Journal of freedom. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1865-186?, 1865-10-14
Gov. Mar wins AddFess-GOspeI for Copper
heads


Gov. Mar wins Address-GOspeI for Copper
heads.
The most sensible Southern speech we
have read for many day is that of Pro-
visional Governor Marvin of Florida, on
the 9Th of September, at Quincy. His
ideas on the war, on the present condi-
tion of, his State, on her duty to the
Union, and even on her celored citizens,
are far in advance of those propounded
by any of the other Provisional Cover
nors--any, at least, whose addresses we
have had the fortune to meet with
Take, for instance, this eminently prac-
tical statement of the results of secession.
Beginning with the remark that it is i'm
possible for State to secede, he yet says:
"Florida has been State in rebellion,
and, by her acts; has destroyed her State
government and particularly the institu-
ton of slavery, which was nursed in its
besom and defended byit. She is now
held by martial law in state of tute-
lage, with her political rights in abey-
ance, and will be kept there until she
organizes for herself, on new basis,
new government.
What endless mazes of cobwebs that
brushes awayI No matter whether a
State can theoretically get out of the
Union or not she. can at least rebel, and
by her own act suspend her State gov
ernment, and reduce herself to such a
condition as that she shall have no law
but martial law, no political rights but
such as are granted her, and no power to
release herself from that condition Of tu
telage and subjection except by the favor
of her conquerer. Gov Marvin is clear
headed enough to see that his own ap-
pointment and authority, emanating not
from the State but from the Federal gov
ernment, is the best answer to such theo-
rists as assert that the rights of the States
under the. constitution are not to be med
died with in rebellion or in reconstruc-
-tioR.
Slavery, Gov. Marvin of course agrees,
is to be abolished, but he agrees in a
hearty way very unlike the formal re-
Communications in some other quarters.
''The future constitution of Florida must
guarantee freedom alike to ALT must
not be black or white, but free That
is scarcely the language of a man who
hates the blacks. Still less is this most
unexpected statement:
ssAnd am free to confess, that in view
of the disorganized state of our society,
it is we'll, in my judgment, that slavery
has passed away forever. Supposing the
Institution remained and the 10000
colored troops, who have been thorough
ly drilled in the use of arms, and in
structed In the rights of freemen, and
who have exhibited on many battle
field, and in the storming of batteries a
steadinsss and a a'courage equal to that Of
the white man, we're turned loose among
us, hew long would that institution last
or whose life or property would be secure
In that case slavery would disappear in
carnage and in rivers of blood. Thank
God, the thing is out of the way, and We
are safe The future of Florida, in this
respect, ID that of every other State in
the Union, except Kentucky and Della.
ware, and shortly these States must b'
free. AS citizens, before the law, the
freedmen must be in all respects oul
equals" +"
Such testimony and such opinions art
manly, honorable TO Gov. Marvin, and
singing reproach to Northern Copper
heads>who still strive to belittle the val
or and destroy the citizenship of the ne