Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-06
Southern Views.

message 10 dis legislature, recommends Tax up
on adult freedmen, bols.ering up the recommen-
dation with this reasoning
Z" Tie abolition Of the relation OF master and
| slave, which was private relation, makes the
existing pauperIsm matter OF pubic concern,
| TO the relief of which emancIpated laborers as
class, though not exclusively bound, are liable
to contribute. L respectfully advise that
| moderate capitation tax, such as no individual
would feel oppressively, be laid upon each adult
person Of color capable OF earning wages, ana
devoted exclusively to the support OF paupers
OF the same class.
Coz. Worth OF North Carolina the fol-
low ing language:
While social equality with the whites
(which prevails nowhere IN the United States,
notw outstanding preseDces to the contrary In
some quarters. and among some persons,) Is not
to be expected, nor is the elective franchise,
am fully warranted 10 saying there is no dispo-
sition to deny Them any OF the essential hts
of civil rel gious freedom In this state. On
the contrary, every days observation makes 1t
manifest that restraining measures are necessary
and indispensable TO prevent paupeTism, vagran-
cy, idleness and their consequent crimes In the
new phase which our social system presents anc
is porta Mt TO the safety, peace, and welfare
of society, that the conflicts OF systems OF law
and admnIstI alton, one for the white and the
other for the cOIoIed man, (the latter, however,
drawing into It's jurisdiction every trans
action IN which black may be involvedO shall
cease among us, and that the great interests OF
rights, wrongs and remedies, may be committed
TO Judges and lurles OF the vicinage, according
to ancient English and American usage. 1t Is
hoped, therefore, that the President and Con-
greed OF the United States may order early is
possible the withdrawal from our limits of the
Bureau of Freedmen at least, that those au-
thoritles oil the government will not provide TOT
h. linn or
year from the close OF the war IN this state
Gov Patten Of Alabama treats the subject in
this way
Very gratifying information has reached
this department from different parts OF the
state, in relation TO the disposition of the freed
men. Every where they seem to be entering into
contracts FOR the present year, and cheerfully
and faithfully entering upon the discharge OF
the obligations contracted. This strengthens
Inc opinio IS which have heretofore entertained
that the common law rule IN reference to con-
tracts s amply sufficient for the mutual rights
and obligations of whites and freedmen. The
evidence | think, is already sufficient 10 prove
that we have more to hope for from that simple
common law rule than Is likely 10 be accom-
plIshed by special class legislation. Surely
no good, law abiding citizen will desire laws tor
the government of the intelligent negro which
he hiOseif IL not willing 70 abide by. No
good to the country can result from having one
code of laws Tor the whites and another Tor the
blac ks in their new relation, SO far as concerns
the rights of persons and property
We commend Gov. Patterns reasoning as
quite sound, and it forms refreshing contrast
to the special and class legislation recommended
; by Gov. jenkins and Gov. Worth Worth and
; Jenkins favor putting blacks under special dis
abilities and would have the legisletion OF their
states recognize the freedmen distinct class,
10 be denied many Of the privileges which the
whites enjoy, and to be subject to burdens from
which the whites exempt. Gov. Patten,
however, says that special and class iegisla-
ton" is not likely to accomplish so much ID
regulation of the Freedmen the common law
rule, which never inquiries respecting the color
when i, Is vindicating the rights of persons
1t lie noticeable, however, that although Gov
Patterns perceptions clear enough to see
that special and class legislation will prove
: miachievous 80 far as concerns the rights OF
person and property" he cannot or will not see
that it is also mischievous 80 far partial lights
are concerned. If color should not exclude a
man from the witness box, and from the prlvi-
lege of prosecuting and defending his rights in
court II should not exclude him from the bal
lot-box and from the opportunity OF prosecuting
and defending his rights IN the legisla ture, or
in any place where a0y man may appear to
claim his rights. There no half way place
between freedom and slavery IN which black
man may be Just as free 1t Is he sovereign
, pleasure of white man that he should be.
Our revolutionary fathers said 1t WIS slavery to
be governed by king and parliament. IN whose
deliberations they had nc voice, and The Freed
men of the South Will not become free Ulen, IN
the full sense Of that word until all special and
E class legislation respecting them is wholly
B done away with. Freedom means more than
r " liberty to work; it means the liberty to be
come an equal partner with every other man IN
the government under which one lives. \ non
voting class can never in the full sense, be free
S for they are always at the mercy Of the ing
t class Slavery at the South consisted IN the re-
Z, lasion Of master and servant. Iho servant
e might in many instances, have been well and
kindly treated but he none the less slave
and non-voting population may not be contin-
? ually oppressed, but it is always at the mercy
OF the governing class. The abolition of slavery
e will not be completed until the emancipated "a cs
t are pus in the enjoyment of equal civil and po-
ltical rights and al special and class Legislation
L is swept from the statues of the whole country
Il Hon j. 5 Morrill, has given dinner party
: in honor of the Reciprocity Commissioners from
the British Provinces at Washington, to Sc
Q cure an extension of the treaty. Senator Foot
Is and Poland Speaker Coltax and Thad. Stevens,
:. were among the Congressional guests invited &c
g meet the Commissioners.
n Senator Poland of this State last Thursda