Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-08-31

shall bo done-in what vay the trues
philanthropy and purest reverence for righ
and justice may mark out their future career
is one Of the great questions which the sue
cessful end Of the war is bringing upon US
! recognize as fully as any one can the fac
that revolutions do not go backward. Th
question is in what direction is the trues
progress for both races and by what cours
can the greatest degree OF happiness ulti
mstely be secured for all.
THE PROBLEM OF BECoNsTRUCTIoN.
! The problem Of reconstruction, therefore
is how to find plan, which, without givini
apy Of those palpable and existing facts t
which | have referred shall prove for tn,
| permanent peace and security OF the whol'
country, shall be consistent with the geDiu
and theory Of our republican institutions
ana shall give to all classes and to both
I races full opportunity for advancing to
! ward the highest civilization, enlightenment
and pelitical freedom.
! The result Of the war gives US the right
and imposes upon us the duty, to demand
! Of those who have been in rebellion, 10.
derHnity for the past and security for the
future, and no enc will have the right to
complain if the resumption of their status
in the Union is made to depend upon the
earnestness and sincerity with which they
avail themselves of the opportunity given
by the reconstruction policy Of the Presi-
dent, for them to accept these results of the
war, which | have spoken Of in good faith.
RIGHTS OF WAR.
As have above remarked, the military
subjecticn of the Southern country gives
us, under the rights of war, the power to
carry out such policy as true wisdom may
dictate. We are bound, not SO mush
in duty to these who have been in rebellion,
as in duty to ourselves, and consistency with
those principles Of republican freedom
which we hold up fer the example of the
world, to make our policy enc which shall
ultimately give, even to those who have
been in rebellion, the fullest rights Of clti-
zenship and participation in the govern
ment, provided their conduct shall warrant
it, and shall prove that the safety of the
whole country will net be compromised by
so doing. While we admit the right Of all
citizens to participation in the government,
no one can deny the right to dlsfranchise
those who have proved themselves incor-
rlgible traitors, and unrepentant rebels
Republcanism does not demand that we
should put into any mans hand sword to
destroy the public life. 1t is by bringing
forth fruits meet for repentance that those
who have been in hostility to tho nation
must show that they are worthy to be re-
ceived again into that family which they
have SO persistently and determlnedly en-.
deavored to destroy.
THAT WHICH IS TO BE DONE.
Ii is neither possible nor necessary now
to determine what shall be the precise steps,
in the future, by which the consummatiOn
tuh htoh 10 IN ha oh
The course Of events will determine that:
That which it is now necessary for US to
settle is that those loyal people whe have
saved the government will continue, In I'M
broken ranks, its supporters, and while they
are ready to meet more than half way all
honest advances on the part of their recent
foes, they will hold within their own hands
the power Of determining when complete
and final reconciliation is accomplished.
La the same spirit, and with the same sense
of responsibility, our duties to the freedmen
must be considered.
WHAT CONES AFTER SLAVERY.
Having overthrown the system Of slavery,
as | stated at the outset, because it was
crime against humanity and destructive of
the interests of both races having brought
those who were slaves out from under tho
iron rule to which they had been subjected,
two paths Of progress open before US and
them. One Of these leads toward the ulti-
mate separation OF the races, as being hui
man families so distinct from each other
that the highest advancement of both may
be found in their separate existence. The
other path seeks that civilization and ad-
vancement, which We unite in desiring, by
means of the interfuson of the two races
into enc political community. Here is no
@ Iestion Of absolute right or principle. but
simply one of mutual advantage and Of
practical coed. No absolute rights of man
would be violated by taking either road
The principles which would actuate US in
choosing the one or the other would be the
same. The question simply would be which,
in view of the circumstances aud conditions
of the problem, is the best practical road
for them and for US.
THE PROBLEM OF THE RACES.
In determining it, We have to weigh the
prejudicss and the enmities of men the
antipathies, and even the wicked hatred
which may exist, not because such pre-
judices or such hatred il right, but because,
as existing facts they must affect the hap
piness of both races, and the success of any
plan which attempts to secure the highest
advancement and happiness Of both. No
plan is without its difficulties. Each has
its dangers, According to our tendencies
and habits of mind and the impressions
which different classes Of facts have made
On us, as ws have observed them, we may
prefer the one or the other; but our differ
euces with regard to this question, as with
reference to that of reconstruction of the
white society at tho South, being differences
simply of detail, not of principle, are such
as need not prevent our hearty and sincere
cooperation, and our cordial acquiescence
in whatever the good sense of a majority CT
the loyal people may finally determine.
In this respect, the difference between us
and our opponents is heaven wide. They
ignore the rights of those who have been
slaves. While they were in suhjection they
not only ayowed the fact, but rejoiced 10 1t,
that these people had no rights which the
white man was bound to respect. II they
argue that the two races cannot co-eXlsS IN
the same political government, they argue
it in order to draw forth this conclusion that
the one must, and ought, to remain a sub,
ject and seryile race while the other shall
ba the only one which can either claim or
exercise those personal and political rights
upon which our Government is based
When any Of the Union party advocate the
adoption of plan which would lead to ul-
innate separation, they do it because they
hsliayc that thel eby the truest and safest