The Portland daily press., 1865-12-06

nave Deen extended 10 all cOl0red men, wher-
ever found, and so must have established
change of suffrage in the Northern. Middle,
and Western States, not le1s than In the
Southern and Southwestern. Such an act
would have created a new class of voters,
and would have been an assumption of power
by the President which nothing in the Consti-
tuition or laws of the United States would have
warranted. szs--el-s--
On the other hand, every danger of conflict
is avoided when the settlement of the question
is referred to the several States. They can,
each for itself, decide on the measure. and
whether it is to be adopted at once and ALSO
lutely, or introduced gradually and with con-
ditions. In my Judgment, the freedmen, if
they show patience and manly virtues, will
sooner obtain participation in the elective
franchise through the States than through the
General Government, even if it had power to
intervene. When the tumult of emotions that
have been raised by the suddenness of the So
cial change shall have subsidized, it NAV prove
that they will receive the kindliest usage from
some of those on whom they have heretofore
most closely depended. 7a
But while have no doubt that now. after
the close Of the war, it is not competent for
the General Government to extend the, cleo
tive franchise in tbs several States, it is equal
ly clear that good faith requires the security
of the freedmen in their liberty and their
property, their right to labor, and their right
to claim the just return of their labor, | can
not too strongly urge dispassionate treat
ment of this subject, which should be careful
ly kept aloof from all party strife. We must
equally avoid hasty assumptions of any natu-
raj impossibility for the two races to live side
by side, in state of mutual benefit and good
will. The experiment involves us in no in
consistency; let us then, go on and make that
experiment. in good faith, and not be too easily
disheartened.i The country is in need of la
Dor, and the freedmen are in need OF employ
meIt, culture, and protection. While their
right Of voluntary migration and expatriation
is not to be questioned, would not advise
their forced removal and colonization. Let us
rather encourage them to honorable and use
full industry, where it may be beneficial to
themselves and to the country and, instead of
hasty anticipationS of the certainty of failure,
let there be nothing wanting to the fair trialo
the experiment. The change in their oondi-
ton is the substitution OF labor by contract for
the status of slavery. The freedman cannot
fairly be accused of unwillingness to work, so
long as doubt remains about his freedom of
choice in his pursuits, and the certainty Of his
recovering his stipulated wages. In this the
interests of the employer and the employed
coincide. The employer desires in his work.
men spirit and alacrity, and these can be per-
manently secured in no other way. And if
the one ought to be able to enforce the con-
tract, so ought the other. The public interest
will be best promoted, if the several States
will provide adequate protection and remedies
for the freedmen. Until this Is in some way
accomplished, there is no chance for the adj
vantageous use of their labor; and the blame
OF ill-success will not rest on them.
l know that sincere philanthropy is earnest
for the immediate realization of its remotest
aims; but time is always an clement in reform.
1t is one of the greatest acts ON record to have
brought four millions Of people into freedom.
The career of free industry must be fairly
opened TO them; and then their future pros
perity and condition must after all, rest MAIN
" on themselves. If they fail, and So perish
away, let us be careful that the failure shall
not be attributable to any denial of Justice
In all that relates to the destiny of the freed
men, we r sd not be too anxious to read the
future; many incidents which, from specu-
lative point of view, might raise alarm, Will
quietly settle themselves.
Now that slavery is at amend, or near its end
the greatness of Its evil, in the point of view
of public economy, becomes more and more
apparent. Slavery was essentially monopo-
iy of labor, and as such locked the States
where 1t prevailed against the incoming Of
free industry. Where labor was the property
of the capitalist, the white man was excluded
from employment, or had but the second best
chance of finding it, and the foreign emigrant
turned away from the region where his eondi-
ton would be so precarious. With the de-
structiOn of the monopoly, free labor will hasten
from all parts Of the civilized world to assist
in developing various and immeasurable re-
sources which have hitherto lain dormant.
The eight or nine States nearest the Gulf of
Mexico have q soil Of eXuberant fertility, eli
mate friendly to long life, and can sustain
denser population than is found as yet in any
part of our country. And the future influx
of population to them will be mainly from the
North, or from the most cultivated nations in
Europe. From the sufferings that have attend
ed them during our late struggle, let us look
away to the future, which is sure to be laden fer
them with greater prosperity than has ever be-
fore been known. The removal OF the monopo-
iy of slave labor is pledge that those regions
ing population, which viii vie with AIRY in the
Union in compaetaess, inventive genius,
wealth and industry. sis5a
l1eHur POPULAR GOVERNMENT. - 8fIr-7
I Our Government springs from and was
made for the peoplc-=not the people for the
Government. To them it owes allegiance:
from them it must derive its courage, strength,
and wisdom. But, while the Government is
thus bound to defer to the people, from
whom it derives it existence, it should, from
the very consideration of its origin, be strong
in its power of resistance to the establishment
of inequalities. Monopolies, perpetuities, and
class legislation, are contrary to the genius OF
free government, and ought not to be allowed.
Here, there is no room for favored classes or
monopolies; the principle of our Government
is that of equal laws and freedom of industry.
Wherever monopoly attains footho,d, it is
sure to be source OF danger, discord and
trouble. - We shall but fulfill our duties as
legislators by according "equal and exact JUS
tice to all men," special privileges to none.
The Governlnept is subordinate to the people;
but, as the agent and representative ofthe
people, it must be held superior to monopo-
lies, which, in themselves, ought neverto be
granted, and which, where they exist, must be
subordinate and yield to the Government. 49,
The Constitution conlers on Congress the
right to regulate commerce among the several
States. 1t is OF the first necessity, for the
maintenance of the Union, that that COM
merce should be free and unobstructed No
State can be justified in any device to tax the
transit of travel and commerce between
States. The position of many States is such
that, If they were allowed to take advantage
of it for purposes of local revenue, the COM
meree between States might be injuriously
burdened, or even virtually prohibited. 1t is
pCob, WHuC OuC SooloiJ ID oeAii youDe, s.uu
while the tendency to dangerous monopolies
of this kind is still feeble, to use the power of
Congress SO as to prevent any selfish impede I
ment to the free circulation OF men and mer-
chandise. A tax on travel and merchandise,
in their transit, constitutes one of the worst
forms of monopoly, and the evil is increased if
coupled with a denial of the choice of route.
When the vast extent of our country is con-
sidered, it is plain that every obstacle to the
free circulation of commerce between the
States ought to be stern!y guarded against by
appropriate legislation, within the limits Of
the Constitution,
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
explains the condition OF the public lands, the
transactions of the Patent Office and the PEN
sion Bureau, the management of our Indian
affairs, the progress made in the construction
of the Pacific Railroad, and furnishes inform
alton in reference to matters of local interest
in the District of Columbia 1t also presents
a.