The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-16
DAILY PRESS.
Saturday Morning, March ls, 1867.
Fruits Of Characterization


When President Lincoln issued his memo-
raable proclamation ofemancipation, he con-
templated as coming within its beneficent
grasp only the colored portion of the South,
and when the anti-slayery amendment was
Incorporated into and made part Of the Or
ganic law of the land, politicians and ph'lan-
thropists generally, in enumerating those to be
affected by it, took into account only the peo-
pie of color.
But wider practical mistake has seldom
been made. The colored people of the South
were not the only ones benefited by those
acts OF disenthralment, if indeed they received
the CHIEF benefit. True, upon their limbs on
ly were riveted literal bonds they alone suf-
iered from legal divorce between themselves
and liberty.
But to suppose all slavery in the south was
suffered by colored people, that they only
needed emancipation, is mistake gigantic in
its proportions. Not an inch CT soil south of
Mason and Dixons line was free for white
men to speak their free thoughts, OF to discuss
many OF the greatest questions OF political
economy, or for the preacher OF the gospel to
give full uttefance to the message of the Mas
ter whom he professed to serve. The doctrine
OF equal rights was universally ignored, and
to advocate such doctrine in any voting dis
trict of the South would have subjected per-
son to violence, probably death. Now papers
of the most radical tone are published in
Richmond, Charleston and New Orleans; ne
groes hold public meetings, pass resolutions,
address and congratulate them upon their ad-
vent to the rights of American citizenship
Who will say emancipation has been confined
to the blacks? He who does so must close
his eyes to the light OF the hour, and to the
events passing before him. r.
The New Nation, edited by a gentleman
well known In this State-Rev Mr.. Hunnicutt
which was published for the first time in
Richmond, Va, last March, claims to be the
first newspaper that ever advocated tie equal
rights OF all men in that city, and the editor
to be the first man who ever publically advo-
Gated there the equal rights of all men, without
regard to race, caste or color Nearly year
ago, when he addressed thousands of colored
citizens in Capitol Square, he was confident
they would become voters; he was confiden.
the Philadelphia convention would be a sue
cess following Mr.. johnson as he swung
round the circle he had faith in the triumph
of the Republican party and coming to Wash
ington at the beginning of the year he be-
lieved Congress would do something for the
down trodden South. BY the passage of the
reconstruction act universal suffrage is es-
| tablished, and now the editor of The NeD Na-
ton rejoicing over the results attained gives
the white loyalists OF Virginia some sound ad
vice, calling upon them to unite and act in
harmony with all loyal men; not to ignore
| the colored citizens in primary meetings; to
make their prejudices give way to reason and
right, and to remember, il they wish colored
citizens to vote with them and for them, to
treat them with respect.
Since the events which set the slave free,
have set the white man free too, loyal men
may fear no longer TO spelk out boldly tteir
sentiments, and take such action as is necessa
ry 10 establish the freedom of the South -Ths
reformation which has been accomplished
thus far, by the victory of the government Oy'
er the rebels, is the removal of all those iniiu
ences which held the South in bondage
Slavery haing been thrown down, it is left for
loval men at the. South -sst ssf, free nstitu
| tiOns. Let them lose no time in securing equa
justice and equal rights for all men, and sus
tanned by the government as they must aEd
will be, and supported by the a id and sympa-
thy of the people of the North the States late
ly seeded and in rebellion will not only be re-
stored to the Union, but become part of the
Union, in everything that win add to its
strength, and promote its prosperity.