The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-24

and 80 with al the other great reforms DY Paria
the last half century. Nav we not indulge IN nope.
even IN the alternative before us, from the gr,at
ex. mpie 9h restoration, e we but do as the best
his is my hope nv Shly hope It is founded on
rcon rson Rave nos ost nv so,.b IN the neoe
or in their capacity for self-government. But for
these great essential quses of human nature to be
brought INTO acfAe and efficient exercise for the Ut
tlment OF their patriotic hopes. it essential that
the ason of the day snoud suoside 3hat the causes
Of these passions should not now be discussed that
the late ste should not be stirred. Man. by nature,
is ever prone to scan closely the errors and detects
mis- Brothers without considerinS the beam chat
Is in his own. Ihis should not be. We all have our
But, TO proceed. Another one of our present
duties Is this; We should accept the issues of the
war, and abide by them in GOOD faith. This, am
Iully pereEaded, IL Is purpose to do well as
that on your constituents The people of Georgia
have IN convention revoked her ordinance OF 1861,
which was INTENDED to sever her IRON the compact
Of union of 1887 The Constitution OF the United
States has been reordaned the organic law OF
land. Whatever differences of opInlon hereto tore
existed as TO where our allegiance was due during
the late state OF things, none for any practical pur'
pose can exist now.
ton of 1861, vas ever rightfully out of the Union
or not there can be no question that she IS now in,
80 Iar as oependS upon 6er WILL ana oesm tne
ton our country, TO be cherished aad defended as
such by all our hearts and by all our arms. The
and laws made in pursuance thereof, are now
Acknowledged to be the paramount law in tins
whole country. Whatever, therefore, is true to
these principles is now recogmzed loyal as tar as
that term has any legitimate use or force under our
institutions ihiS ls the oniy M ENG OF ioyay, and
requires. In any other view, everything per-
taining to restoration, so far as regards
States of the Union, is but making promise to the
ear to be broken to The hope. All therefore who
up to the test required by the CONSTITUTION are now
loyal, however they may have heretofore been. But
with this change comes new order OF things. One
of the results OF the war IS q total cnange in
whole internal policy. Our lOlmer social tab1c has
been entirely subverttd. Like those commissions in
nature which break up old incrustatons, the war has
wrought new epoch in our political existence. Old
things have passed away and all things among us in
The relation hei etofofe, under our cid system, be-
tween the African and European races no longer
exists Slavery, rs 1t was called, or the status OF the
black race-theIr subordInatlon to the whites, upon
which all our institutions rested-ls abo lshed for
ever not only in Georgia, but throughout the limits
of the United STATES This change should be re-
eeived and accepted as irTevocabie TACT 1t is a
bOotless question now to discus whether the new
system s better for both races than the old one was
not. That may be proper later for the phIlosophc
and phianthropic historian of some future time to
inquire into, after the system shall have been
All changes of systems or proposed reforms, are
but experiments of problems to be solved Our
system OF seiigeyernment was but an experiment
Our present duty in regard to this subject is not
with the past or tnetu:ure. 1t is with the present.
u
as TO the probable working OF any new system. Let
u.s. therefore, gave tins one fair and just trial,
without prejudice, ana with that earnestness of
purpose which always looks hopefully to success
1t is an chronological problem, on the solution OF
which depends not only the best interests OF both
races, bui, 1t may be, the existence Of one the
other, If not both. This duty OF giving this new
system far and just trial win require of you, as
legislators of the land, great changes in former
laws in egard to this large ass of population. WISE
ano humane provisions should be made for them 1t
Is not Ior me TO go into detail Suffice II to say,
ths that and fulI
be secured to them so that they NAV start equal
before the law IN The possession and enjoyment or all
rights OF personal liberty and property.
Many Considerations CLAIM this at your hands
Among these may be sta cd their fidelity in times
past They cultivated your fields, ministered to your
personal wants ana comforts, nursed and reared
your children, and even IN the hour of danger and
peril they were in the main true to you and yours.
10 them we owe dert OF gratitude we'll as acts
of kindness. This should also be done because they
are poor, untutored, unintormed, many OF them
helpless, liable to be imposed upon and need 1t.
Legislation should look to tine protection of the
weak against the strong. Whatever may be sald of
race among us Is not equal to the Caucasian.
. This inequality docs not lessen the moral obliga-
rather increases them. From HIM who has much
more is required than from hlm who has little. me
present generation OF them It IS true, above
their, savage progenitors, who at first intro
duced INTO tins country IN general lntelllgence,
virtue and moral culture. ms shows capacity Tor
of mental development they still very far below
the European type. What further advancement they
may make, or to what standard they may attain
under a different system of laws, everv suitable
and wisely applicable to their changed condition,
time alone ctn disclose.
/ speak of them we now know them to be,
having no longer he RAoseeHon of master or a
leRa guardian They now need all the protection
which the shield of the law can give, but above all
this protection should be secured because it right
and just that it should be upon general principles.
All Governments, IN their game structure as well
inkther administration, should have this leading
object in view. Tie good OF the governed protec-
tiOn and security to all under Its Jurisdiction, should
be the chief end of every Government. Ii Is melan
choly truth that Whlle this sho d be the chef end
OF all Governments. most of them are used only as
instruments OF power lor the agRrandlzement OF q
many.
Such are not our ideas of government never have
been and never should be. Governments according
to our ideas should look TO the good OF the whole,
and not part only. Inc greatest good 70 the
Some defended our old system but you know this
was never my doctrine The greatest good to all
without detIiment or injury to any is tho true
Those governments only are founded upon correct
principles of reason and justice which LOOK to the
greatest attaiDable advancement, improvement and
progress, physically, intellectually, and morally of
all asses and conditions within their nghuul jurls
dichOn.
that it Is no In legis ation therefore the new
system should look TO the best interests of ali classes
'-thelr protection security, and Improvement pny-
If theIe be any, should be removed which can pos
sibly hinder sretaTd the backs 10 the extent OF
their capacity. All proper ald snOuld DO given TO
their own efforts. Channels OF educ cati6n should be
opened up TO them; schools and the usual means of
moral aDo intellectual training should be encouraged
among them This Will dictate not only of what is
right prooer and just in itself but il is also the
pTomptngs OF the highest consideration of interest
II is difficult to con nceive greater evll or curse
than could beia our country, stricken ana distressed
as il now is, for large portion OF its population
as this cass will quite probably constitute amongst
us heTealler to be reared in Ignorance depravity,
and vice. In view of such state of things, well
might the President even now look abandonment