Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1865-12-16

pie, and so unquestioned has been tho ia.
depreciation Of the constitution, that du-
ring the civil war the late Presiden, new
er harbored the purpose certainly never
a,owed tho purpose-of disregardiug i,
and 10 the acts Of congress, during that
period, nothing can be found which, du-
ring the continuance Of hostilities, much
less stter their close, would have sanction.
ed any departure by the executive from .
policy which has g uniformly obtained.
Moreover, a concession of tho elective
franchise 10 tho freedmen, by act Of the
President Of the United States, muss have
been extended to oil colored men, whsr-
ever found, and 80 mus. have established
change Of suffrage in the northern.
middle and western States, not less than
in the southern and southwestern. Such
an act would have created new class Of
voters, aud would have been ar sssunp-
ton Of power BY the President which
nothing in the constitution or laws of the
United States would have warranted.
Freedmen ADVISED TO PATIENCE AND MAN.
LY VIRTUE.
On the other hand, every danger Of
conflict IS avoided when the settlement Of
the question is referred to the sevvrsl
States. They can, each for ITSELF decide
on tho measure, and whether j, IL to DO
adopted at once and absolutely, or intro
duced gradually and with conditions. In
my judgment, the freedmen, il they show
patience and manly virtue, will sooner OBJ
tain participation in the elective fran
chise through the States than through the
general government, even il it bad power
TO intervene. When the tumul. Of emo
tons that have been raised by the sud-
den"ess OF the social change shall have
subsidized, it may prove that they will re-
ceive the kindlies. usage from some Of
those on whom they have heretofore mos,
closely depended.
THEIR RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND HAPrl-
NISo MOol SECCRED.
But while | have no doub, that now, a.
ter the close Of the war, it 10 not compe.
tent for the general government to extend
the elective franchise 10 the several States.
it is equally clear that good faith requires
the security of the freedmen in their lib
erty and their properly, their rigb. to la
Dor. aud their right to claim the just re-
turn OF their labor. l cannot too strong
~ urge . dispassionate treatment Of THE
subject, which should be carefully kept
sloof from all party strife. We mus,
equally avied has,y assump sions Of any
natural impossibili,y for the two races to
live side BY side, IN q state of mutual BEN
eft AMI good will. The experiment in
wolves Us in no inconsistency 10. e then
60 on, and make that experiment in good
faith, and not be too easily dishea.tened.
The country is in need of.labor, and The
freedmen are in need Of employment, Gull
'ure and protection. While their RICH. Of
voluntary migration and repatriation 10
not to be questioned, | would no, advise
their forced removal and coloniza,on.-
Let US rather encourage them to honora.
BILE aud useful industry, where it may be-
beneficial to thsmse yes and to tho coun-
try; and,
THE BLACKS SHALL HAVE FAIR TRIAL.
instead OF has'y an;ici pations Of the GER
tanty Of failure, let their bs nothing
wanting to tho fair trial of the expert.
ment The change in their condition is
the substitution Of labor by contract for
the status Of slavery. The freedmen can.
not fairly be accused Of unwilingncss TO
work, so long IS doubt remains about
his freedom Of choice in bis pursuits, and
the certainty Of his recovering his s,ipu-
lated wages. In this the interests Of the
employer and the employed coincide. The
emp'yer desires in bis workmen spirit
a'acrity. and these can be permanently
secured in no other way. And if the one
ont 10 be able to enforce the contract, 90
ought the other. The public interest will
b. best prom oted if the several states will
provide adequate protection and remedies
for the freedmen. Until this 10 in sone
way accomplished, there il no chance 70,
the advantageous use Of their labor, and
the blame VI i'll success will no. res. on
them.
BEST NOT TO BE TOO pREcrplrArE.
l know that sincere philanthropy 10
earnest for the immediate realization Of
its remotest aims but time is Away. a.
element in reform. 1t is ono Of tho great
est acts on record to have brought four
millions Of people iu,o freedom. The ca
reer Of free industry mus. be fairly OPEN
ed to them, aud then their future pros
perity and condition, must, after all, rest
mainly on themselves. If they fail, and
so perish away, let W be careful that tho
failure shall not be attributable TO any de-.