Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-08-23


necessity OF testing the question whether
there were any elements in that section
oil the country, among the white popuia
ton, which could De trusted.
DEVELOPMENTS IN VIRGINIA.
The recent course OF affairs in Virgins
mas done much to break down the Iaitf
OF Northern men, that any where in ths
South viii there be found a body of mel
sufficiently in earnest in their renewed
allegiance, and sufficiently strong in mum
0ers, to conduct successfully any healthy
system OF reorganization. IL should. how
ever, in fairness be remembered. thai
the condition OF Virginia has been sucf
20 embitter the local quarrels of IN.
people to a much greater extent than Ia
any other State, and we have still reason
TO hope better things from the Carolina,
md the Gulf States. Should only two OF
three of those States perfect their organ.
IzatiOn and accept the Constitutions
Amendment a~bolishing slavery, the Ad
mlnisiratiOr plan would not be a failure.
iOr the complete and lawful extinction o.
tie accused system would we'll repay the
teiays ana veXatiOas attendant upon the
experiment.. But ifall our hop TAIL. the
question Is only remanded to the consid.
Grafton and action of Congress aud The
Executive, and the military occus patton O.
the country gives them full power for al
the necessities OF the case.
Il oLoRED PEOPLE OF TuE SOUTH.
The colored population of the South.
"hIch has been freed by the success %.
our armies, is also an element whose in.
terest We are bound to consider with
righteous care, hose rights we are bound
to protect with scrupUlous Justice. Al
though ignorant and degraded by very
long subsection IN slavery. the, instinct
.vciy knew that the only hope OF freedom
Tor them, or Of advancement in hapDines,
and prosperity. was TO be found IN iht
success Of the Federal Government. They
had learned tina: the war had been be-
gun for the purpose OF riyetiuE their
chains. They knew that the establish
ment Of the southern Confederacy was the
establishment OF their bondage, and the,
never hesitated or ldltered in their
attachment to our cause. OF in their faith
~ its ultimate triumph. Il was with
them a religious belief. Their Ignorance
prevented them from knowing precisely
now it would result in blessings to them.
but they We're confident in their faith
tnat in some way Gods providence was
bringing good to them out of the struggle
between their masters and the Govern
ment. Hence they have been loyal. To
have been disloyal would have been tC
prefer chains and slavery to freedom.
Z UTY TO TIE FREEDNEN.
Our obligation to them grows not mere.
ly out Of the fact that we have liberated
them, but out OF the other fact that we
nave used their services as soldiers in tn
field, and that they have there boIa5
arms under the same flag which oar
white soldiers have fought for. and l.,
their fidelity and bravery have establish
ed their claim 10 our gratitude. We
therefore, mast recognize our duty e
make their freedom a thin. valuable to
them, The hopes which they have cher
shea must not DE disappointed, if y,
nave the power to iUlfll them. The free
dom which we give them must not be
freedom in name simply, but in deed anG
L trUth-a freedom which which shall
give them the fullest opportunity 10 make
such advancement in civilization and en-.
~iightenment as they are capable of. which
shall open for them "A future IN which the
bnly limit to their progress shall be such
as they themselves. in their own notions.
shall impose. These rights are the rights
of all men. Humanity must be recoc-
nized and its need of justice awarded a.
completely and sincerely IN their case Is
in the case of any other human beings
How this shall be done-in what way the
truest philanthropy and the purest rever
ence fortnight and justice NAV mark on
their future career, Is one of the great
questions which the successful end of the
war Is bringing upon IL. : recognize as
fully rs any one can the ,acl a.at revolu
tons do not 90 backward. Tree Gh-stion
is in what direction Is r.,. ,rusSI progress,
for both races; and by what cOnrse can
the greatest degree of h.,l.u.-,UilImate
iy be secured for all.
THE PROBLEM OF RECONSTRUCTION.
The problem oil reconstruction,
therefore, is how 10 find 4 plan, which,
without giving any of those palDable
and existing facts TO which l have re-
ferred, shall. prove for the permanent
peace and security of the whole oan
try, shall be consistent with the
genius and theory of our republican
institutions, and shall give to all class
es and 10 both races = full oppcrtuni-
" for advancing toward the highest
civilization, enlightenment, and pOIit-
ical freedom.
The result of the war gives US the
and imposes upon us the duty,
to demand Of those who have been IN
rebellion, indemnity for the past and
security for the future, and no one
will have the right to complain if the
resumption of their status liz the
Union is made to depend upou the
earneStness and sincerity with which
they avail themselves Of the opportu-
nifty given by the reconstruction
of the President, for them TO
these results Of the war, which
[ have spoken Of in good faith
RIGHT OF WAR.
As have above remarked. the Mill
tary subsection OF the Southern country
gives Us, under the rights OF war, the
power TO carry out such policy as true
WiSduLl MAY ulCt1lts ~ are DOlNu,
not so much in duty 70 those who have
in rebellion, rs in duty to ourselves,
aud consistency with those principles Of
republican freedom which we hold up for
example of the word, 70 make u
policy one which shall ultimately give.
10 those who have been ia rebellion.
the fuiles; rights of citizenship and par
-icipation in the government, provided
their conducJ snail warrant l., and shall
prove that the safety cf the whole coun
nv will not be compromised 6v so doing.
Whiic we admit the right OF AL citizens
20 participation in the government, no
can deny tine RICH: 10 d-istranchise
nose who have proved themselves in
,o~rrigshie traitors. and un~rcPrnttut REQ
Is. Rcuublic3nism do not demand
W. shouid put into any mans hand
, sword 20 destroy the public life. 10 IS
" bringing forth fruits meet for repent
that those who nave been IN IuStl-
tv "a tite nation must show that they are
to be received arain into that fam
IN which they have 50 persistentiy and
ieterminedly pndeavOTed To destroy.
THAT WHICH Is TO BE DONE.
Ii Is neither possible nor necessary now
o determine wha. shall be the precise
tep-. in the future. by which the conSu