The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-13

mean that the people ouSHt W NV -
RIGHTEOUSNESS, but liberty means Simply
to be Industrious, to be virtuous, 10 pe
upright in all our dealings and relations
with men and to those now before me,
members of the 1st regiment of colored |
volunteers from the District of Column |
bia, and the capital of the United States, |
I 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 guaran-
teed to you.
Hence each and all of you must be |
measured according to his merit. If one |
man is more meritOrious than the other |
they cannot be equals, and he Is the |
most exalted that Is the most merito- |
fious, without regard to color; and the |
idea of having law passed in the morn |
ing that will make white man black |
man before night and black man a
white man before day is absurd. That
is not the standard it is your own con-
duct; it is your own merit 1t is the de-
yelopment of your own talents and OF
your own intellectual and moral quail
ties. D' |
Let this, then, be your course; adopt
sy stenis of morality; abstain from all
licentiousness; and, letme say one thing
here, for / am going to talk plainly,
have lived i'm 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 solemn
contract with all the penalties in the as
socaton of married life. Men and wo-
| men should abstain from those qualities
and habits that too frequently follow a
war. Inculcate among your children
| and among your associates, notwith-
standing you are just back from the army
of the United States, that virtue, that
merit, that intelligence are the stand
| ards to be observed, and those which you
| are determined to maintain during your
| future lives. This is the way to make
white men black and black men white.
GCheers.1 He that is most meritorious
and virtuOus, intellectual and well in
formed, must stand highest, without re-
gard to color. 1t is the very basis upon
which heaven rests itself--each individ-
ual takes his degree in the sublimer and
more exalted regions in proportion to
his merits and his virtue.
Then shall say to you on this occa
sion, in returning to your homes ant
firesides, after feeling conscious ant
proud of having faithfully done you
duty, return with the determination
: that you will perform your duty in the
future as YOU have performed it in the
past. Abstain from all those chickering's
and jealousies and revengeful feelings
which too often spring up between diff
ferent races.
There is great problem before us
Z and may as well allude to it here IL
+ this connection, and that is, whethe
I this race can be incorporated and mi1e'
> with the people of the United States
y to be made harmonious and Tor,asac.
g nent ingredient in the population. TN
It IL n problem not yet settled, but we ar
> in the right line to do 80. Slavery raise
/ its head against the Government, an
n the Government raised its strong arr
d and struck it to the ground hence, thu
part of the problem is settled. In
|. institution of slavery is overthrow
o But another part remains to be solved
g and that is, can four millions of people
e reared as they have been, with all thel
= preiudices of the whites--can they tax
n their places in the community, and b
g made to work tremendously and col
n gruously in our system This is a prot
d lem to be considered. Are they dige
d tive powers of the American Govern
e ment sufficient to receive this elemer
J, in new shape, and digest it and MAX
0 it work BEAUTIFULLY upon the systei
d that has incorporated it?
0 This is the question to be determined
J, Let us make the experiment, and max
e it i'm good faith. If that cannot be don
s there is another problem that is befol
e us. If we have to become separa
t and distinct people (although l tru
q that the system can be made TO wof
$ tremendously, and that the great prol
S lem will be settled without going an
e fnrtherI-ifit should be so that the tw
e races cannot agree and live in peace al
IS nrosperity. and the laws of Providen(
8 REQUIRE that they should be separated
in that event, looking to the far-distar
o future, and trusting in God that it ma
= never come, if it should come, Prov
If dence, that works mysteriously, but III
;, erringly and certainly, will point OF
:. the way, and the mode, and the mannt
r nv which these people are to be separa
u ed. and they are to be taken to the
lie land of inheritance and promise, II
Of snch one is before them. Hence
10 are making the experiment.
it Hence let me again impress upon yt
W the importance of controlling your pa
IS sions, developing your intellect, and
r. APPLYING your physical powers to the i
n dustrial interests of the country; al
IN that is the true process by which tn
st question can be settled. Be patient, pc
severing, aud forbearing, and you W
is help to solve this problem. Make
I'd Yourselves reputation in this cause
y. Won have won for yourselves repu'
ed ton in the cause in which you have be
nd engaged. In speaking to the mem 6t
en- of this regiment, l want them to und'
of stand that. so far as ! am concerned
he do not assume or pretend that Q
re- stronger than the laws or course OF y
lat ture, or that am wiser than Provider
itself. 1t is our duty to try and discoH
IA what these great laws are which are
id, the foundation of all things, and, hf
es- ing discovered what they are, confol
is our action and our conduct to them, a
1t TO the will of God who ruleth all thin
,es He holds the destinies of nations in
,es palm of His hand, and He will solve
we question and rescue these people FRI
th- the difficulties that have SO long 8
,m rounded them. Then let US be pate
ere industrious, and persevering. Let
to develop our intellectual and mo
= worth.
not I trust what have said may be
rty derstood and appreciated. Go to y
eye homes and lead peaceful, prosperc
Gus and happy lives, in peace with all m
the Give utterance to no word that Wo
18th cause dissensions, but do that VIII
,co- will be creditable to yourselves and
NJ = he. .<At .1ars, rtlS,l In