North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-12-20
, FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE
OF
ANDREW JOHNSON,
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
(CONTINUED.)
DENT OF THE UNITED STATES.


But while have no doubt that now, af-
ter the close of the war, it is not competent
for the General Government to extend the
elective franchise in the several States, i,
equally clear that good faith reqnires the
security of the freedmen in their liberty
and their property, their right to labor,and
their right TO claim the jast return of their
labor. cannot to strongly urge a dispas-
sionate treatment Of tins subject, which
should be carefully kept aloof from all par
ty strife. We must equally avoid hasty
assumptions of any natural impossiblity
for the two races to live side by side in a
state OF mutual benefit and good will The
experiment involves Us in no inconsistency
let us, then, go OH and make that expert
ment in good faith, and not be too easily
dishcartened. The country is in need of
labor, and the freedmen are in need :. of en-
Payment. culture, ard protection. w lille
their right of voluntary migration and ex-
patria ion is not 10 be questioned, would
not advise their forced removal and colon
iza'ion Let US rather encourage them to
honorable and useful industry, where it
may beneficial to then selves and to the
country ; and, instead of hasty anticipation
OF the certainty of failure, let there be
mJthlug wanting to the fair trial of the cx-
pertinent. The change in their condition
is the substitution of labor bv contract for
the status of slavery The freedmen can
not fairly be accused of INV ilingness to
work, SO long as a doubt remains about his
freedom of choice in his pursuits, and The
certainty of his recovering his stipulated
wages. In this the interest of the employer
and the employed coinciic. The employer
desires in his workmen spirit and alacrty,
and these Can te permanently secured in no
other way. And if the one ought TO b.
able 10 enforce the contract, so ought the
other The public interest will be best
promoted if the several States will provide
adequate protection and the remedies for the
freedmen Until tbs is in some way ac.
cOmplished, there is no chance for the ad
vantageous use of their labor; and the
blame of ilI-succeSS will not rest on them
| know that sincere philanthropy is ear
nest for the immediate realization of its re-
motest ans but time Is always an element
in reform. 1t is one of The greatest acts on
record to have brought four millions of
people into freedom, The career of free
| industry II ust be fairly oprued to them
and then their future prosperity and con-
dition, must. after all. rest mainly on them
selves. 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 to the destiny of the freed
men, we need not be TO anxious to read the
future many incidents which, from a
speculative point of view, might raise alarm,
NilI quietly settle themselves.
Now that slavery is at an end, or near its
end. the greatness of its evil, Id the point
OF viewlof public economy, becomes more
and more apparent. Slavery was essen
italy monopoly oflabcr. and as such
looked the States where it prevailed against
the incoming of free industry. Where la
Dor, was the property of capitalists, the
white man was excluded from employment
or had but the second best chance of find
ing it; and the foreign migrant turned
| away from the region where his condition
would be precariouS. With the destruc-
ton Of the monopoly. free labor will hasten
from all parts of the civilized world to as
sist in developing various and immeasura-
bIc resources which have hitherto lam DOR
mant. The eight or nine States nearest
the Gulf of Mcxico have soil ofcxubersnt
fertility. climate friendly to long life, and
can sustain denser population than is
found as yet in any part of our country
AMI the future influx ofpopulation to them
will be mainly from the North, or from the
most cultivated nations in Europe. From
snff' rings that have attended them during
our late struggle, let me look away to the
future, which is sure to he laden for them
with greater prosperity than has ever be-
fore been known. The removal ofthe mo-
nopoly Of slave labor is pledge that those
| regions will be peoplcd by numerous and
enterprising population, which will vie
with any in the Union in compactness, in
ventive genius, wealth and industry. .
Our Government springs from and was
made for the neonle-not the .neoule for