Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-16

Inc ETetumtn'
How shall the Freedmen be treated ? This is
question which is elicitng variety Of answers.
1t is thought that the government is in favor OF
what is known as the Banks policy, and which it
il claimed is working well in louisiana though
we think the government has no policy which it
adheres to everywhere. In another column will
be found an order by Gen. Halleck relating, in
part to the emancipated slaves in Virginia and
North Carolina and Gen. Schohed in North
Carolina has issued similar orders, This order
of Gen. Halleck is much mider, 10 terms, than
Banks regulations, but we presume, IN practice,
it will amount to the same thing. As military
regulation it may be well enough though we
cannot yet uLderstand why black man has not
Just as much right to be idle as a white man. II
Gen. HaecA means that his order shall be con-
srued as requiring all persons, without respect to
color, to support themselves and as putting in
operation a system Of apprenticeship for all minors
whether white or black, it will undoubtedly, i
executed with Judgment, be oiseryce. Ofcourse
the regulation is only military one, aud will
cease as soon the State governments are fairly
and successfully in operation.
1t will be the duty, however, of these State
governments Immediately to abolish all class legls-
aton, and keep from their statute books any
enactments limited in their operation 10 colored
persons Freedmen must not be the objects o
special enactments, either favorable or adverse to
their rights or interests. They should not bt
put under disabilities, as class, nor apprenticec
nor placed under guardianship. All they neec
is to be given the same opportunities and PRIV
leges as white men, and they will take care o
themselves readily enough What should vi
think Of military order or a law limited TO per
sons Of Irish or German patentage' VIVA
wrathiu leaders would il evoke from all the Dem
cratic press Of the country, as at war with tn
republican doctrine that one man is as good a
another while he behaves as well. And ye. Their
would be no principle invaded in the supposed
case, which is not overridden in every enactmen
or military order which applies only to colore
lreemeu.
The nation vii. never be at resi- in respect t
the negro until it trsats him just as it treats pei
sons OF different complexion, Tie South cal
never be quiet in the Union uutl the doctrine
equal right is there everywhere recognized. Tn
negro il 4 person, and when treated ike humaI
being, j., quiet, industrious citzeni and tn
quickest way to mske an Intelligent, thrifty cit
zen Of him, is 10 conduct toward him as though
you expected he would become such person
With Homestead, lights a. school, and the ba!
lo he will make as firm support Of the state al
any; and certainly .ess tchening, ambitious su'
rebeIIious part Of the commonwealth than ih'
domineeriug stakeholder. The slaves Of Soutl
Carolina arc to-day infinitely better material u
Of witch to make paaceob!e, honest American
citizens than Ill the Barnewells and Rhetts ant
Brookes and Haynes who have made that Stat
the source Of the great rebellion. We had rattle
have Robert Small as the source OF the ne'
civilization and government Of South CAROLYN
than Ex-Governor Aiken for both the hear
and the brain Of the gallant hero OF the PlanIe
are truer to the Union, and better established il
the fundamental idea that manhood IS the onl
true basis of free institutions, than this ex owne
Of a thousand slaves.
And it il because Banks system in Louisiana
and ths order Of Gen. lIilleck and we may ado
much Of the zeal aud charity that are now sptoia
" taking in charge the freedmen as though thes
smancipated slaves we're unfit and unqualified 70
anything excsp, to receiy' ehTity, and be publ
paupers-have direct and inevitable tendenc
to perpetuate and keep IL vigorous life all tt
prejudice, against the negro as an inferior SEM
and foster and stimulate the idea that the negr
a., such is in n.ed OF entirely, different consider
ton from the white race, that we have all alon
! objected to i. Tue influence Of all this policy
to encourage the State governments, when II
D military rule ia withdraw, to keep up these Oh
: tinctons on account Of color, and to leave II
u negro only removed a step from slavery to will
: hold from him all political privileges, and to ket
u him as servant when they can no longer ho
G him as slave. The policy is fatally wrong
&c principle, and must, therefore, necessarily soon
. or later prove misehisvou, in practice.