Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1865-12-12
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wherever found, and so must have established
change of suffrage in the Northern. Middle
and Western States, not less than in the
Southern and Southwestern. Such an ack
would have created new class of voters. and
would have been an assumption of power bv
the President which nothing in the Constitu-
ton or laws of the United States would have
warranted.
On the other hand, every danger of con-
met IS avoided when the settlement of the
| question is referred to the several States
They can, each for ITSELF decike on the men.
sure, and whether it is to be adopted at once
and absolutely, or introduced gradually and
with conditions. In my Judgment, the freed
men, If they show patience aud manly vir
tues, will sooner obtain participation in Il a
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 b. the
suddenness of the social change shall lave
subsidized, 1t may prove that they will r,ce >e
the kindliest usage from some of those on
whom they have heretofore most closely de-
pended.
But while I have no doubt that now. aRcr
the close OF the war, it is not competent for
the General Government to extend tho eIec.
tive franchise in the several States. it is
equally clear that good faith requires the Sc
curity of the freedmen in their liberty and
| their property, their right to labor, and their
right to claim the just return of their labor.
cannot too strongly urge a dispassiopate
treatment Of this subject which should be
carefully kept aloof from all party strife
We must equally avoid hasty assumptions of
any natural impossibility for the two races to
live side by side, IN state of mutual benefit
and good will The experiment involves us
In no inconsistency; let us, then, go on aud
make that experiment in good faith, and not
be too easily dishrartened. The country is
IN need of labor, and the freedmen are in
need Of employment, culture and protection.
While their right of voluntary migration and
expatriation is not to be questioned, would
not advise their forced removal and coloniza-
tlon. Let us rather encourage them to hon.
orab!e and useful Industry, where it may be
Denehclal to themselves and to the country:
and, instead OF hasty anticipations OF the Ger
talnty OF future, let there be nothing wanting
to the fair trial Of this experiment Tho
change in their condition is the substitution
OF labor by contract for the status Of slaverv.
The freedman Cannot fairly be accused of un-
Willingness to work, SO long us doubt re-
mains about his freedom of choice in his pur-
suits, and the certainty OF his recovering his
stipulated wages. In this the interests Of tho
employer and the employed coincide. Tho
employer desires in his worEmen spirit and
alacrity, and these can be permanently Sc
cured in no other way. And if the ono
ought to be able toreniorce the soontractssso
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 wav
accomplished there Is no chance for the ad>
Vantagcous use Of their labor and the blame
OF lll-success will not rest on them.
know that sincere philanthropy is ear
nest tor the Immediate realization Of its remo-
test aims; but time is always an element in
reio'9'As is one Of the greatest acts on re-
cord to haze brought four millions of peonIo
INTO freedom. The career Of free industry
must be fairly opened to them; and then their
future prosperity and condition must, after
all, rest mainly 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 10 the destiny
OF the freedmen we need not be too anxious
10 read the future; many incidents which,
from speculative point of view, might raise
alarm, will quietly settle themselves.
Now that slavery is ut an end 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 a
monopoly OF labor, and as such locked the
States where 1t prevailed against the incom>
ing Of free industry. Where labor was the
property of the captllist, tie white man was
excluded from employment or had but the
second best chance OF finding it; and the for
eign emlSrant turned away from the region
where his condition you'd be so precarious.
With the destruction of the MONOPOLY. free
labor will hasten from all parts Of the civil,
lied world to assist in developing various and
1mmeasurable resources which have hitherto
lam dormant. The eight or nine States near
est the Gulf of Mexico have soil OF exuberaut
fertility, climate friendly to long life, and
can sustain u denser population than is found
as yet In any part Of our country; and the fu-
ture influx ofPOpulaton to them will be main
ly from the North, or from the most cultiyat-
ed nations in Europe. From the sufferiDps
that have attended them during our late strug
gle, let US iCOk away to the future, which is
sure to be laden for them with greater pros
Perlty than has ever before been known The
removal OF the monopoly Of slave labor is a
pledge that those regions will be peOpled by
numerous and enterprising population, which
VIII vie with any in the Union in COMPACT
ness. inventive genius, wealth and industry.
Our Government springs from and was
made for the people-not the people for the
Government. To them it owes aIIepiance.
from themlt must derive its courage, strength.
and wisdom But, while the Government ia
thus bound to defer to the people, from wkUtn
1t derives its existance, it should from the
very consideration Of It's origin, be strong in
its power Of resistance to the establishment
of inequalities. MonopoIies, perpetuities, and
class legislation, are contrary to the genius of
free government, and ought not to be allow
ed Here, there is no room for favored class
es or monoPolies, the principles of our Gov
ernment is that of equal laws and freedom Of
industry. Wherever monopoly attaius foot
hold II is sure tn he a eourco oF do