The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-14

= few remsrks: first, as TO the centra
figure the man; after that, as to tn,
event COMMUNICATED. l knew Mr..
Lincoln well; We were together du-
I nag one session of Congress. Twas
I tnnre intimate with HIN than any other
man of that Congress, except, perhaps,
one. Of his general character 1 need
not speak. He was warm hearted, he
was generous; he was, as he afterwards
said, possessed az q heart which had
malice TO none and charity to all" In
bodily form he was above the average,
and so in intellect. He was not high
ly cultivated, but had q native -geniu,
far above the average of his fellows.
Every fountain of his heart was ever
OVERLOOKING with the milk of human
kindness.
So much for him personally, and so
much the deeper from nv attachment
TO him was the pain in my own breast
a. we'll IS in those of millions, az the
manner of his horrible taking off.
That was the climax of our war, of our
trouble, of the spring from which came
afterwards unnumbered woes. But OF
those events no more now.
As friend l may say go farther.
Seek his merits to disclose or draw his
frailties from their dread abode. There
they alike, in trembling hope, repose
in the bosom of his father and his
God. So much I felt it my duty on
this OCCASION to say on behalf of my
friend.
Now as to the great historical event
which this picture commentaries, and
which We are here to day 10 comment
crate. This is suhj ct, perhaps, as
remarked by my friend from Ohio
(Mr. Garfielu) which the people of
this day and generation are not exactly
in the condition 10 weigh rightly and
judge correctly. One thing has been
remarked: that emancipation WIS Lot
the chief obj ct of Mr.. Lincoln. What
was his object The myth. the
idol with which his whole soul WAS
concerned, was the preservation of the
Union. Now let not history confuse
events. That proclamation, pregnant
as it was, initiative as it was in point
of fact, originated mole from the ne
cessities Of war than from any purely
human views. Let this be noted in
our history-''Life Is all mist and the
dark hour of our fortunes is met" Mr..
Lincoln, like all the rest Of ne, in my
opinion, was an instrument in the
hands of that Providence above US
which shapes our ends, rough hew
them how we will. l doubt much if
he knew at the time or realized the
great results of the act. The proc
lamstion itself did not make free
or declare free sll the colored
race. 1t was only to operate in those
parts which was not in resistance to
the government. Had resistance
ceased, that would have been all. II
the emancipation of the colored race is
boon to that race, aud Providence
has yet to determine that, it will de-
pend much on themselves. II 1t is, /,
representing the Southern States here,
may claim in their behalf that freedom
was never finally consummated until
the Southern States sanctioned the
Thirteenth Amendment, which they
did, every one of them, and by their
own constituents. They coming to the
conclusion that the institution could no
longer survive, accepted the position,
aud by their acts and by the adoption
of the Thirteenth Amendment Nr. LIN
coins idea was consummated. Now as
to that institution which was
called slavery, many errors were in
du'ged in, and many prejudices. Oh
that the people of the United States
could divest themselves of prejudice
Prejudice, thst moral distortion of the
mind, what mischief has it not done
| What ills has it not caused? What
advancement would not the world have
made if it had not been for this thing
prejudice? OF all the grand express
sions of that greatest of American
orators, Daniel Webster, the grandest
was that in which he told the people
of Massachusetts,, when FaneLil Hall
was refused to him, you have con-
quered sterile soil: you have con-
quered the elements, but you must yet
conquer your prejudices." Indulge me
moment on this subject of so called
slavery. 1t was not an unmitigated
evil. 1t was not without its compen.
sations. 1t is my purpose now, how
ever, to bury, not to praise, MOI
aught of evil to extenuate. II it was
not the best relation for the happiness
and welfare of both races morally.
physically, intellectually and political
ly, it was wrong, and ought to have
been abolished. This 1 said years be-
fore secession, and l repeat it yet. But
there is no time now to discuss this
question. Let it 60. / have seen some
thing of the world. 1 have travelled
somewhat, and have never yet found
on earth paradise. The Southern
States were NO exception. Wherever
have been have witnessed the truth
of the lines,
What crowds in every land are wretched and
fOflOru;
Mans Humanity 20 man makes countless
thousands mourn"
1t was so with Us. 1t is 81 the world
over so far as know. The question
OF the relations of the races was one
of the most difficult problems that
statesmen or philanthropists, legisla-
tors or jurists ever had to solve. 1t is
past with us.
/ do not think it Inappropriate on this
occasion to indulge in some remarks
on this subject since the South has
been released from all her responsible
ties about it. It has been common to
speak of the colored people as the wards
Of the nation. May not say with ap
prOpTiateness and with due reverence
in the language OF Georgia's greatest
intellect, they are rather ''the wards
of the Almighty" They are commit
ted now under the new state of things
to the rulers, the lawmakers, the law
expounders and law executors through
ont this broad land within their respect
i've constitutional spheres, to take care
of and provide for IN this complicated
system Of government under which we
live. Lsm 50 inclined to regard them.
I speak of them not in exceptional
cases, but as q mass. Why in the pro-
violence of God they were permitted
to come here it ia not for US to say.
But they have Q location here, and I
can say for myself and for those of
my immediate circle of acquaintan ces
and for the whole Southern people that
there Is not one who would W
change the condition Of things, resub-
jugate the colored man or put him In
the position he was in before. II there
is one in the South who would desire
such change am not aware of 1t.
Men OF the North, Of the South, of the
East, of the West, I would to-day, on
this commemorative occasion, say let
us, one and all, within our sphere Of
duty, whether in public or in private
life, see to il that we do not violate
that divine trust committed to us. We
live in g new era During the con-