The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-12-20

OF the nlted States must have been extended to 8
coloret men wherever found, and he must have esta
sheda change of suffrage in the northern middle al
weston States not less than in the southern and sout
western. Such an act would have created d new ella
OF vders, and would have been an assumption of pov
by the president which nothing in the constitute
or laws OF the United States would have warranted
On tie other hand every danger of conflict is avoided
when NE settlement of the question is referred to th
several States they can each for itself decide on h
measure and whether it is to be adopted at once an
absolutely or reduced gradually and with conditions
! In my jdgment the freedmen, if they show patianc
and many virtues, will sooner obtain a particpatio
in the elective franchise through the States tha
/ throughthe general government even if it had tn
power tflnterVene. When the tumults of passion tha
have ben raised by the suddenness of the social
change ave subsided, it may prove that they will re
eelve tn kndllest usage from of those whom the
/ have heetofore most closely defended; but while
have nodoubt that after the close of the war il
not compatible for the general government to extenC
the elective franchise in the several States it is equal
y ceaIthat good faith requires the security of the
treedn IN their liberty and their property their righ
to labG, and their right to claim the lust reward o
then hbor. l cannot too strongly urge dspassion
ate treatment OF this subject which should be carefully
kept aloof from all party strife. We must equally
avoid party assumption Of any natural impossiby for
the two races to live side by side in state of mutual
benefit and good will The experiment involves us IN
no inconsistency. Let US then go on and make that
experiment in good faith, and not be too easily dis
heartentd. The country is in need of labor and the
freedmn in need of employment culture and pro-
lection; while their right of voluntary emigration and
expatrhon would not advise their forced removal and
colonization Let us rather encourage them to hon
Drab and useful industry, where it may be beneficial
TO Themselves and to the country and instead of par
F anfcpaons Of the certainty of failure let there be
n0thng wanting to the fair trial of the experiment.
The change in their condition is the substitution of la
bo by contract for the status of slavery The freed
cannot fairly be accused of unwingness to work
so bng doubt remains about his freedom of choice
in bis pursuits, and the certainty of recovering his
stipulated wages. In this the interests of the employ
er nd employed coincide. The employer desires in
his yorkmen spirit and alacrty and they can be Sc
curd other way and if the one ought to be able
to 0force the contract ought the other The pub
lie interest will be best promoted if the several States
vii provide adequate protection and remedies for the
freedmen. Until this is in some way accomplished,
thee is no chance for the advantageous of their
labr and the blame of i'll success will not rest on
hdn. know that sincere philanthropy is earnest for
the Immediate realization of its remotest aims but
time is always an element in reform It is one of the
greatest acts record to have brought 4000O 900 peo
pie into freedom. The of industry be fair
ly 0pe,ed to them, and their future prosperity and
condition must, after all, rest mainly on them
selves If they fall and so perish away let US be care
full tht the failure shall not be attributed to any de-
NAL justice In all that relates to the destiny of the
freedmen need not be too anxious to read the fu
ture Many incidents which, from speculative point
Of Vnw might arouse alarm, will quietly settle them
sevs. Now that slavery is at end, near its end
the greatness of its evil in the point of view public
economy, becomes more and more apparent. Slavery
wa. essentially labor and such locked the States
against the emigration of free industry Where labor
was the property Of the capitalist the white man
excluded from employment, or had to his best
;hance for finding it. The foreign emigrant turned
Iwsy from the region where his condition would be
,reearious With the destruction of the monopoly,
rec labor will hasten from all parts of the civilized
world to assist in developing the various and mmeaS-
lrabe resources which have hitherto laid dormant
The eight nine States nearest the gulf of Mexico
AVE sort of exuberant climate friendly to long life
nd can sustain irnSrr r"P"l@tie+ 49, = fs~I
eU IN any part Of our country and the future influx
# population to them will be mainly from the north
n the most celebrated nations in Europe From the
offerings that have attended them during our late
truggh, let US look forward to the future which is
ure te be pregnant for them with greater prosperity
han has ever before been known. The removal of the
lonopoy OF slave labor pledge that these regions
NIL be peopled by numerous and enterprsing popu-
ltion which will vie with any in the universe in their
ompactness, inventive genius wealth and industry
eur government springs from and was made for the
eople, not the people for the government. To them
owes its alegance from them it must derive its cour
&C. strength and wisdom; but while the government is
aus bound to defer to the people from whom it de-
ives its existence, it should from the very consdera
on OF its origin be strong in its power of resistance to
le establishment of equalities Monopoly perpetui-
es and class legislation contrary to the germs of
zee government and ought not to be allowed here
here is no room for favored classes or monopoles |
he principle of our government is that of equal laws
nd freedom OF industry. Wherever monopoly OBJ |
nS foothod il is seen to be source of danger dis
ord and trouble. We shall but fulfill duties as
glslators by according equal and exact Justice to all
en-, special privileges to none. The government is
coordinate to the people, but the agent and repre-
ntatve OF the people, it must be held superior to mo-
opoes, which in themselves ought never to be gran
d, and which, where they exist must be subordinate
I'd yield to the government. The constitution con-
rs on congress the right to regulate commerce among
several States 1t is of the first necessity for the
aintenance of the Union that the commerce should
free and uncbsructcd. No State can be justified in
y device to tax the transit of travel and commerce
tSeen States. The position of many States is such
at if they allowed to take advantage of it for
rposes of revenue the commerce of the States might
injuriously burdened or even virtually prohibited
is best, while the country is still young, and while
tendency to dangerous monopolics Of this kind is
Ill feeble, to use the power of congress so as to pre-
mt any selfish impedment to the free circulation of
en- and merchandise. A tax on travellers and mer
andise IN their transit constitutes of the worst
rms OF monopoies, the evils increase if coupled with
1enal of choice of routes When the vast extent of
country is considered, it is plain that every obsa-
to the free circulation of commerce between the
ates ought to be sternly guarded against by apnro
dTe IegisaC iUn WInIn the limits OF the constitution.
The report of the secretary of the interior contains
plantations Of the condition of the public lands, the
nsactons Of the patent office and the pension bu-
'u the management Of Indian affairs, the progress
de in the construction of the Pacific railroad and
niShes information in reference to matters of local
crest in the District of Coumhia r. also DrpSents
denee of the successful operation of the homestead
under the provisions of which l. 100 900 acres of
public lands were entered during the fiscal year
re than quarter of the whole number of acres '
d or disposed of during that period 1t is esti- t
ted that the receipts derived from this source are
disposal of the lands entered under this act and
It payment in cash to the extent of from forty to i
per cent. will be made by settlers who may thus
time acquire title before the exDiration Of the