The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-08-10
Esta blished 1926.

ful study and wide comparison Of
views. Suppose, however, that with.
out breaking up the organization of
any State, you take contiguous terri
tory in South Carolina. Georgia, Ala.
bama and Florida, and there, under
the sovereignty OF the United States,
and with all the facilities which the
power and wealth Of the Government
can give, we organize the freedmen in
a dependency of the Union analogous
to the Western Territories Give them
schools, laws facilitating the acquire.
ment of homcsteads, TO be paid for by
their own labor, full and exclusive po-
litical privileges, aided at the start,
should it seem necessary, by wise Sc
lection from the largest brains and
most philanthropie hearts among anti
slavery men. to join them, judiciary
or executive which would command |
their confidence in the first essays Of
political existence There need be no
coercive collection of the colorcd race
in the desi 9nated region the majority
are there now, and the reward Of po-
litical power would draw thither the
remainder quite as rapidly as their
place conld be supplied by white immi
grafton into other States, The forts
and seaport cities could remain under
the direct control Of the Federal Gov
ernment as the basis for that common
trade and intercourse with other parts
OF the country and the world, which
would be necessary. The fullest OPP
portunity TO develop the highest civil.
zation they arc capable Of, weuId then
be given. Colorcd men OF talent and
intelligence would not struggle for tho
empty name Of being lawyers without
briefs or merchants without trade, but
would have what leading jodrnal ut
the East has frequently demanded for
them. the opportunity, as well as the
right, to rank according to their real
character and ability.
That there are difficulties in the
realization of such aplan l shall be
the first to admit, but there are diff
fcuties in all plans. 1t is natural to
men to struggle TO avoid responsible
ty, and to drift upon the current,
trusting to fate; but drifting also leads
to difficulties, as we who drifted into
war which has cost half a million Of
lives and untold millions of money,
should not need to be told; and l agree
with you that drifting will probably
decide this matter against the black
race, and involve bis destruction,
while by leaving the labor Of the
South in the hands Ola degraded caste
it entails upon the country the worst
material effects of slavery, ard pre-
vents that homogenity Of institutions
and manners, North and South, which
| have said | believe to be the only
sure foundation ofpermanent peace.
The Anglo American and the Afri-
co-American races now stand face 10
face upon the Southern soil in irrecon-
cilable hostility. The few coiored
men whom we have among us may
be regarded as the waits and strays Of
the great body which is nation IN
numbers, and in its isolation by men
tai and physical characteristics. It is
yas unit that we must deal with them,
and no paltering with the edges of
the difficulty will avert the doom
which all history teaches US will follow
a wrong solution.
The magnitude, Of the problem is
immense, but the principles which
must decide it one way or the other
arc simple. When we deal with a
whole community, however closely re-
lated TO ourselves, It is not by the ap-
plication of the maXimums Of munici
pal law as applied to individuals, that
we must decide the case, but by a
modified form of international law
which so far from ignoring our res
possibility to God, our common ruler,
or the obli- alton 10 recognize the fun
dumental rights OF man, necessarily
implies them all. Religion, honor, hu-
manity, repubicanism, all call upon
us to see well to it that We do not al
low the soething and molten elements
to crystalize into q new form Of 9p-
preston, and recognize as fully us
you possibly can TIC burden Of respon-
sibility which this great epoch in the
worlds history, rolls upon. all who
have even tho humbcst part in deter
mining the shape of public policy
! have approached the subject as an
anti-slavery man. have thought as
deeply as | was capable of, and have
carefully revised my opinions and test
ed them by all the fundamental prin'
ciples of right and justice. II others
do not agree with me, and it part me
from any whose principles and mo-
tives are tho same as my own, my deer
regret that it should be so cannot
change my convictions,
1t has seemed to me that the solu-
ton | have offered rids us Of most OF
the difficulties in our way. 1t gives
to the black man political rights and
franchises without oncrous terms; il
reduces the representation of the
Southern whites in Congress to a prop
er basis, their own numbers; it secures
the PERMANENT peace Of the Govern
ment and the allegiance of the people
by the only sure guaranty, viz: that o
common interest and identity of insti
tutions. What more would you
| have2
1t is worth while to consider tha
: in such a plan as l have suggested
. there is that which is likely to attrac
cooperation on the part Of rcfectinl