Journal of freedom. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1865-186?, 1865-10-21

has triuIaphantlY passed througa tniS
mighty rebellion, after the most gigantlc
battles the world ever saw. =
The problem is before you, 2 y IS
best that you should understand +, ana
T therefore speak simply and plainly;
Will Won now. when you have retired
from the army Of the United States and
taken the position Sf a citizen-when you
have returned to the ~avocatlons OF peace
will you give evidence to the world that
vou are capable and competent to govern
yourselves This is what you will have
to do.
Liberty is not a mere idea, a mere va
gary when you come to xamf this
question of liberty you should not De
mistaken IN a mere idea for the reality.
It does not consist in idleness. Liberty
does not consist in being worthless. LIB
erty does not consist in doing in ali things
as we please and. there can be no Liberty
without law. In a government OF free
dom and of liberty there must be law,
and there must be obedience and submls
sion to the law, without regard to color.
ECheers. Liberty-and may | dot call
| you my countryrmen Puberty consists in
the glorious privilege of freedom-consists
in the glorious privilege of work-of pur-
suing the ordinary avocations of peace
with energy, with industry, and with
economy and that being done, all those
who have been industrious and economical
are permitted TO appropriate and enjoy
the productsof their own labor. Cheers.
This is one of the great blessings of free
dom and hence we might ask the ques-
ton and answer it by stating that liberty
means freedom to work and enjoy the
products of your own labor.
|. You will soon be mustered out of the
ranks. It is for you to establish the great
fact that you are fit and qualified to be
free. Hence, freedom is not a mere idea,
but it is something that exists III fact.
Freedom is not simply the privilege to live
in idleness. Liberty does not mean sim
ply to resort to the low saloons and other
places of disreputable character. Freedom
and liberty do not mean that the people
ought to live in licentionsness, bnt liberty
means simply to. be industrious, to be vir-
tuous, to be upright in all our dealings and
relations with men and to those now be-
fore me, members of the first regiment of
colored volunteers from the District of
Columbia, and the capital Of the United
States, have to say, that a great deal de-
ponds upon yourselves; you must give
evidence that you are competent for the
rights that the Government has guaranteed
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 meritorious. with
ont regard fo Oojor. on6 4l,o 49, r. -.
ing a Law passed in the morning that will
make q white man a black man before
night and a black man a white man before
DAY IS absurd. That is not the standard /;
II Is your own conduct; it is your own
merit; it is the development of your own
talents and of your own intellectual and
moral qualities.
Let this, then, be your course; adopt
systems OF morality abstain from all licen-
and let me say one thing here.
tor | am going to talk plainly. Ihave lived
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
the solemn contract with all the
penalties IN the association of married life.
Men and women should abstain from those
qualities and habits that too frequently fol-
a war. lnculcate among your children
among your associates, notwithstand-
nig you are just back from the army Of
United States, that virtue, that merit.
nat intelligence are the standards TO be
observed, and those which you are deter
nined to maintain during your future lives.
.Cheers.I Hethat is most meritorions and
'%lrtuous, intellectual and well informed.
highest, without regard to color.
I is the very basis upon which Heaven
Eselt rests-each individual takes his de-
rec In the snblimer and more exalted re-
IN proportion to his merits and his
,irtue.
Then | shall say to you on this occa-
ion, In returning to your homes and fire.
loeS, alter feeling conscious and proud
having faithfully done your duty. re-
urn with the determination that Won
Ill perform your duty in the future as
have performed it in the past. All
tain from all those chickering's and lea,
usles q revengeful feelings whic.I too
ten spring up between different races
1here Is a great problem before us and
may as well allude to it here in this
'nnectlon, and that is, whether this race ]
ID De Incorporated and mixed with the 6
esople OF the United States-to be made !
harmonious and permanent ingredient /,
the population. This is a problem NOT
It settled, but We are in the right line
do SO. Slavery raised its head apainst
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