The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-02-06

change of feeling and belief that has been
wrought in me in the past six months" He
is now sanguine advocate of free labor
This class is not large; but in almost every
State could point out to youby name, men
VINO were on the opposite side, who now
warmly, earnestly advocate free labor, and all
that goes with it. desire to speak plainly to-
night, in the interests of freedom. The great
body of the emancipated will be purified and
strengthened by the experience through which
they are passing, as the children of Israel were
purified and strengthened by the experience
they passed through, in going from Egypt to
the promised land. But there will be much
suffering. Those beyond middle age nave
been dependent so long that freedom VIII give
them hard struggle. Work they can, and
must, and will; but what they lack is the abil-
ity to provide for themselves in such way, to
use their own expression, as to "enjoy the
fruits oftheir own labor" 1t is impossible to
say how much they need aid; not simply food
and clothing but instruction and every spe-
cies of kindness, sympathy and guidance
Many touching and amusing illustrations
might be given; but it was sufficient If he had
made his meaning clear that there are disabil-
tiles which are not occasioned by the bad dis
position of the negroes, or by present or even
past cruelties on the part of the masters
There are disabilities necessarily incident to
the circumstances of the case. Now what do
we, as nation, propose? We have destroy
ed secession and rebellion; we have broken
the pitcher of State supremacy at the
fountain, and slavery, in name, at least, is
dead. What do we propose? 1t is to SO reg
ulate our public affairs as to secure certain
blessings to all our people; certain inalienable
rights named in the old Declaration of indie
pendence, the rights familiar to our ears-of
"life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
How should this be done? How should they
be secured to the freedmen of the South The
first thing to be done was to supply their phys
ical wants. 1t had been thought that the ne
gro was unable to supply his own wants-that
he would not work unless under compulsion,
but this feeling was growing less and less, for
their capacity and willingness to work had
been demonstrated, and if they were given
proper encouragement, with a prospect ofsuc-
cess before them, in five years from this time
there would be no need of an agency of the
General Government in the South. He might
be too sanguine in this matter; there may be
a reaction our public men may not come up
to their duty. But he would say that five do
our duty, five years will at least place us upon
the high road to material prosperity. In the
next place education was necessary to fit the
negroes for their new responsibilities. If they
were not educated, dishonest politicians would
guide them to their own ends, and to the ma
tional detriment. The capacity of the black
man to learn had been questioned. The peo-
pie of the South do not believe the negro was
ever intended by nature for education. For
tunately few fanatics insisted upon trying
the experiment, and it has proved complete
success. Whole regiments of grown men have
learned to read and write during the last two
years. There are at present upward of 10000
pupils in regularly organized schools in the
South, besides many selfsustaining schools
not included in this estimate Our hope in
the future rests in no small degree upon the
negroes themselves; upon their struggling to
cooperate with all who favor and endeavor to
extend education. Our hope rests also upon
the churches of the South. Already we hear
it WHISPERED in Virginia, SIT is no longer
question whether the negroes shall be taught,
but who shall teach them;" and some add, off
we don't the Yankees will" But we should
South, as in New England, beyond any spas
modic efforts, beyond dependence upon church
es or voluntary associations. If the simple
truth could break into the minds of all classes
of the South that the elevation of their COM
mon people to higher plane of knowledge
would be positive advantage to the whole,
so that in each State there should be establish
ed such system of common schools as would
bring the privileges of education to the chill
dren of the humblest, then indeed could we
count upon substantial growth. d 1t may be
some time before this state of public senti-
ment is reached there, yet the leayen is work.
ing. Every German, every Northern soldier,
every shrewd Yankee going South, carries
with him the convictions of his youth. Edu-
cation is vital; and our courage should never
flag until to every city, village and plantation
its blessings are secured. For the present the
North must sustain the heaviest burden
These States are not to-day prepared to take
the education of the freedmen out of the hands
no lint ,l,o,,
make it evident to them that it is for their in
terest, by positive demonstration, then they
will be ready and eager to do so. np e.E
The General then referred to the sufferings
of the poor at the South, stating that not only
the negro, but many loyal men now suffered
from the devastation Of war; and he urged
upon his audience that they should extend
kindness, sympathy and even magnanimity
toward the whole South without distinction of
race or color--the loyal white man, the blind
ed white man, and the negro. We should
watch for every favorable sign, and not dwell
on the wrongs and crimes committed. But
while we extended to them sympathy, we
should adhere infexibly to the great princi-
4
fer the ultimate event. He believed that all
wrongs would be righted and full justice Sc
cured by our Government, because he believed
the purpose of the President, of Congress, of
the Supreme Court was to do right. His as
surance was strengthened by the solemn be-
lief that the finger OF Divine Providence was
guiding us through this revolution, and that
His purposes concerning us were plainly dis
cenible in the remarkable progress we had
already made. d. s s..o=r ~, .-ss s-el
In conclusion he expressed desire to live to
agood old age that he might recount to his
children's children the story of those days
when the American people put forth their
strength, saved their Republic, broke the
chains of four millions of slaves, and inaug-
urated genuine, universal and unqualified lib
erty. Eai-laas GI.E 1.i l an0 hgt5sa.-aa