The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1866-09-13
NUMBER 3.

themselves, the better it will be for them
and US. The negro is part and parcel Of
southern society. He can not be prosper
Gus while it is unprOsperous. Its evils
VIII rebound ufon him. It's happiness
aud re-inyigoration ear not be kept from
his participation. The restoration Ct the
south TO amicabie re- tions with the north.
the reorganization of its industry, the re-
inspiration OF its enterprise and thrift will
all rebound to the freedmen's benefit.
Nothing is SO dangerous to the freedmen
as an unsettled state Of society in the
south. On him comes all the spite and
anger, and caprice, and revenge. lie will
be made the scapegoat Of iawless and heart
less men. Unless We turn the government
into vast military machine. there can
not be armies enough to protect the freed
men while southern society remains insur>
rectionary. If southern society is calmed,
settled and occupied and soothel with
new hopes and prosperous industries, no
armies will be needed Riots viii subside,
tawless hangers on will be driven off or
better governed and way will be grad
ually opened up to the freedmen, through
education and industry, to full citizenship,
with all its honors and duties.
Civilization IS a growth. None can es>
cape that forty years in the wilderness who
travel from the Egypt of ignorance to
the promised land Of civilization. The
freedmen must take their march. | have
full faith in the results. If they have
the stamina to undergo the hardships which
every uncivilized people has undergone in
their upward progress, they will in due
time take their place among Us. That
place can not be bought nor bequeathcd,
nor gained by slight cf hand 1t will
come to sobriety, virtue, industry and fru-
gality. As the nation can not be sound
until the south IS prosperous, so, on the
other extreme, a healthy codition of civil
society in the south is indispensable to the
welfare of the freedmen,
Refusing to admit loyal Senator'S and
Representatives from the South to Con-
gress will not hold the freedmen. 1t will
not secure for them the vote 1t will not
protect them. 1t will not secure any
amendment Of our Constitution. however
just and wise 1t will only incrclse the
dangers and complicate the difficulties
Whether We regard the whole nation, or
any section of it or class in it. the first de,
manG of our time is, entire reunion.
Once united, we can, by schools,
churches, free press, and increasing free
speech, attack each evil aad secure every
good
Meanwhile the great chasm which rebel
lion made is not flied up. 1t grows deeper
and stretches WIDER. Out of it rise dread
spectres and threatening sounds Let that
gulf be closed, and bury in it slavery, Sec
tional anmoSity, and all stries, and ha-
trels.
1t is fit that the brave men, who, on sea
and land, faced death to save the nation,
should now. by their voice and vote, con-
summate what their swords rendered pos>
sible.
For the sake Of the freedmen, for the
sake of the south and its millions of our
fellow coUntrymen, for our own sake and
for the great cause Of freedom and ciyiliza>
ton. urge the immediate reunion of all
the parts which rebellion and war have
shattered.
| am truly yours.
HENRY WARD BEECHER.