instead Of hasty anticipation
of the certainty of fnilure. let there be
oihing wanting to the fair trial Of the ex
pertinent. The change in their condition
is the substitution Of labor by contract for
the status Of slavery. The freedmen can
| 81. 10 nf fC
work, so long as q doubt remains sbou, bis
freedom Of choice in bis pursuits, and the
certainty Of bis recovering his stipulated
wages. In this the interests Of the employ.
or and the the employed coincide. The
empoyerer desires in his workmen spirit
and alacrity. aud ,hes can be permanently
secured 10 no other way. And il the Cn'
ought to be able 10 enforce the contract
60 ought the other. The public interest
will be best promoted, If the several States
will provide adequate protection and rene
dies for the freedmen. Until this is
some way accomplished. there is no chance
for the advantageous use Of their labor
and the blame Of ill.success will not rest OF
them. latr ttln.
know that sincere Philanthropy il
earnest for the immediate real z,iion Ct III
remotest aims; but time Is always on ele
ment iu reform 1t is one Of The greatest
acts on record TO have brought four
millions of people into freedom. The ca
reer Of free industry just be fairly opened
to them; and then their future prosperity
and condition must, after all rest mainly OF
tht tmselves. 1t they fail, and SO perish
away, let us be careful that the failure
not be attributable to any denial Of justice
In all that relates to The destiny OF ih'
freedmen we need not be too anxious t,
z cad :be future; many Incidents which, f'ou
a speculative point Of view. might raise
alarm, will quietly settle themselves.
THE EVILS OF SLAVERY.
Now that slavery is at an end or nsaI
its end, the greatness Of its evil, in the
point Of view Of public economy, becomes
more aud more apparent. Slavery wal
essentially q mon nopIy of labor, aud as such
locked the States where il prevailed
against the incoming Of free industry
Where labor was the property OF the cap
itaiist, the white man was excluded frou
employment, or had but the second bcs
chance oil nn0tDg II; anu tue io'oRn Gun
. grant turned away from the region wher
bis condition would he so precariOus. =
, With the destruction of the monopoly, fe
labor will hasten from all parts Of the civil
ized world TO assist in developing variou
and immeasurable resources which hav
hitherto lain dormant. The eight O
nine Sta'es nearest the Gulf Of Mexic
have soil of exuberant fertility, climat
friendly to long life, and eau sustain
. deuser population than is fouod as yet !
say part Of our country. And the futur
Influx of population to them will be mainl
/, , from tbe North, or from the most cultiva
ted nations 10 Europe. From the Suffering
that have attended them daring our Ia,
struggle. let as look away to the future
which Is sure to be laden for them wit
greater prosperity than has ever befor
been known. The removal Of the monopol
Of slave labor is q pledge that those re
gions will be peopled by q numerous an
enlerprisiDg population, which will VI
with any 10 the Union 10 cOmpactness, il
! veotiye genius. wealth, and industry.
NO MosoPoLIEs SHOULD BE ALLOWED.
, Our Government springs from and VS.