Washington telegraph., 1865-08-02

condition Of things, supported By military pow
er, is unauthorized by law, and ;ha. when the
civil tribunal comes into action it will be found
that slavery still exists in some modified form,
to be done away with gradually or upon some
system OF compensation
In the outset It is necessary 20 rid our minds
Of such disturbing elements, that We msy be
enabled more clearly to recognize the position
Of tho negro in the social system, and deliberate
upon the policy to be pursued, to render him
useful 10 himself and others instead of into-
erable nuisance, re;arding all progress.
Il il very true ;Lat he slave has not been yet
ensncipated by any law, and slavery is yet re-
coE1:zet as fully as ever by the Constitution
Of lie United States. The freedman is no lees
e.rcctEaly ernsncipated. however, thrcugheu,
he Hkole length and breadth Of the South. Il
has te,n done BY the several proclsInntiens Of
the Pre- siient, under the general war lower Of
the Executive. These proclamations have been
acau;esced in at the North ard enforced at the
South TIE status of the prgro has become
fixed, and viii SO remain until tl.e complete and
sssl restoration cf the States into the Union
viii cause The military authority of the Presi-
dent. growing out Of the war, and yet sustained
by military necessity TO give place 10 the civil
tribunals, governed only By the constitutions
and laws of the Genera, Government AMI the
several States Meanwhile all who participats
IL such restoration must do 80 upon the terms
of giving support TO The emanci pstion procia-
nations in the States. The restoration will
a.T.- - II =,
consequently no States viii be restored unless
as free States. Until restorsd they rest. of
course. under the preclamations. whereby sla-
very is abolished and these proclamaticns re-
msiu the law Of the land until decided void by
the supreme JUDICIAL tribunals of the Federal
government.
Meanwhile Congress has proposed an amend
uent Of the Constitution, abolishing entirely all
involuntary servitude. Could any hope have
otherwise existed of retaining any modified
forEi of slavery IN any State, of obtaining
compensation, it is entirely taken away by this
Constitutional amendment The States, heing
restored as free States, will, of course, adopt
the amendment, at least a sufficient number of
them to constitute the requisite three-feurths,
and it viii then become the law of the land for
all. ANY other hope at present is a mere delu.
sion. 1t is the part OF wisdom and prudence to
accept unhesitstingly the fact that the negro IS
uRalteraby free, and that the property of the
master in him is irrecoversSly lost From this
stand point we may consider what can be done
with him. and upon whom it viii devolve TO
mould his destiny.
Clearly not upoa himself in any political
sense. We are to have no st. Domingo vet.
for which ws have TO thank the wisdom and
frmuess OF President johnson. He does not
form his own government. bat comes into the
Union il 4 state OF pupiiage. He takes 70 part
N the restoration. lie viii be freed He will
no longer be a chattel. His bone and muscle.
much less his spirit and mind, will be no longer
property, the subject of trafc, but he will come
helpless, peor, ignorant, and utterly unable Of
himself to bo useful. He must be made the
subject Of wise and prudent regulations
At present these are of necessity imposed by
the Federal Government through the treedmen's
bureau This was also military necessity of
the highest character, and wisely has it been
met. But for this sagacious policy he would
have gone unbound, and, intoxicated with tue
strange draught Of personal liberty, we would
have had ST. Domingo over again-Hiati re-
enacted with all It's horrors. As ii is, he passes
easily the transition period, and with wise CO.
operation OF his former owners, i; may be hoped
tha. he VIII thus become gradually impressed
with rational ideas Of what sort of freedom is
really best for him, and that the shock TO the
industrial interests of the country, which would
have attended an entire cessation of forced Ia
Dor. Through this bureau the negroes will D.
handed over 10 the States, somew hat prepared
fer freedom, when restoration shall have be
ccale complete The bureau, itself created by
the necessity, will cease with the necessities
growing cut of the war. Congress will have
no power 10 regulate the internal affairs of the
States, and the solution OF the problem of the
negro will dsvolve uPon the States, subject only
10 the condition that he must be treated no
longer as & Stare and the subject of property.
Upon tho rashness or wisdom of the COURSES
adopted by the States, will depend the prosperity
or destruction Of their interests for generations
to come. There Is much that is hopeful il
view OF tiS ultimate reference OF tnc tate OF the
negro to the people of the Southern States.
The people have cordially assented to his eman-
cipaiion. Cordially IS not too strong term for
tie general sentiment. There exists no re-
Yengeful spirit towards him. He is looked
upon by his former master as innocent and un-
offending. He is freed without agency of his
e~1. and his master owes him no grCdge,
whilst accepting the fact. Saving some brutal
instances, by no means characteristic of cur
people, there exists very great degree of affec-
tion and kindly interest towards the negro, and
q general wish for his happiness in the future.
The feeling is instructive, and pcrvades all
Southern families raised up amongst them.
Besides, they intimately acquainted with
his nature, his wants ard his capacities, and are
eminently fitted to judge of the treatment, the
privileges and restrictions which the negroes
will require 70 make them prosperous aud use
ful TO tho country in their new character Of
freedmen. It will be found at last, that whilst
the remote aboltionist is frothing his spurious
philanthropy over the world, the negro will
find his truest friend and most irusty guide in
his former master.
The S;a,es will receive tho negro. partially
prepared as We have said, from the lreedmens