The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-28
ing to the restoration of peace. prosper

day of exercising that degree of for
bearance against communities as well a
individuals, and next to that the indul
gence of the Christian spirit of charity
Judge not that We be not judged, !" 'espe
cially in matters growing out of the lat,
war. Most ofthe wars that have scourget
the world, event in the Christian era
have been upon points of conscience, o.
difference as to the surest way of saliva
tion. A strange way that to heaven, il
it not? How much disgrace to thu
church and shame to mankind woult
have been avoided if the ejaculation o
each breast had been at all times, as il
should have been:
| Let not this weak, unknewing hand
| Presume Thy bolts to throw,
| And deal damnation round the land,
| On each deem thy FOE.
or all the Heaven descended virtues
that elevate and ennoble human nature,
the highest, the sublimest and the di
vinest, is charity. BY all means, then
fail not to exercise and cultivate this
soul-regenerating element of fallen
nature. Let it be submitted to and ex-
ercised not only among ourselves, and
toward ourselves, on all questions of
motive or conduct touching the late
war, but toward all mankind, even to :
ward our enemies, if we have any. Let
the aspirations of our hearts be rather.
forgive them, they know not what
they do" The exercise of patience,
forbearance and charity, therefore, are
the three first duties I would at this
time enjoin, and of these three the great
est is charity.
But, to proceed Another one of our
present duties is this: we should accept
the issues of the war, and abide by them
in good faith. This, am fully per-
suaded, it is your purpose to do, as well
as that OF your constituents. The people
Of Georgia have in convention revoked
her ordinance of 1851, which was in
tended to sever her from the compact of
union of 1877 The Constitution of the
United States has been reordained as the
organic law of the land. Whateve
differences of opinion heretofore existed
as to where our allegiance was due
during the late state of things, none for
any practical purpose can exist now.
Whether Georgia, by the action of our
Convention in 1851, was ever rightfulIy
out of the Union or not, there can be no
question that she is now in, so far az
depends upon her will, aud deem the
whole United States, therefore, is now
cherished and defended as such by all
our hearts and all our arms. The Con.
stitutiOn of the United States, and the
treaties and laws made in pursuance
thereof, are now acknowledged to be the
paramount. law in this whole country
Whoever, therefore, is true to these prin-
ciples is now recognized as loyal. as far
as that term has any Legitimate use or
force under our institutions. This ia
the only kind of loyalty, and the only
test of loyalty that the Constitution
itself requires. In any other view. ey-
erything pertaining to restoration. SO far
as regards the great body of the people.
in at least eleven states Of the Union. is
but making promise to the ear, to be
broken to the hope. All, therefore. who
accept the issue of the war i'm good faith.
and come up to the test required by the
Constitution, are now loyal, however
they may heretofore been. But with
this change comes new order of
things. One of the results of the war ia
a total change in our whole internal
policy. Our former social fabric has
been entirely subverted. Like those
in nature which break IN
old incrlIstations, the war has wrought |
a new epoch in our political existence.
Old things have passed away, and all |
things among US in this respect are new.
The relation, therefore, under our old |
system, between the African and Euro. |
pean races, no longer exists. Slavery.
rs it was called, or the status of the |
black race-their subordination to the
whites, upon which all our institutions
rested--is abolished forever, not onlv i'm
Georgia, but throughout the limits of |
the United States. This change should
be received and accepted as an irreyOca.
Die fact. 1t is a bootless question now
% discuss whether the new system is
better for both races than the old one
was or not. That may be proper later
or the philosophic and philanthropic.
of some future time to inquire
nto after the new system shall have
,een fully and fairly tried. All changes
# systems, or proposed reforms, are but
aud problems to he solved.
)ur system af self-government was an
experiment. at first. Perhaps, as a pro.
lem, 1t is nor solved. Our present duty
n regard to this subject is not with the
ast or the future. 1t Is with the pres.
mt. The wisest and best of men err i'm .
heir Judgment as to the probable work.
lg of any new system. Let US, there
ore give this one fair and Just trial.
vithout prejudice and with that earn
stness of purpose which always looks
apefully to success. 1t is an ethnolog-
,al problem, on the solution of which
epends, not only the best interests of a
9th races, but, it may be, the existence
one or the other, il not both. This q
uty of giving this new system q fair i
nd just trial will require of YOU. as c
gislators of the land, great changes in G
II former laws in regard to this large D
ass of population. Wise and humane n
DIVISIONS should be made for them. 1t 81
not for me to go into detail. Suffice O
to say, op this occasion, that ample p
I'd full protection should be secured 81
them, SO that they may start d
ual before the law in the possession h
I'd enjoyment of all rights of personal d.
'erty and property. Many considera- ii
ms claim this at your hands. Among W
ese may be stated their fidelity i'm h
hes past They cultivated your 81
Ids, ministered to your personal b,
ants and comforts, nursed and s.
ared your children, and even in Ell
e hour of danger and peril they were Ell
the main true to you and yours. To s,
EN- we owe debt of gratitude, as well oc
acts of kindness. This should always I'll
done, because they are poor, untu- DIT
ed, uniformed, many of them help pe
s, liable to be imposedupop, and need so
Legislation should ever look to the an
)tection of the weak against the strong. sa
49,. 4. Il q a. =