The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-19

and Virginia, the public mind of the south would |
have been far more healthy than it 10, and those
states which fingered on probation 20 the last,
would have been under amoEs salutary influence
70 good cenduct than in dozen armies watched |
Every month that We delay this healthful step |
complicates the case. The excluded population, |
enough nnsettled before, grow more irritable
she army becomes Indispensable TO the local
governments, and supsrsedes It; the government
as Washington is called to interfere IN one and
another difficulty. And this win be done ap-
parently, sometimes, with great injustice Tor our
government, wisely adapted to its own functions,
is utterly devoid Of those habits, and unequipped
with the instruments which fit q civilized gov
eminent to exercise authority in remote states IN
local affairs. Every attempt to perform such
duties has resulted in mistakes which have ex-
cited the nation. But Whatever un6tness there
be in the method, the real criticism should be
Against the reauisition of such duties OF the gen.
eral government.
The federal government is unfit to exercise
minor police and local governments, and will in
evitably blunder when it attempts it. To keep
half q score of states under federal authority:
but without the national ties and responsibilities,
to oblige the central authority to govern half
the territory of the Union by federal civil off.
GERS and by the army, is policy not only I'M
copgenial to our ideas and principles but pre-
eminentIy dangerous to the spirit OF our gov
ernment However humane the ends sought,
and the motive it il, in fact, course OF instrue
ton, preparing our government to be despotic,
and familiarizing the people to a stretch of su-
thority which can never be other than dangerous
to liberty. ~ as- . 81
am aware that good men are withheld from
advocating the prompt and successive admission
of the exied states, by the fear, chiefly, OF Its
effects upon parties, and upon the freedmen.
| 1t is said that if admitted to congress these
southern senator's and representatives will coal
esce with northern democrats and rule the eoun-
| try Is this nation, then, to remain diemember-
l ed to serve the ends of parties Have we learn
ed no history within the last ten years, in which
just this course of sacrificing the nation to the
| exigencies of parties plunged us into rebellion
| and war
| Even admit that the country would pass into
| the hands of a party made up of southern men,
/ and the hitherto dishonored and misled demo
cracy of the north, that power could not be used
| Just as they pleased. The war has changed, not
alone institutions, bat ideas. The whole country
| beyond what it has been at any former period
A new party would, like river, be obliged to
| seek out its channels, in the already existing
| slopes and forms of the continent.
We have entered upon a new era OF liberty
/ The stvle of thought is freer and more noble
| The young men of our times are regenerated.-
| The great army has been school, and hundreds
| truer and nobler view Of moral rights. All the
| industrial interests of society are moving with
| incress ng wisdom toward intelligence and hber
ty Everywhere, in churches, in literature, II
| natural SCIENCE, in physical industries, IN socis
questions. well IN politics, the nation feei'
| that the winter 10 over and a new spring hangs II
| the horizon, and works through all the elements
In this happily changed and advanced condition G
| things, NO party of the retrOgrade can MAINTAIN
itself. Everyth marches, and parties mus
| march.
| hear with wonder, and shame, and scorn. thu
fear of few, that the south, once more IN ADJUST
ment with the federal government, will rule TN
| nation. The north is rich, nevsr so nch n
south Is poor, never half SO poor. The population
of the north 10 nearly double that OF the south
The industry of the north diversity i'm forward
| ness and productiveness in all the machinery ant
education required for manufacturing, IL half
century in advance o. the south Churches IN I'M
| north crown every hill and schools swarm IN ever
| neighborhood, while the south has but scattere
lights at long dista nees, like lighthouses twinkn
| along the edge of u continent OF darkness In In
presence of such contrast, how mean and crave
10 the fear that the south i'll rule the pocy OF tn
landi That it will have nm influence, that it vii
| contribute, in time, most important influences o
restraints, are glad to believe But II 1t rise
l at once to the control of the government, it Wi
! be because the north, demoralZed by prosperit
and besoted by groveling interests, refuses to dis
| charge its share of political duty In such case
the south not only will control the government u
| it ought to do it.
2 ills fesred with more reason, tina, the restol
| alton of the south her full Independence will
detrimental to the freedmen. The sooner we dii
| miss from our minds the idea that the freedms
can be classified, and separated from the whit
| population, and nursed and defended BY them
selves the better it will be for them and Us. Th
| negro is part and parcel of southern socie y. Ii
| canno. be prosperous while it is unprosperous II
| evils will rebound upon HIM. Its happiness an
rein sigoration cannot be kept from his particips
i mi uzF@ Ia IN ulrah n y
lations with the north, the reorganization OF lts Ell
| terprise and thrift will all rebound to tho freed
| mems benefit Nothing Is SO dangerous to "a
| freedmen a. an unsettled state OF society In tn
south. On him comes all the spite, and angef,an
| caprice, and revenge. He will be made the scraps
goat of Iawless and heartless men. Unless we tut
the government into vast military machine, thel
| cannot be armies enough to protect the fresdms
while southern society remains insurrectionar
| If southern society 10 Gained settled, ana ecci
| pied and soothed with new hopes and prosperoi
| industries, no armies will be needed. Riots vi
subside, lawless hangers-on will be driven on
| better governed and a way will be gradually ope
| ed up to the freedmen, through education and IL
dustry to full citizenship with all It's honors III
: | duties
Civilization is growth. None escape tn
I | forty years in the wilderness who travel from
Egypt of ignorance to the promised land OF civil
| nation. The freedmen must take their march.
have full faith in the results. If they have Il
stamina to undergo the hardshIps which every u
civilized people have undergone in their upwal
progress, they will in good time take their pia'
among u.s. That place cannot be sought, nor b
: queathed, nor gained by slight of hand. 1t W
come to sobriety, virtue, industry and frugaiit
As the nation cannot be sound until the south
: | prosperous, so, the other extreme, heaiti
condition OF civil society in the south il nd spe
| sible to the welfare Of the freedmen. 1t will n
A | protect them. 1t will not secure any amendms
of our constitution, however just and wise.
will only increase the dangers and complicate q
difficulties. Whether we regare the whole natio
or any section of it class in it, the first demal
of our time 10 entire reunion. r .s.a#
Once united, we can, by schools, churches,
free press and unceasing tree speech attack 81.
e evil and secure every good.
Meanwhile, the great chasm which rebelll'
made il not filled up. 1t grows deeper and stretc
wider. Out of 1t rises dread spectres and thres
ening sounds. Let the gulf be closed, and hu
in it slavery, sectional luminosity, and all strif
and hatreds.
81 1t 10 fit that the brave men, who sea and Ian
faced death to save the nation, should, now,
their voice and vote, consummate what the
swords rendered possible.
Il For the sake of the freedmen for the sake oil Il
south and its millions of fellow-countrymen, 4
our own sake, and for the great cause Of freedo
and civilization, urge the immediate union OF q
the parts which rebellion and war has shattered.
am Truly Yours,
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
|