Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-03-27
An Anti-Slaverv Mans Views.

There are some anti-slavery men who perceive
the absurdty Of oontending for the freedom of
the black because he deserved and was fit for
freedom, and now hedging him about with
Freedmen Bureaus and other forms of "pro-
lection" all of which take it for granted that
he is not fit for freedom.
In speech recently made at Milwaukee by
Hon. c. L. Sholes, who proclaimed himself an
anti-slavery man of eighteen years standing
speech marked by breadth of view and sound
logic-this point was well made;
eighteen years ago embarked in this anti
slavery war on the theory that the African, if
given his personal freedom, could thereafter care
for himself Yet after this lapse of eighteen
rance that he needs all kinds of protection. That
he will walk hesitatingly in his new condition,
that he may stumble is probable; but if he is to
work out his own destiny, if he is to achieve his
own salvation, and if he is capable of doing it,
let him begin now and at once. Every hours
dependence on new protector and supporter,
of any kind or nature, is not only public proc
lamation of his own inability, but it fosters and
encourages that inability until his last state be-
comes infinitely worse than his first. five are
to have bureaus for his protection, if the nation
must be taxed for his support, if we must main
tain armies for his defence, let it be after he has
himself demonstrated his incapacity and let us
who have fought his battles for the last twenty
years, ON the ground of his capacity, not be the
first to make proclamation that it was all
sham.
The same speech exhibited a just apprecia-
ton of the Importance and the safety to the
whole country of the restoration Of the South
to its normal condition Of representation.
''The South has been conquered in this strife
she acknowledges it, she lays down her arms,
accepts the results Of the war, and asks again
her place in the national councils, and agrees to
perform her duties and functions in our common
Union. 1t is all that is necessary to make per
feet that peace which has been conquered by
arms. True, we shall have collisions with them
but they will be only collisions of opinion such
collisions as our free institutions invite and as
are necessary to their perfect Development
No one with ordinary sense expects again re-
sort to arms on the part Of the South. Her
terrible experience, her present condition are
guarantees against that while memory, tradition,
or even history lasts. Can we not, then trust
the sentiment and intelligence of the nation in
this strife of opinion? Can we not trust some
thing to those inspiring, guiding, and directing
principles which underlie our whole fabric Of
politics? Alas there is precisely where the
difficulty is. These men who now fear South
ern opinion, and strife Of opinion, fear all O.
pinions except their own and all strife Of opin-
ion which conflicts with theirs. 1t is an uneasy
consciousness Of the fallacy of their own views
which occasions this fear of casting them into
the great crucible of common participation;
and they would accomplish by the strong hand
of power what they fear to trust to the sober
second thought of people united, at peace with
themselves and the world.