Year: 1865




thitber the remainder quite as rapidly q,
their place. could be supplied BY white i'm


migration into other States. The forts and
seaport cities could remain under the direct
control OF the Federal Government as the
basis for that common trade and intercourse
with other parts Of the country and the
world, which would bo necessary. Ths
fullest opportunity TO develop the highes,
civilization they are capable Of, would ther
be given. Colored men Of talent and intel
ligence would not then make q vain strug
gle for the empty name OF being lawyer
without briefs, or merchants without trade
but would have what leading journal a
| the East has frequently demanded for them
the opportunity, as well a. the right ts
rank according to their real character aud
ability.


That there are difficulties in the reaIiza
tion of such plan shall be the first &c
admit, but there are difficulties 10 all plans.
1t is natural to men TO struggle to aveid re.
sponsibility, and to drift upon the current,
trusting to fate; but drifting also leads to
difficulties, as we who drifted into a war
which has cost half million Of lives and
untold millions of money, should not need
to be told and agree with you that drift
! ing will probably decide this matter against
the black race, and involve his destruction,
Will o by leaving the labor of the South in
the hands of a degraded caste it entails upon
the country the worst material effects of
slavery, and prevents that homogenity of
institutions and manners, North and South.
which have said believe to be the only
sure foundation Of permanent peace.
The Anglo-American and the Africo-
American races now stand face to face upon
the Southern soil in irrecoDcilabie hostility.
The few colored men whom we have among
US may be regarded as the waits and strays
Of the great body which is nation in num-
bers, and ip its isolation by mental and
physical chacteristics. 1t is az unit that
we must deal with them, aud no paltering
with the edges Of the difficulty will avert
the doom which all history teaches US will
follow wrong solution.


The magnitude of the problem is i'm
inense, but the principles which must de-
eide it one way or the other are simple. -
When we deal with a whole community,
however closely related to ourselves, it is
not by the application of tie maximums of
municipal law as applied to individuals,
that we must decide the case, but by a
modified form of international law, which
so far from ignoring our responsibility to
God, our common ruler, or the obligation
to recognize the fundamental rights of man,
necessarily implies them all. Religion,
honor, humanity, republicanism, all call up.
on us to see well to..it that we do not allow the
seething and molten elements to crystalize
into new form of oppression, and recog-
nize as fully as you possibly can the burden
OF responsibility which this great epoch in
the world history, rolls upon all who have
even the humblest part in determining the
shape Of public policy.


have approached the subject as an anti
slavery man. have thought as deeply as
| was capable of, and have carefully revised
my opiuions and tested them by al the fun
damental principles of right and justice. If
erilers do not agree with me. aud II parts me
from any whose principles and motives are
the same as my own, my deep regret that it
should be SO cannot change my convictions.


1t has seemed to ms that tho solution
have offered rids us of most of the difficult
tics in our way. 1t give. to the black m an
political rights and franchises without on.
erous terms it reduces the representation
Of the Sonthern whites in Congress to pro-
per basis, their own numbers; it secures
the permanent peace of the Government
aud the allegiance OF the people, by the
only sure guaranty, viz: that of common
interest and identity of institutions. What
more would you have?


1t is worth while to consider that in such
plan as | have suggested, there is that
which is likely to attract cooperation on the
part OF rejecting men in the Southern
States. There can be no question that some
portion of the sectional bitterness which
finally led to secession and war, was caused
by more or less distinct perception of diff
culties like these we are considering, from
which thsy saw ne reasonable outlet, and
that any plan which recognized the facts
have stated, and endeavors to provide for
them so as to secure harmsny and prosper
ity in the South, will soon find advocates
there. de not mention this as an impor.
tant argument, because l fully accept the
responsibility which the military subiuga-
tion Of the rebel territory has imposed upon
us to determine the matter by tie ceunsels
and the action Of those who have been truly
loyal, and not by those Of the disloyal Of
either section. We must, however, remem-
Der shat the ultimate object we aim at must
be to return the people of the South to
their relations to the Federal Government
as equal and full participator, in its rights
and blessings. Through what delays or in.
termcdiate steps, their own action under
the experimental organization granted by
the President must determine. But, in
the end, the genius Of our institutions will
tolerate no unequal or sectional laws. The
homogenity must be made perfect and com
piete, for neither subject provinces nor
military proconsulships can long co exist
with republican government.


Such are my personal opinions upon the
subjects you have called to my attention. -
For them alone am responsible. The sab
jeets themselves can in no sense be matter
for Executive action in this State, and
whether am elected or defeated, my opin-
ions will have only such weight or influence
as their own value will entitle them to. As
they will not hinder me from giving cordial
support to the action of loyal Federal
! Government, If other views shall finally
prevail, | have thought they ought not to
be made a ground Of opposition in the State
canvass but such as they are, they are the
! product of honest thinking, and in view OF
the real importance Of the subject, would
not conceal them to receive an election as
unanimous as the nomination with which
! the convention honored me.


Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Msssrs t. III. Fairchid, Samuel PluEb,
Committee, &C., Oberlin, Ohio.


| ARTEnUs WAND says when he hears the