The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-12-13

during that period, nothing can be found
| which, during the continuance of hostlliIles,
much less after their close, would have
sanctioned any departure by the Executive
! from policy which has SO uniformly OBJ
| tained
| Moreover, a concession of the elective
| franchise TO the freedmen, by the ac OF the
| President of the Uniled States, must have
been extended to all coIored men, wherever
| found, and so must have established a
change OF suffrage in the Northern, Middle
and Western Siaies, not less than in the
Southern and Southwestern. Such an act
would have created new class of voters,
and would have been an assum ption Of
power by the President VIII ich nothing in
the Constitution or laws of the United States
would have warranted.
On the other hand, every danger of con-
fici is avoided when the settlement of the
question is referred TO the several Slales.-
They can, each for itself, decide on the
measure, and whether il is to be adopted
al once, and absolutely, or introduced grad
ually and with conditions. In my Judgment,
the freedmen, if they show patience and
manly virtues, will sooner obtain partici
patton in the elective franchise through the
States Than through the General Government,
even if it had power 10 intervene When
the tumult of EN- olions that have been raised
by the suddenness of the social change
shall have subsidec, il may prove that they
will receive kindliest usage from some OF
those on whom they have heretofore most
closely depended.
But while have no doubt that now, after
the close of the war il is not competent for
the General Government 10 extend The elect
i've franchise in the several States, il is
equally clear that good faith requires the
f,f bo frDa 3fu hair nd
their properly, their righ, 10 labor, aud their
right 10 CAIN the Just return OF their labor.
! cannot too strongly urge a dispassionate
treatment OF this subject, which should be
carefully kept aloot from all party strife
We mast equally avoid basiy assumptions
of any natural impossibiity for the TWO
races 10 live side BY side, 10 state of mutu-
al benefi; aud good will. The experime nj
involves us in no inconsistency; let Us then,
go on and make that experiment 10 good
faith, and not be too easily dishesrened.
The country is in need OF labor, and the
freedmen are in need of employment, cu-
ture and protection While their right of
voluntary migration and expiration is not
TO be questioned, | would not advise their
forced removal and colonization. Lei
rather encourage them 10 honorable and
useful industry, where il may be beneficial
10 themselves and TO the country; and, in
sead of hasty auiicipaIious OF the certainly
of failure, let there be nothing wanting 10
the fair trial OF the experiment. The change
in their condition is the substitution of la
Dor by contract for the status oil slavery
The ireedmen cannot !siTly be accused Of
unwIllingness 10 work, so long as doubt
remains about his freedom of choice in his
pursuits, and the certainty OF his receiTing
his stipulated wages.
In this tha tutaTasts - H. IL
employed coincide. The employer desires
in his workmen spirit and alacrily, and
these can be perminently secured in no
other way. And IL one ought 10 be able TO
enforce the contract, so ought the other
The public interest will be best promoted If
the several States will provide adequate
protection and remedies for The freedmen.
Until this is in some way accomplished,
there is no chance for the advantageous use
of their labor; and the blame Of i'll success
will not rest on them.
! know that sincere philanthropy is ear.
nest for the immediate realization of It's re-
motest aims but time is always an element
in reform. Ii is one of the greatest acts on
record 10 have brought four million OF 2eo-
pie into freedom. The career of free ind US
Try must be fairly opened 10 Them and then
their future prosperity and condition must,
after all, rest mainly on themselves. II
they fail, and so perish away, lei ne be
carei1l that The failure shall-not be atirlbui-
able to any denial oil justice. In all that re-
laIes 10 the destiny OF the freedmen, we
need not be too anxious 10 read The future;
many incidents which, from a speculative
point of view might raise alarm, will qui-
euy settle themselves.
Now that slavery is al an end or near its
end the greatness of its evil, ia the point OF
more apparent. Slavery was essentially a
monopoly OF labor, and as such locked the
States where it prevailed against the in
coming of free industry. Where labor was
the properly OF the capitalist, the white man
was excluded from employment, or had but
The second best chance OF finding it, and The
foreign emgrant turned away from the
region where his condition would be so pre-
carious. With the destruction of the mon
opoly, free labor viii hasten from all parts
OF The civilized world 10 assist in developing
various aRd immessurable resources which
have hitherto lain dormant.
The eight or nine States nearest The Gulf
OF Mexico have a soil OF exuberant fertility,
climate friendly 10 long lie, and can sus-
tain denser population Than is found as
yet IN any part OF our country. And the
future influx OF population 10 than will be
mainly from The Nonh, or from the most
cultivated nations in Europe. From the
suferings that have attended them during
our late struggle, let US look away 10 the
fulure, which rs sure 10 be laden Tor Them
with greater prosperity than has ever oeiore
been klown. The removal OF ths mOnOp-
oily OF Save labor IS pledge that those 70
gIons will De peoplsd by sumeroas and
enterprisng population, winch will vie with
any in The Union IN compactness, inventive
genius, wealth and industry.
Our government springs from and was
made forthe people, not the people for the
government. To them ii owes allegiance
from them il must derive lis courage, strength
and wisdom. But, while the government
is thus bound TO defeIto the people, from