The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-03-07

l6S1LaLlOD Ut u0ldys
Let us accept the position, as W
have already professed to do, in good
faith. Let us see to it that the laws
are faithfully and impartially executed
that the most proscriptive loyalist,
and the most degraded freedman, have
the same right and measure Of justice,
which is melted out to our own people.
AS all are obliged to admit that there
can be no future separation, and as we
have chosen to remain under the
Government of the United States
rather than seek homes elsewhere, we
should now do all in our power, while
we claim its protection, to discharge
faithfully all our duties as citizens.
AS we live under it we should look to
it as the Government of our own
choice. Its flag is now our flag, its
credit our credit, and we should de-
termine, come what may, to forget the
past, and defend and sustain both with
all our ability in future. We have In
the South a country of vast fertility
and great natural resources. They
need development. We have entered
upon new era. We need capital
and labor. Neither will come till
our difficulties are settled, and our
political status defined. Every North
ern man or foreigner, who brings phys
ical strength or capital into Georgia,
! adds to her wealth, and should be re-
garded as friend and treated as such.
In our depressed condition, If men
who are void of the better feelings of
our nature come among us to be in
suited by insolence, let us refuse to
handy words with them. Compared
with the great mass of the Northern
people, these characters are few, and
must soon give place to better men.
A magnanimous man never rejoices
over the sufferings of fallen adver-
sary. Time will heal most of our
wounds, and we who in war were en-
emies, will soon be in peace friends.
The sooner this is the case, the better
for the whole country. In view of
these considerations, | think it best
that we, as the conquered, yield the
point in controversy at once.
1t only remains for me to add, that
consider it the duty of the Governor
of Georgia to call the Legislature to-
gether without delay. and to recon
mend the passage of an act calling
convention of the people of this State,
to SO change our State Constitution as
to provide for universal suffrage in
conformity to the measure which has
passed Congress, known as the Sher-
man amendment; and to provide for
the early election of a Legislature
which will adopt the constitutional
amendment In accordance with said
requirement. We now have the as
surance of Congress, in the passage of
this bill, that this shall settle the ques-
ton of our admission. We shall never
get better terms. Let us comply with
them, and be ready to be represented
in the next Congress as soon as posi-
BILE.
I respectfully suggest that the peo-
pie of the several counties of this
State, who favor the proposed action,
hold public meetings, with as little
delay as possible, and urge upon the
Governor to convene the Legislature
and recommend them to take prompt
action. The Governor and Legisla-
ture were elected before the constitu-
tional amendment was proposed, and l
respectfully submit that it is their i'm
perative duty, in the present condi-
ton of the country, to take the ne
cessary steps to refer this question to
the people at the ballot box. The
most appropriate mode of doing this,
is to order an election for delegates to
convention, to act upon the PROPOSE
ton now submitted by Congress.
This they cannot with propriety re-
&c h. loroo11 ~
the people speak.
IF the State will adopt this line of
policy and the Convention will me-
morialize Congress, asking that the
judges, county officers, and others nee
essary to the efficient working of the
State Government, be relieved from
the provisions of the constitutional
amendment, believe the petition, if |
presented in proper spirit, will be
granted, and we shall soon be relieved
Of much of the gloom which is now
wide spread over the whole South. I'll
we reject the terms proposed in the
Sherman bill, confess | see no hope
for thefuture. Should we accept them
| trust the example of Georgia may
be followed by other States, and that |
this vexed question may soon be per-
manently settled upon the best terms
which we will ever be able to get.
am aware of the rapidity of the
changes which we are required to
make, and of the natural prejudices
which our people entertain against
negro suffrage But we should not
forget, in yielding to an inevitable
necessity, that these people were rails
ed among US, and naturally sympa-
thise with US. Their conduct during
the war proved this. If, then, we
treat them kindly, pay them their
wages promptly. and in all respects
deal Justly by them. we shall seldom