Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-15

tory confuse events. That proclamation,
pregnant as Il was, initiative as II was
In point Of fact, originated more from
the necessities Of war, than from any
purely humanitarian views. Let this
be noted In vi history. Life is all a
mist aud In the dark our fortunes
meet Mr.. Lincoln, like all the rest of
Ne, in my opinion, was all instrument
in the hands OF that Providence, which
shapes our ends, rough hew them how
we will doubt much if he knew
at the time. or realized the great re.
sulls OF the set. The proclamation it.
self did not make free or declare free
all the colored race. IL was only 10
operate in those parts which were not
in resistance 10 the Government. Had
the resistance ceased, that would have
been all. II the emancipation of the
colorcd race be a boon to that race.
and Providence has yet TO de.
termine that, il depends much on
themselves. II It il, !, representing
the Southern S'ates, here may claim In
their behalf, that that freedom was
never finally consummattd until the
Southern Sales sanctioned The Is h
amendment, which they did every one
of them and by their own constituent
cies. They, coming to the COZ cluslon
that the institution could no longer
survive, sccep'cl he position, and By
their acts and ~ the adoption of the
l3,h amendmen, Mr.. L%incolm's idea
was contaminated. Now, as 10 that in-
stitution which was called slavery,
many errors were INDUCED in aud
many p%rejndices. Ga. that The people
of the United States could divest them.
selves of prejudice, Prejudice, that
moral distortion of the mind! What
mischief has 1t not done2 What ad.
vancement would not the world have
made IL It had not been for this thing,
p~rejudice2 or all tho grand express
sions of that greatest Of our own
orators, Daniel Webster, the graudesl
was that in which he told the people
of Massachusetts, when FAneuil Hall
was refused to him: "You have con.
qusred the sea you have conquered
a sterile soil you have conquered the
elements, but YOU must yet conquer
your prejudice" Indulge me a mo-
ment on this subject Of so.callcd slA-
very. 1t was an unmitigated evil, but
II was not without lis compensaliOus.
1t is my purpose now, however, to
bury, not TO praise, nor aught of evil
10 cXtenuate. II il was not the best
relation for the happiness aud welfare
of both races, morally, physically, iu-
tel!ectually aud politically, il wa.
wrong, and should have been abol.
ished. This | said years before
secession, bu. there il no time now to
discuss this question. | have seen
something ~ The world. | have
Travelled, al | have = never
yet founr paradise on
earth. The southern States were
no exception. wherever | have been,
| have Witnessed the truth Of these
lines:
what crowds in every land are wretch
ed and l~OrlOru;
Mans i%nhumanity to man makes count.
less thousands m urn
II was so with US II Is so the world
over, so far rs | know. The question
Of the relations of the races was one of
the most difficult problems that states.
men or philanthropist., or %jlrists ever
had TO solve. Il IL past with us. |
do not think it inappropriate, on thi.
occasion, 10 indulge in some remarks
on ,hii subject, since the South has
been released from all her responsible.
ties about Il. Il has been common
to speak Of the cOlored PEG.
pie as the 'Wsrls Of the Nation.
May | not say it'll appropriateness
and with due g serence, IN the Ian.
guage OF Geoy..t's greatest intellect,
They are ralu e the wards Of the AL
mighty They are committed now un.
der the new state Ct things 10 the ru-
lers, the lawmakers, law. expounders
aud law-eXecutors throughout this
broad land, within their respective
constitutional spheres to take care oil
and provide, for IN this completed system
of Government under which " o live,
am so inclined to regard them.
speak of them, not as unexceptionaI
cases, but a. American citizens. Why,
in the providence OF God, they were
permitted 10 come here. 1t was not for
Us to sag, bu. they have a location
here, aud | can say for myself
and Tor those Of my immediate circle
of acqnaintances, and for the whole
southern people, that there Ia not QUO
who would now change the coGdi ion
Of things. Tesubjugate the colored man.
or put him in the condition he was ia
before. Men OF the North and Of tbs
South, of the East aud Yves, would
to-day, on this commemorative occa'
sion, say let us one aud all, within ouI
sphere OF duty, whether in pub ic, OF
IN private l,f,, zee TO It That We do no.
violate that divine trust committed tc
us. We live in a new era. During
the conflict of arms, frequently al,
mos, dcspaired of the liberties OF
our country. Wars aiway' menace
liberty, and often result in its over
throw. | have always thought that the
union OF these States at first was found
ell on the assumption that It was 10 the
best interest of all to remain united
faithfully performing, each for itselI
and !ts own people, as well as for the
people of all the States, their Constitu'
. SO