The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-06-23


and encouraged in their eXeftions to inn
prove their condition. | also eXhort
them not to cease TO take an interest in
public affairs, but to unite with me in
the purpose to reconstruct the State gov
eminent through the aid of loyal citi
zens, and to he vigiiant and active in
discouraging disloyal sentiments, and
ensuring the election of known friends
of the Federal government to every Of
flee. Your experience, fellow-citizens,
during the rebellion, should attach you
by the strongest ties TO the government
of the United States. You have just
been delivered by the armies of the
Union from one of the most corrupt and
rigorous despotisms that ever existed in
the world. IIany OF you have been
forced for opinion's sake, and because of
your love for the flag Of your fathers to
fly from the land of your birth or of
your adoption, and seek refuge among
strangers to escape the hand Of arbitra-
ry power. Many of you have been torn
from your homes or hunted down like
wild beasts in the forest, and forced into
the rebel armies a. cOnscripts to fight
for the continued enslaVement Of the
cOlored race, and also for a state ofslavery
for yourselves and your children. Some
of you have been subjected to imprisOn-
ment and tortures on account of your
opinions; and all of you have been de-
prlved for years, up to recent period,
Of freedom of speech and of the press,
and ofevery essential guarantee of liberty
and of protection 10 person and property
which is contained III the Constitution
Of the United States You are once more
free citizens Of the United States. By
your snilerings in the past, and by your
hopes for the future, Iadjure you to guard
we'll your freedom. Remember that all
that you have, and all you can hope to
be, and all of good that is in reserve for
your children, are indissolubly boundup
with the American Union. The unity
Of government which constitutes us one
people, should be more dear to us than
ever, OnaccountOf the su1lcrings through
which we have passed. In the language
OF Washington, " it is ofinlinite moment
that you should properly estimate the
immense value of your national Union
to your collective and individual happi-
ness; that you should cherish a cordial,
habtual and nnmoVable attachment to
it; accustOming yourselves to think and
to speak of il as the palladium OF your
political safety and prosperity; watch
ing for its preservation with Jealous anX-
lety; discountenancing whatever may
suggest even q suspicion that it can, in
any event, be abandoned ana indig-
nantly irowDing upon tie first d.,wulhg
of every attempt to ALLEVIATE ono p8. ion
Of our country from the rest, or to en-
feeble the sacred ties which now link
together the various parts -.
TO the colored people Of the State
would say, YOU are now free. provi-
dence has wiiied that the very means
adopted to render your servitude perpet-
ual should be His instrumcnts for releas-
ing you from bondage. Ii now remains
for you, aided as you will be by the SUI
perior Intelligence Of the white race, and
cheered by the synIathies of all good
people, to decide Whether the freedom
thus suddenly bestowed upon you will be
a blessing to YOU Or a source Of injury.
Your race has been depressed by your
condition OF slavery, and by the legisla-
ton OF your former masters, for two
hundred years. 1t IS not to be expected
that you can comprehend and appreciate
as they should be compreiended and APP
preciated by self-goVerning people, the
wise provisions and limitations of con-
situations and laws ; or that you can now
have that knowledge Of public affairs
which Is necessary to qualify you to dis
charge all the duties Of the citizen. No
people has ever yet bounded at ONCE into
the filll eQjoyment OF the right Of self
government But sou are free, in COM
mon with all our people, and you have
the same right, regulated by law, that
Others have 10 enter upon The pursuit Of
prosperity ana happiness. YOU should
henceiorth alcfcdlY Observe tlle marriage
relation, and you should provide for your
offspring, You can now not only learn to
feudyoulSelves aSsonte oil you have bcen
able TO DO heretofore, but y0uean instruct
others, and procure instruction from
Others for yourselves ana YOUR children,
without fear OF punishment J;ut TO he
prosperous and happy you must labor,
not merely when you feel like IL, OF for
a scanty support, but 1ndustriously and
steadily, with a view to making and
laying VI, something for yourselves and
your families. Il you are idle you viii
become vicious and worthless; if vicious
and worthless you will have no friends,
and will at last perish. Z" In the sweat
of thy face shalt thou cat bread all the
days of thy life. y l he same Providence
that has bestowed freedom upon you has
told you that diligence in business is re-
quired of all His creatures, and you
cannot expect chat YOU race will escape
ultimate extinction if you wilfully vio-
late or disregard this, one Of His great
commands. Freedom does not mean
that one may do as he pleases, but that