East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1866-03-07


political existence. Old things have
passed away, and all things among us
in this respect are new The relation
heretofore, undcr our old system, ex-
listing between the African and Euro
pean races, no longer exists. Slavery,
as IL was called, of the status Of tho
black race, their subordiBation 20 the
white, upon which all Of our institu-
tions rested, is abolished forever, not
only in Georgia, but throughout the
limits of the United States This
change should be received and ac-
cepted as an jrrevocable fact. 1t is a
bootless question now to discuss,
whether the new system is better for
both races than the old was or not -
That may be proper matter for the
philisophic and plilantlIropic histo-
Iian to inquire into, after the new sys-
TEN shall have been fully and fairly
tried. l@ au o. ligs
All changes OF systems or proposed
reforms, are but experiments and
lproblems TO be solved. Our present
duty on this subject is not with the
past or the future. 1t is with the
present The wisest and best often
err in their Judgement as to the prob
able workings Of any new system.
Let us therefore give this one fair
and just trial, without prejndice, and
with that earnestness of puopose
which always looks hopefully to sue
cess. 1t is an chronological problem,
on the solution of which depends, not
only the best interests of both races
but, it may be, the exi,tenee of one
or the other, if not both.
This duty of giving this new sys-
tenn fair aud just trial viii require
of you, as Legislators Of the land,
great changes in our former laws in
regard to this large class Of pppula-
ton. Wise and humane provisions
should be made for them. 1t is not
for me to go into detail. Suffice it to
say, on this occasions, that a,npie and
full protection should be secured TO
them; so that they may stand equal
before the law, in the possession and
enjoyment of all rights of person,
liberty and property Many consid-
erations claim this at your hands,
Among these may be stated their fidel-
Ity iii times past. They cultivated
your fields I; ministered, to your per-
sonal wants aud comforts nursed
and reared your children; and even
in the hour of danger ard peril they
were, in the main, true TO you and
yours. To them we owe debt of
gratitude, as well as acts Of kindness.
This should also be done because they
arc poor, untutored, uniformed
many of them helpless, liable to be
imposed upon, and need it. Legis.a-
ton should ever look to the protection
of the weak against the strong.-
vnaIever may be said OF tie equality
OF races, or their natural capacity to
become equal, NO one can doubt that
this race among MS is not equal to the
Caucasian. This inequality does not
lessen the moral obligations on the
part of the superior to the inferior, it
rather increases them. From him
who has much, more is required than
from him who has little. The present
generation of them it is true, is far
above their savage progenltcrs, who
were at first introduced into this coun-
try, in general intelligence and moral
culture, This shows capacity for i'm
provement. But in all the higher
characteristics Of mental development
they are still very far below the Euro
peGn type. What further advancement
they may make, or to what standard
they may attain, under a different
system of laws every way suitable and
wisely applicable to their changed
condition, time alone can disclose. /
speak OF them as we now know them
to be, having nv longer the protection
of master or legal guardian; they
now need all the protection which the
shield of the law can give
But, above nll, this protection
should be secured because it is rigkt
and just that it should be, upon gene
raj principles. All governments, in
their organic structure, as well as their
administration, should have this lead.
ing object in view the good of the
governed Protection and security TO
all under It's jurisdiction should be the
chief object OF every government
II is a melancholy truth, that While
this should be the chief object Of all
governments, most OF them are used
only as instruments of power, for the
agrandisemeut of the few at the ex-
pense of and by the oppression of the
many. Such are not our ideas of
government, never have been and
never should be. Governments, 40
cording TO our ideas, shotlld look to
the good of the whole, and not part
only. "The greatest good to the
greatest number is isivorite dogma
with some. Some SO defended our
old SYSTEM, but YOU know this was
never my doctrine. The greatest good
to all, without detriment or injury to
any, is the trnc rule. Those govern
inents only are founded upon correct
principles Of reason and justice, which
look to the greatest attainab'e adj
vancenlent, Improvement and pro-
gress, physically, intellectually and !
morally, of all classes ana conditions
within their rightNl jurisdiction. If
our Old system was not the hest, or
could not have been made the best for
both races III this respect and upon
this basis, it onght to have been a6ol-
ished. This was my view Of that sys.
tom while it listed, and / repeat II
now that Il is NO thore In legisla-
ton therefore under rhs new system,
you should hook 10 the host interest Of
all c'asses their protection, security
advancement and improvements, phys
icdlly, Intellectually and morally. ali I
obstacles, il their be any should Le I
removed, which can possibly rotald .
A.. al l.. A Al