The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-10-13

do not mean that the people ought to live In
licentiousness, but liberty means simply to be
industrious, to be virtuous, to be upright in
ell your dealings and relations with men,
And to those now before me, members of the
lst regiment of colored volunteers from the
District OF Columbia and the capital of the
United States, / have to say that great deal
depends upon yourselves; you must give evil
dence that you are competent for the rights
that the government has guaranteed to you.
Henoeforth you must be measured according
to your merits, and if one man is more mer-
itorious than the other, they cannot be equals;
and he who is the most meritorious is the
superior without regard to color. The idea
of having law passed in the morning that
will make a white man black man before
night, and a black man q white man before
day, is absurd. That Is not the standard
1t is your own conduct, it is your own merit;
it is the development of your own talents and
of your own intellectual and moral quail
ties.
Let this, then, be your course. Adopt
system of morality. Abstain from all licen-
tiousness; and let me say one thing here, for
| am going to talk plain: l have lived in a
southern state all my life, and know what
has too often been the case. There is one
thing you should esteem higher and more
supreme than almost all others, and that is
the most solemn contract with all the penal
ties In the association of married life. Men
and women should abstain from those quail
ties and habits that too frequently follow a
war. lnculcate among your children and
among your associates, notwithstanding you
are just back from the army of the United
States, that virtue, that merit, that intelli-
gence are the standards to be observed, and
those which you are determined to maintain
during your future lives. This is the way 10
make white men black and black men white
lCheers, He that is most meritOrious, and
virtuous, and intelligent, and we'll informed,
must stand highest without regard to color
1t is the very basis upon which heaven rests
itself. Each individual takes his degree in
proportion to his merits and his virtue
Then | shall say to you this occasion, in
returning to your homes and hresides after feeling
conscious and proud of having faithfully dischar-
ged your duty, returning with the determination
that you will perform your duty in the future as
you have in the past, abstain from all those bck-
erngs, aud Jealousies and reVengeful feelings
which too often spring up between different ra-
ces.
There is great problem before us, and may
as well allude to il here in this connection, and
that is, whether this race can be incorporated
and mixed with the people of the United States
10 be made harmonious and permanent ingred-
vet settled but we are in the right line to do So
Slavery raised its head against the government
and the government raised its strong arm and
struck It to the ground so that part of the prob
lem is settled. The institution of slavery is
overthrow, but another point remains to be
solved, and that is can four millions of people
raised as they have been, with all the preiudices
OF the whites, can they take their places in the
community and be made TO work tremendously
and congruousy in our system? This is prob
lem to be considered. Are the digestive powers
OF the American government sufficient to
ceive this element in new shape, and digest it
and make 1t work BEAUTIFULLY upon the system
that has Incorporated it ;? This is the question
to be determined. Let make the exeTpiment,
and make it in good faith.
If that cannot be done, there is another prob
lem that is before US. Ii we are to become a
separate and distinct people-although | trust
that the system can be made to work harmon
iously, and that the great problem will he settled
without going any farther-if it should be so
that the two races cannot agree and live in
peace and prosperity, aud the laws of providence
require that they should be separated in that
event, looking to the far distant future and
trusting that IL may never come, but if il
should come, the providence that works myster-
iously, but unerringly and certainly, will point
ont the way, and the mode, and the manner by
which these people TO be separated, and they
are TO be taken to their land of inheritance, and
promise, for such one is before them. Hence,
we are making the experiment. Hence, let me
impress upon you the Importance of controlling
your passions, developing your intellects, and
OF applying your physical powers to the indUstri-
al interests of the country, aud this is the true
process by which this question can be settled
BE patient, persevering and forbearing, and you
will help to solve the problem. Make for your
selves a reputation in the cause in which you
have been engaged.
In speaking to the members of this regiment
want them TO understand that so far as am
/ do not assume or pretend that / am
stronger than the laws or the course of nature,
or that / am wiser than providence itself Ii Is
our duty to try and discover what these laws are
which are at the foundation of all things, and
having discovered what they are, conform our
actions and our conduct to them and TO the will
of God who ruleth all things. He holds the des-
TIMES of nations in the palm of his hand, and
he will solve the question and rescue these people
from the difficulties that have so long surrounded
them Then let US be patient, industrious and
Let US develop intellectual and
moral worth.
trust what have said may be understood
and appreciated. GO to your homes and lead
peaceful, prosperous and happy lives, in peace
with all men. Give utterauce to no word that
would cause dissensions but do that which will
be creditabe to yourselves and to your country
Ito the officers who have led and so nobly com
handed you in the field / also return my
thanks for the compliment you have bestowed
upon me.
HENRY COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CON-
VENTION.