Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-10-19

than the other, they cannot be equals
and he is the most exalted who Is the
most meritorious, without regard Ia
color And the idea of having law
passed in the morning that will make a
white man a black man before night,
| and a black man n white man before
day, Is absurd, This is not the stand
ard 1t is your own conduct 1t Is your
own merit it is the development Of
your own talents aud Of your own in
telleCtual and moral qualities. Let
this then be your course adopt n syS-
TEN of morality, Abstain from all IL
ceutiousness. And let me say one thing
here, for am going to talk plain. |
have lived in Southern State all my
life and know what has too often been
the case. There is one thing you
should esteem higher aud more supreme
than almost all others an that is the
solem contract with all the penalties in
the association of married life. Men and
women should abstain from those quail
ties and habits that too frequently fol
low war; Inculcate among your
children and among your associations,
notwithstanding you are just back from
the United States that virtue, that merit,
that intelligence are the standards to be
observed, and those which you are de
termined to maintain during your future
lives. This is the way TO make white
men black and black men white.
Cheers He that is most merito-
rious and virtuous and intelleC-
tual and well-informed, must stand
highest without regard to color. It is
the very basis upon which heaven rests
itself. Each individual takes his degree
IN the sublimer and more exalted regions
in proportion to his merits and his vir-
tue, Then | shall say to you on this oc-
casiOn in returning to your homes and
fresides after feeling conscious and
proud of having faithfully discharged
your duty, returning with the determine
ton that you will perform your duty in
the future as you have in the past, alb
stain from all those chickering's and
jealsusies and revengeful feelings which
too often spring up between different
races. There is great problem before
US, and | may as well allude to it here
In this connection and that is, whether
this race can be incorporated and mixed
with the people of the United States to
be made harmonious and permanent
ingredient in the population. This is
problem not yet settled, but we are in
the right line to do so. Slavery raised
its head against the government, and
the government raised is strong arm
and struck it to the ground. So
that part of the problem is settled; the
institution of slavery is Overthrown.
But another part remains to be solved
and fbat "a mil Of
raised as they have been with all the
prejudices of the whites, can they take
their places in the community and be
made to work tremendously and con-
gruously in our system? This is a
problem to be considered. Are the
digestive powers of the American Gov
eminent sufficient to receive this ele-
ment in new shape, and digest and
make it work BEAUTIFULLY upon the sys-
TEN that has incorporated it? This is
the question to be determined Let us
make the experiment, and make it in
good faith. If that cannot be done,
there is another problem before us. If
we nave to become a separate and dis
tinct poopic. although I trust JnaT the
system can be made to work harmoni-
ousIy and the great problem will be
settled without going any further; if it
should be so the two races cannot agree
and live III peace and prosperity, and
the laws Of Providence require that
they should be separated--in that event,
looking to the far-distaut future and
trusting that 1t may never come; ii it
should come, Providence that works
mysteriOusly but unerriDgly and certain
ly, will point out the way and the
mode, and the manner by which these
people are to be separated, and to be
taken 10 their lands of inheritance and
promise; for such a one is before them
Hence We are making the experiment.
Hence let me impress upon you the i'm
portance of controlling your passions,
developing Your Intellect, and of apply
ing your physical powers to the agri-
cultural Interests of the country and
that is the true process by which this
question must he settled. Be patient,
persevering and forbearing, and you
will help solve the problem Make for
yourselves a reputation in this cause as
You have won for yourselves q reputa-
ton in the cause in which you have been
engaged, In speaking to the members
Of this regiment want them to under
stand that SO far a. | am concerned |
do not assume or pretend that | am
stronger than the laws, or the course of
nature or that am wiser than Provi-
deuce itself 1t is our duty to try and
discover what those laws are which are
at the foundation of all things, and
having discovered what they are, con-
form our actions and our conduct TO
them, and to the will eff God who ruleth
all things. He holds the destinies of
nations in the palm of His hand; and
He will solve the question and rescue
these people from the difficulties that
have SO long surrounded them. Then
let us be patient Industrious and perse-
verihg Let us develop our intellectual
and moral worth. | trust what / have
said may be understood and appreciated.
Go to your homes and lead peaceful,
prosperous aud happy lives, in peace
with all men Give utterance to no
word that will cause discussions: but
do that which will be creditable to your:
selves and your country. To the officers
who have 20 molly led and commanded
you in the field, also return my thanks
bn