Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-08-11

Z
We have lost our capital in negro proper
ty. 1t is gone. We are reduced, as q peo-
pie, to bankruptcy. We have been in af-
But who is to blame2 From what source
came the result It is from the war;; it is
one ofthe penalties we must pay. Ii was a
war of cur own seeking, and such has been
the result of it. We made the war. As a
Southern man | am Eound to say, and his
tory win say, we fired the first gun, the re-
suit of which has been a war Of gigantic,
huge proportions We have been impover-
ished by our folly, and such viii ever be the
result Of stupendous folly.
But while say these things on this point,
| think some advantages will result from
this war in the future Whilst we have
been hurt and chastised for the present, yet
let us remember that we may accumulate
property in the future, and all our surplus
capital, instead of being laid out in negroes,
will be expendedin permanent Improvement
in increasing the comfort of our homes, ma
nuring our lands, planting orchards, build
ing permanent fences, and in manufactures
of all kinds. Attracted to this land, immi-
grants from other parts of the world and
from the North will come to settle amongst
US, because we have as good cline as any
under Ithe sun. Our towns and villages,
instead of going to decay, viii improve, and
arts and sciences will flourish among us
Such, / believe win be one of the results of
this war.
And not only that, there is another advan-
tage. We have been very sensitive as a
people. We allowed no man to think that
slavery was moral, social, on political evil,
and ifany enc thought thus he was deemed
unsound, and arraigned before vigilance
committees Even when Lord John Russell
in England, took occasion to say he hoped
slavery would be abolished by this reyelu-
tion, our people commenced abusing him as
If he had trespassed upon our rights We
abused mankind when they differed with us,
and we carried our opposition to men' S think
ing as they pleased to such an extreme, that
men among us who dared to differ from us
on this subject were arraigned, not BY law,
or before legal tribunal, but before vigilance
societies, and personally abused. Civiliza-
ton was almost driven from the land law
and order were suppressed by these lawless
men. But now we can look over this land,
and pray, as Solomon did, that all Of Adam s
racemay be elevated to dignity and happi-
ness Now every one may, in the exercise
of his constitutional rights, advocate slavery
or den0unee it, surrounded as he is, by the
power of the Government Of the United
States, which protects us fully in the enjoy
ment OF these rights
But, fellow citizens, as | have before re-
marked, we have severely suffered from this
war. Our towns have been burned and de-
stroyed, our fields have been laid waste, our
homes and cattle have been taken from US,
and our children have fallen on bloody fields.
But, notwithstanding this, there is hope.
1t seems to be the order of Providence in
dealing with nations, as He deals with indi-
viduals, that they viii be perfected by sut-
ferings. We shall come out of this eontro-
versy a more glorious and happy people.
The presence OF liberty VIII be well guarded
among ms. We shall remain free and uui-
ted people In looking down the vista of
time, [ see Georgia ten fold more prosper
Gus, and when all our sectional prejudiees
shall have died away, we shall meet together
North and South, as brethren, rejoicing un-
der our government, aud marching ON to the
glorious destiny which is before US. Not
only viii Georgia increase in wealth and pop
ulation, but the whole Southern country
viii be more prosperous IN arts, manufac-
lures, wealth and civilization. | see them
marching on in this new order OF things.
The whole country united in the bonds Of
charity and lcve, must 60 on prosperlng un-
til this great nation shall be unequaled by
any Power on earth. This is our country !;
these are her prospects To this standard [
invite you to rally.
'"Tis the star-spangled banner, oh long may
1t wave,
O 0'er the land Of the free aud the home Of
the brave.