Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-01-28
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their superior powers Of invention, hl
made them renowned, ani resulted !
the greatest benefits TO mankind
Assuming this to have been true
many Instances, I seize it as an eNcu-
and as an spology for obtrudingupon th
attention Of the public, a thought ,
mine. without the hope or expectation
however, ! may add, that any one wi
ever become famous by its adoption i
this instance.
In the days Of our troubles before tb
war, growing out Of the question Of th
abolition Of slavery, the idea occurred
HE. in casting about for some remed
AGAINST the evils which darkened th
prospects ahead, that the Border state
might get rid Of their slaves, on term
acceptable to them, By the following
plan.
That is 10 say, by investing them a
au agreed valuation, under some ar
rangemeut between the several State
and the United States and the owner
themselves as stock in Pacific Railroad
the negroes who We're employed il
the construction Of the road, to have re
ceived their freedom on its completion
or within a period of time within whicl
It might have been supposed the road
could have been completed, anc
given quantity of land, per capita, along
Ihe entire route.
Aside from the advantage which ]
thought would have resulted 30 the Negro
himself. by the adoption Of the idea, !
concluded his removal from States where
his labor was Improbable, and where
his presence was source Of such con-
slant and bitter irritation between the
two sections. would have been t. great
blessing 70 the country generally; while
the interest which each STAKEHOLDER
would have acquired in the road, which,
when once completed, viii be one Of the
gande5t thoroughfares the world has
ever seen. would, in time, have been
considered most acceptable equivalent
10 hls former owner.
The details Of the plan Of lbeiT settle
ment along the route, as the road prog
ressed, a. sgriculturalisys on lands which
they had gclUired and improved, Of
course it wouid be vain TO give here,
since ali is changed.
But even under the present eisaum-
stances Of the ease, may there not be
something in this idea set, of advantage
TO the negro and 10 the country. The
original, though innocent cause Of a half
q csntury's strife, eliminating IN rhs late
war. which was waged on the part Of the
South 10 secure its property interest in
him. as guaranteed hy the Constitution,
it perhaps never once occurred 10 his
owner that the late struggle, which was
maintsined on the part of the North to
prevent a disruption Of ths Government
merely. could have terminated So az 20
have deprived him Of this species Of his
property, which, as q single interest, was
perhaps the largest in the world, and iG-
which he had iab0red SO long and dill
gently 20 acquire. And perhaps ifit had
not become necessary to secure L3e coop
GRAFTON Of these slaves 10 prevent the
successful separation Of the southern from
the Northern States, a settlement would
have been had which would have re-
tanned the negro in LiS original status, but
the aid he rendered 70 the North pre-
venting d separation, imposed upon the
section which had found it necessary TO
avail itself Of his services, an obligation
10 secure to him his freedom, and neEoa.
mainly, it was insisted upon and ellectu-
ally secured.
From this change in the social condi
ton o. the negro arises the question as TO
his future status among his former
owners, which is q source Of so much
trouble to-day, and the solution Of which,
IT, indeed. one is ever arrived at is of
such moment 10 US as 8 nation.
The negro has no truer friend than his
former owner.
The annals o. mankind afford 10 in
stance where. people, deprived of so
large a property interest, have submitted
20 uncomplainingly.
Indeed, hundreds with whom the
writer has talked on the subject, looking
back 10 the troubles caused by the agita-
tiou Of the slavery question, through
which they have passed, rejoice so far as
they are concerned, that be has been
made free. and the care Of him removed
from them.
This responsibility hss been shifted 10
the Government, which, in its wisdom,
tits TO be hoped, viii devise some plan
. bv which antagoui-m between the two
races will be prevented.
Practical statesmen, and sensible men
everywhere, North and South, whose
minds are free from fanaticism. recognize
the probable evils Of a permanent settle
meut ofthe two people upon the same
soil, and hence projects are suggested Of
colonization of the negro in Florida and
elsewhere, ON lands which the Govern
ment is topurcLase for the purpose.
Adopting the idea that our Govern
meut, having bounded over the circle oI
Constitutional metes and bounds which
was formerly considered as circumscri-
bing its action IN reference TO Internal
Improvement. VIII favor and foster the
construction Of roads snd canals which
may be deemed Important IN q military
point Of view, may st not be practicable
and expedient 20 devise some plan boy
which the nsgr0es belonging to the army.
Al iesst. and 70 be discharged, who are
untitled or disiaclined 20 return 10 agri-
cultural pursuits, may be engaged IN the
construction OF military roads and
canals. or roads and canals which
when occasion may require, vii
be Of the first importance as such
40 road is, perhaps, Of more impor
lance ia Jhis respect than the Iron Noun
tain road, as an military men viii read
ily concede, and this one might be select
Cd for trial Of the experiment
Ofeourse the Government viii have 2
become a party to such projects, and th
chief controller and director Of them an
OF the labor engaged in their construe
tion, as well as the dispenser OF ia
lands, stocks in the roads, 6c., OF othe
compensation ta be awarded the opeT
suves under its immediate control
The advantages of aggregatiug thi
class Of population along the great road
extending from the Mississippi river {
the Pacific shore, like 50 many blac
yfbbons across the country, lths adj
bodied engaged in building the roads, O
which many Of them viii be retaine
As employees, while Che women and chi
dren are employed as agric0lturalists
on lands which the country must secu
70 them, viii 81 once Be seen in q soei
point Of view, especially a. compar'
either with their colonization la sAstriC
20 themselves, or with their indiscrin
nate dispersion among their former ow
ga as hirelings, competing with q