The colored Tennessean., 1865-10-14

must 60 down. Cheers. This has
been done, and the Goddess of Lib
erty, in bearing witness over many Of
our battlefields since the struggle
commenced, has made her loftiest
fight and proclaimed that liberty has
been established upon more perma.
nent and enduring basis than hereto
fore. Applause. But this is not
all, and as you have paid me the com
pliment to call on me, shall take the
privilege of saying one or two words,
as | am before you. ! repeat that is
not all news When the sword is re-
turned to its scabbard, when your
arms are reversed, and the olive
branch of peace is extended, asI re-
marked before, resentment and re-
venge can but subside. Then what is
to follow you understand and if you
do not, you can't understand too
soon-that simple liberty does not
mean the privilege of going to the
battlefield or into the service of the
country as soldier; it means other
things as well. And now, when you
have laid down your arms, there are
other objects of equal Importance be-
fore you. Now that the Government
has triumphantly passed through this
mighty rebellion, after the most gi-
gantic battles the world ever saw, the
problem is before you, and it is the
best that you should understand it,
and therefore speak simply and
plainly. Will you, now when you
have returned from the army of the
United States, and taken the position
of citizens-when you have returned
to the avocations of speace-will you
give evidence to the world that you
are capable and competent to govern
yourselves? That is what you will
have to do. Liberty is not a mere
idea-a mere vagary; it is an idea, or
it is a reality. When you come to
examine this question of liberty, you
will not be mistaken in a mere idea
for reality. 1t does not consist in
idleness. Liberty does not consist in
being worthless-liberty does not con
sist in doing all things as we please,
and there can be no liberty without
law. In a government of freedom
and of liberty there must be law, and
there must be obedience and submis-
sion to the law, without regard to
color. Cheers. Liberty-and may
| not call you my countrymen-lb-
erty consists in the glorious privilege
of work, of pursuing the ordinary
avocations of peace with industry and
with economy; and that being done,
all those who have been Industrious
and economical are permitted to ap-
and enjoy the products Of
their own labor. Cheers. This is
one of the great 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 mustered out of the
ranks. 1t is for you to establish the
great fact that you are fit and quail
fed to be free. Hence freedom is not
q mere idea, but is something that ex-
sts in fact. tits not simply the priv
Ilege to live in idleness.
Liberty does not mean simply to
resort to the low saloons and other
places Of disrenntahla nharantnr -
Freedom and liberty do nct mean that
he people ought to livein icentious-
hess, but liberty mems simply to be |
Industrious, to be yirtuous, to be up
light in all our dealings and relations |
With men, and to those now before |
ne, members of the 1st regiment of |
,olored volunteers, in the District of |
Columbia and Capitol of the United |
states, ! have to say that great deal
depends upon yourselves. You must
,ive evidence that you are competent
or the rights that the Government
las guaranteed to you. Henceforth
ach and all of you must be measured
ccording to your merit. If one man
3 more meritorious than the other,
hey cannot be equals, and he is the |
nost exalted that is the most merito-
ious, without regard to color, and
be idea of having a law passed in the
lorning that viii make q white man a
lack man before night, and a black
IAN white man before day, is alb
urd That is not the standard. It
your own conduct; it is your own
lerit; it is the development of your
wn minds, and of your own intellee-
lality and moral qualities. ~
49, X & stx
l trust that what / have said may be
nderstood and appreciated. Go to
our homes and lead peaceful, pros
erous, and happy lives, in peace with
Il men. Give utterance to no word |
hich will be discreditable to your,
lives and to your country. Ea#c
To the officers who have led and SO
obly commanded you in the field, I
SO return my thanks for the COM
iment you have conferred upon me. !
The troops then returned to Camp
Ill Hospital, where they partook of
e abundant hospitalities Of their
'lored fellow-citizens.
80 -------... - : .----- ! j. Eso .
e Contest In Mississippi About Negro Testi- :
gvyl9 aa N0Ey. 4satAeauNs aff4 ~ !.
The Jackson News breaks with | 7
overnor Sharkey, because in his re-