Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-01-06

hood forever closed to the white This is The
cause OF much poverty, ignorance and crime. To
avoid such result there is but one course that is
to make lnbor honorable to make intelligence gene
ra and to establish government that shall protect
and advance the interests and welfare OF the very
humblest citizen.
There has been but one objection urged to the
emancipation ol slaves, and that, | think, is ad.
dressed more 10 the peudrcs than to the reason ol
men When this just step is advocated, the partzan
declalms loudly against equality. No man need I've
deceived by amy such isJlacy. 1t is not just or man.
ly to withhold rights from any one much less is it
Just or manly to withhold them on the ground that
the giving OF them might ameliorate the condition Of
any class OF people. There is ground for the fear
that with fair competition, free white labor will not
demonstrate its superiority. If it should not then
it is the fault Of our race and we cannot complain
But think that all the questions pertaining to the
relations OF the races in the hands of an All.wse
Providence, who will ultimately vindicate His pur
poses in spite OF any human efforts to thwart them
There has been another duty growing out of this
war, to which | directed the attention of the last
General Assembly, and which deemed sufficiently
important to convene them in special session. | al
lude to the duty OF furnishing to the General Govern
ment the quota of troops required of this State and
of relieving our people from draft | earnestly re.
commended, and l now renew the recommendations
given to all persons without distinction of color or CON
dtlon, who may voluntarily enlist in the military SER
vice OF the United States and be duly credited to the
quota OF this State. EN- satisfied that such pol-
cy adopted in February last, when recommended
it, or in August when convened the General Assem-
bly,, would have filled our quota by volunteers
instead OF requiring us to await draft and TO fill if
by substitution. The total cost would not have ex-
ceeded five hundred thousand dollars, while the poll
cy that was pursued has cost the State nearly mil
hon OF dollars. Some provision should be made for
future drafts being taken to adopt the most
economical system There are many persons in this
State who would Immediately join the corps of vete-
ran volunteers now organizing and be credited to
Delaware ii there were sufficient bounty offered by
the Stare.
1t will be found. and think that the experience
o the past year has taught us that the only eecta
method OF relieving the people from draft is to fill
the quota before amy draft takes place. A method
that offers any citizen Stare aid 10 procure a slbSti
tute after he is drafted is obeetonahe for two ron,
sons lrst, II requires citizen 10 pay from his own
funds the entire price of the substitute, and after
wards TO await the action OF Commissioners to repay
him. 1t does not in effect aid him in the procllra.
ton OF substitute. 1t is exceedingly incon.
Venient nnd IN some cases impossible, for many
persons 10 raise large sum. Secondly: such
State aid is not complete efficient, because its
effect is I" put up the price of substitutes to an
amount equal 10 both the original price and the
amount OF State aid. Its result is still to require
every man TO pay out Of his own means over and
above the amount Of State aid II sum equal to the
original price OF substitute: and this sum is never
repaid him by the State
The only direct practical, economical aud really
efficient plan is to fill the quota before the draft
takes place. In this way, no citizen is compelled to
Tase any money immediately, the expense is borne
BY tho State and the draft is avoided Nor can there
be amy objection to the principle of it. because in one
way or the other the men must be forthcoming.
AT the adjourned session of the General Assembly
held in January last, | recommended the appropria-
ton of the sum of four hundred and twenty five
dollars towards the purchase, laying out and compile.
tion of the Soldiers National Cemetery at Gettys.
burg The Legislature declined to adopt the recon-
mendation. consequently found it necessary to APP
peal directly to the people. Notwithstanding the
TACT that the subscriptions limited to very small
sums, SO that even the humbest might have share
in this patriotic work, the amount of eight hum
dred and seventy-tive dollars, being more than
double the sum required, was quickly subscribed
and paid to the Association Delaware
has thus the distinguished honor not only of
being the first State to contribute but of contributing
directly from the hearts of the people, and double the
sum that was required think it due to the people
OF the State to put upon record this evidence Of their
loyalty.
deem it also my duty to say, that there has never
been any recognition, ON the part of the General As.
sembly of the services and gaantry of the soldiers
ol Delaware So far as the Executive is concerned
he has permitted no opportunity to pass without paw
ing them merited tribute or commencing their fam
lilies to the care Of benevolent hearts We owe them
II debt Of gratitude. very large already which will be
largely increased when We come to enioy as soon we
will, through their efforts. the blessings of returning
peace and reunited country.
| would call the attention of the Legislature to the
fact that there exists i'll the several counties, an