The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-28


industrious men," This is strict law and
good common sense Now then, without
reference to any former act, we have right
to seize the property named in this bill, and
ten times more. You behold at your feet =
conquered foe-an atrocious enemy. Tell
him on what terms he may arise and depart
or remain loyal. But do not embrace him
too hastily. Be sure first that that there is
no dagger in his girde. The President has
been throwing thick around him DEGREES,
and proclamations and speeches upon sub
jects wholly beyond his jurisdiction. He
assumes that his declaration OF Il fact creates
a fact, however false it may be- His Con-
situations dictated to hordes of Rebels; his
declaration that the States are States in the
Union; his proclamation that peace is
restored, he has cunningly put forth as
cumulative evidence of the condition of the
Confederate States. Not any of them is any
better than waste paper. All put together
are but accumulated nonsense. Does he
expect to deceive or to bewilder Congress
by such incoherent assumptions? I think
that Congress will proceed in that calm, I'M
impassioned, but unwavering course which
distinguishes the statesman from the DEM
agogue. Having, as conceive, justified the
bill which l seek to have enforced, let us
now look to the provisions Of the bill under
consideration. The first section orders the
confiscaton of all the property belonging to
the State Governments and the National
Government which made war upon us and
which we have conquered. l presume no
one is prepared to object to this unless it be
those who condemned the conquest. To
them 1 have nothing to say, except to hope
that they will continue consistent in their
love Of the Rebels; to show an exuberant
humanity into which is merged and sub
merged all the exalted feelings ofpatriotism.
The second section requires the President to
execute an existing law which he is sworn
to execute, but the performance of which
oath is in allegiance. Certainly such law
should be enforced or repealed; it is
mockery to allow it to stand on your statute
books and be not only not enforced but
violated every day by the Executive Gov
convenient and speedy mode of adjudicating
such forfeitures, and more consistent with
the military condition of the conquered
States. The fourth section provides, hrst,
that out of the lands thus cOnfiscated each
liberated slave who is male adult, or the
head ola family, shall have assigned to nm
q homestead of forty acres of land (Wlth SlVo
to build dwelling,) which shall be held Tor
them by trustees during their pupilaGe. Let
us consider whether this is just and polite
provision. Whether may be the fate OF the
rest of the bill | most earnestly pray that
this may not be defeated On its success, in
my Judgment, depends not only the happi-
ness and respectability of the colored race,
but; their very existence. Homestoads to
them are far more valuable than the immedi-
ste right of suffrage, though both are their
due. Four millions of persons have just
been freed from condition of dependence,
wholly unacquainted with business tran.ac-
tons, kept Systematically in ignorance ofall
their rights, and of the common elements of
education, without which mono of any race
are competent to earn an honest living, to
guard against the frauds which will always
be practiced ON the ignorant. or to Judge of
the most judicious manner of applying their
abor. But few of them are mechanics, and
none of them skilled manufacturers. They
and the victims of others, unless they are
made in some measure independent of their
wiser nei ghbors The guardianship of the
Freedman's Bureau, that benevolent institu-
ton, cannot be expected long to protect them.
1t encounters the hostility OF the old slave
holders, whether in official or private station,
because it deprives these dethroned tyrants
of the luxury of despotism. In its nature, it
is not calculated for permanent institution.
that protection and leave them a
prey to the legislation and treatment of their
former masters, and the evidence already
shows that they will soon become
extinct, or be driven to defend themselves
by civil war. Withhold from them all their
rights, and leave them destitute of the
means of earning a livelihood, the victims of
the hatred or cupidity of the Rebels whom
they helped to conquer, and it seems proba-
BILE that the war of races might ensue which
the President feared would arise from
kind treatment and the restoration of their
rights doubt not that hundreds of thou
sands would annually be deposited in secret,
unknown graves. Suchis already the course
If their Rebel murderers and it is done with
mpunlty. The cleareSt evidence of that fact
las already been shown by the testimony
aiken by the Central Directory" Make
;hcm independent of the their old masters,
50 that they may not be compelled to work
or them upon unfair terms, which can only
De done by giving them a small tract of land
% cultivate for themselves, and you remove
Ill this danger You also elevate the charac-
;er of the freedman. Nothing is so likely
% make man good citizen as to make him
| freebooter. Nothing will so multiply the
productions of the South as to divide it into
small farms. Nothing will make men so in
lustrous and moral as to let them feel that
hey are above want, and are the owners of
The soil which they till. 1t will also be of
service to the white inhabitants They will
AVE constantly among them industrious la
oorers, anxious to work for fair wages. How
s it possible for them to cultivate their lands
f these people were expelled If Moses
should lead or drive them into exile, or carry
,ut the absurd idea of colonizing them. the
South would become barren waste. When
hat wisest of monarchs, the Gar of Russia,
the liberation of 25,OOO,OOO serfs
lie did not for a moment entertain the fool
sh idea of depriving hi, empire of their la
DOR, or of robbing them of their rights. He
ordered their former owners to make some
for their unrequited toll by
to them the very houses in which
hey lived, and a portion of the land which
hey had titled as serfs. The experiment has
,een perfect success. 1t has brought the
which God gives to wisdom and
ustice. Have they not a right to it? I do
lot speak of their fidelity and services in this
loody war. I put it on the mere score of
awful earnings. They and their ancestors
ave toied. not for years, but for ages, with
ut one farthing of recompense. They have
armed for their masters this very land and
,uch more Will not he who denies them
ho e., L. =.