The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-08-25

that 10 their midst are oil those men who
have any willingness to do justice TO the
freedman, who seek the real advancement
and prosperity of both races, and to bring
matters to such an ultimate condition ss
would be 10 any degree satisfactory to the
Union party in these States. They are
those who are most willing to receive With.
out opposition, the educational effect of the
war upon themselves, to listen With some
degree Of candor TO the Suggestions of our
Northern people, and to weigh, 40 we'll al
their prejudices and circumstances will Der.
NIT, ell the reasons which We OF the North
may urge, in reference TO our theories Of
the true, ultimate condition of society 10
the South. This approach toward us 10 BY
no means as complete or ss rapid 40 We
could desire; It may even totally fail Of &C
anything OF real value; but
what ~isb TO be understood ss asserting
is, that 10 the class to which I have referred
is contained whatever there 10 in Southern
white society which can be made really
available in the loyal reorganization of the
Government.
THE PRESIDENTS EXPERIMENT.
In bis experimental policy, therefore, the
President was forced to fnd an instrument
for the work of reconstruction among these
men, or not at sll. 1t was simply q ques-
tion whether the Southern whites should
have any hand in sffairs there, or whether
a direct and immediate government by the
Federal authorities, either military or civil,
should be exercised. Az . Union party in
this State. We have expressed our approba-
tion OF the course pursued by President
johnson; and. in so doing, believe We have
wisely, for whether the experiment should
succeed or fail, We we're under the ne
cessity of testing the question whether there
we're any elements in that section of the
country, among the white population, which
could be trusted.
DEVELOPMENTS IN VIRGINIA..
The recent course of affairs in Virginia
has done much to break down the faith of
Northern men. that any where in the South
will there be found body of men sufficient.
ly in earnest 10 their renewed allegiance,
aud sufficiently strong in numbers, to cen.
duct successfully any healthy system of re.
Organization. 1t should, however, in fair.
ness be remembered. that the condition OF
Virginia has been such as to embitter the
local quarrels of The people to q much
greater extent than in any other State, and
We have still reason to hope better things
from the Carolinas aud the Gulf States
Should only two or three of those States
perfect their organization and accept the
Constitutional Amendment abolishing sla.
verv, the Administration pian would not be
q failure, for the complete and lawful ex.
tinctiou of the acoursed system would we'll
repay the delays and sexstions attendant
upon the experiment. But If all our hopes
fail, the question 10 only remanded to she
consideration and action of Congress and
the Executive, and the military occupation
OF the country gives them full power TO pro.
vide for all the necessities of the case.
THE coLoRED PROFILE OF THE SOUTH.
The colOred population of the South,
which has been freed by the success of our
armies. 10 also an element whose interest We
are bound to consider With righteous care,
whose rights We are bound to protect with
scrupulous justice. Although ignorant and
degraded by very long subsection in slavery,
they instinctively knew that the only hope
o: freedom for them, or OF advancement in
happiness and prosperity. was to be found
in the success Of the Federal Government.
Ihoy had learned that the war had been
begun for the purpose Of rivetipg thoir
chains. They knew that The establishment
of the Southern Confederacy was the eotab.
lishment Of their bondage, and they never
hesitated or faltered 10 their attachment to
our cause, or 10 their faith in its ultimate
triumph. II was with them . religious be.
lief. Their ignorance prevented them from
knowing precisely how IL would result in
blessings to them, but they we're confident
in their faith that 10 some way Gods provi-
dence was bringing good TO them out of the
struggle between their masters and the
Government Hence they have been loyal.
To bave been dis'Oyai would have been to
prefer chains and slavery to freedom.
OUR DUTY TO THE FREEDMEN.
Our obligation to 'hem grove not merely
out OF the fact that We have liberated them,
but cut of the other fact that We have used
their services as soldiers in the field, and
that tboy have there borue arms under the
came flag which our white soldiers bave
Tough: for. and by their fidelity and bravery
have established their claim to our graft.
tude. We, therefore, must recognize our
duty to make their freedom thing valua.
bic to them. The hopes which they have
cherished must not be disappointed, IL We
have the power to fulfill them. The free.
dom which We give them must not be free.
dom in name simply, but in decd and in
truth-.a freedom which shall give them the
fsiisss opportunity to make such advance.
msst 10 civilization and enlightenment "a
,hsg sre capable of, which shall open for
thsm future in which the only limt to
their progress shall be such as they them.
selves, 10 their own notions, shall impose
These rights are the rights of oil men. Hu.
mauity must be recognized and i,s need of
justice awarded as completely and sincere
iy 10 their case as in the case Of any other
human beings. How this shall be done
10 what way the truest philanthropy and
the purest reverence for right and Justice
may mark out their future career, 10 one of
the great questions which the successful end
of the war 10 bringing upon us. recog-