The weekly union record., 1865-06-10
Causes and Remedies.

protect their just rights. Il is an axiom that
virtue and intelligence sre the main pillars Of
Republican Government But virtue as q
general truth grows out Of knowledge. This
is in no wise Inconsistent with individual facts
that many persons are vicious seemingly 10
proportion TO their knowledge. There Is
nothing more apparent than the proposition
that il all men conducted themselves in entire
accordance with justice. houesty and right.
society and government would be perfect, and
Individuals, as well as the masses, would re
ceiEe the highes, aud most permanent benefits.
Dishonesty is species Of sbor;-sightedness
that but seldom fails 10 tarn out disasirously in
the end. Ignorance regards chiefly the pres
ent; intelligence regards equally the present
tie highest good. Intelligence perceives rela-
tions and consequences; Ignorance nothing
but present opportunities and immediate graft
fcation. Before the art of printing men were
unavoidably deprived Of the means Of knowl
edge, with the exception of few who could
write and read. The consequence was de-
pendence Of the masses on some one, or q few
gifted With uatural abilities or requirements of
knowledge more or less above them. Besides
what means of knowledge they had were de
rived from the few. 10 general, in the earlier
ages of the world, what learning and knowl-
rbat 10
denominaied the priesthood. Then all the
most powerful elements existed which control
the hopes and fears Of mankind. The source
of knowledge and religion was usually defed
10 their minds, and this, 10 combination With
The Executive power. ruled them with force
quite absolute. Thus originated despotic and
monarchical governments. 1t was in this wise
that the present governments Of Europe took
their rise. 1t is in this that aristocracy has
its origin. Government is as necessary a con
dition of human social existence, as atmos
pheric air for the existence of animal life. Ii
IS not q matter Of choice, bnt Of necessity, and
has not for lis immediate origin a deliberate
compact. In the middle or dark ages of
Europe men were forced for lfdefense TO
rally around some chiefrain of abilities TO pro
tect them. This was the origin of the feudal
system. With the invention Of printing, and
the increase of means of knowledge in con
stanily acceerating ratio since that era, man
kind have been gradually emancpating them
selves from the chains OF despotism and ignor
ance that formerly crushed them. Just in
proportion that they have become enlightened
they have become free. Just in proportion
that they have shaken off the bonds of priest
craft, and have come to judge for themselves
10 religious as well as other matters, they have
become humane, liberal and tolerant of opin-
ions, whether religious or political. Religion
is q necessity of mankind as much as govern
ment, and every man ought 10 be religious.
But religion should be matter between man
and his creator, and in nothing an institution
of government. And always men have been
free in abont the proportion that governments
have been tolerant of religious opinions. Re
ligion has been so free in the United States
that the larger proportion of people cannot
well appreciate the foregoing, but one has only
to read history, and not much Of that, to fully
sppreciate the importance Of these remarks.
In fact civil and religious freedom are insep
araby connected, and the progress Of freedom
is with each in equal step.
Now we apply what we have above written
to the momenlous question Of the day-the re-
bellion and its settlement. The germs of the
rebellion are identical with those that origina
ted monarchical governments and arisiocracies.
Ignorance and its inevitable sequences placed
all political power in the hands Of few. 1t
is true that pro-saveryjsm made the masses
fanalical on that subject, and in this respect
was equivalent to the religions fanaticiSm of
former ages, aud other nations. To own
slaves was the hight of Southern ambition
1t was an aristocracy at once Of wealth and
power. Every white man might be the owner
Of slaves, just as every man might become
peer of England. Since station and power
always attended the ownership Of slaves, and
every white man might attain to the position
of STAKEHOLDER, the masses Of the white peo-
pie were controlled to the support of slavery
1t was the policy OF Shareholders to educate
highly the children of Shareholders but to
keep the masses bound down in the chains Of
ignorance. No common school system like
those Of the New England or the free States
were ever adopted by the slaveholdilg States.
1t was notoriously the policy Of Shareholders
to keep the masses IN ignorance. The conse
queuce was to make the masses dependent on
the Shareholders and Others 10 their interest
who were educated. Nothing could be done
without resort to the educated class for pro
lection and guidance. Having been trained
TO implicit faith in this leading class they
were easily daped. Hence the adoption BY the
Southern people of that absurdiiy of all ab
srrIities- Calhrr, Soc;r;r. Of S.a.a