Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-03-15
AN ANTI-sLAvERY MANS VIEWS.

There are some anti slavery men who per-
ceive the absurdity Of contending for the free
dom of the black because he deserved and was
fit for freedom, and now hedging him about
with Freedmen Bureaus and other forms OF
protection, all of which take it for granted
that he is not fit for freedom.
In speech recently made at Milwaukee by
Hon. G. L. Sholes, who proclaimed himself
an anti slavery man of eighteen years standing
"a speech marked by breadth of view and
sound logic-this point was we'll 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 eight.
cen years, and he is free, am met with the
assurance that he needs all kinds of protection.
That he will walk hesitatingly in his new con-
dition, that he may stumble is probable; but
if he is to work ouG his own destiny, if ne is to
achieve his own salvation, and if be is capable
of doing it, let him begin now and at once.
Every hours dependence on a new protector
and supporter, Of any kind or nature, is not
only public proclamation Of his own inability,
but it fosters aud encourages that inability, TN
til his last state becomes Infinitely worse than
his first. If we are to have bureaus Tor his
protection, if the nation must be taxed tor his
support, if we must maintain armies tor his
defence let it be after he has himself demon
strated his incapacity; and let us who have
fought his battles for the last twenty years, on
the ground Of his capacity, not be the list to
make proclamation that it was all a sham.
The same speech exhibited 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 acknowledge 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 com
mon UniOn 1t is all that's necessary to make
perfect that peace which has been eonqured by
arms. True, we shall have collisions with
them, but they will be only collisions OF opinion
such collisions as our free institutions lnvlte
and as are necessary to their perfect develop
ment. No one with ordinary sense expects
again resort to arms on the part OF the South.
Her terrible experience her present condition
are guarantees against that while memory, ira
dition. or even history lasts Can wenot, then
trust the sentiment and intelligence OF the ma
ton in this strife of opinion? Can we not trust
something to those inspiring, guiding, and al
rectipg principles which undere our whole
fabric of politics? Alas there is precisely
where the difficulty is. These men who. now
fear Southern opinion, and strife of opinion,
fear all opinions except their own and all strife
of opinion which conflicts with theirs. It is
an uneasy consciousness Of the fallacy of their
own views which occasions this fear of casting
them into The grea, crucible Of common par
ticipation; and they would accom- tlish by the
strong hand of..power what they fear to trust
to the sober second thought of a people uoited,
at peace with themselves and the world. -