Year: 1865




That is not the standard. tits your own
merit, it is the development of your own
talent, and of your own intellectually and
moral qualities. Let this, then, be your
course: adopt a system of moeality; abb
stain from all Righteousness, and let me
say one thing here, for am going TO talk
plain; 1 have lived in Southern State all
my life, and know whal has too often been
the case, there is one thing you should es-
teem higher and more supreme than al
most all others, and that is the solemn
contract with all the penalties in the asso-
Citations of married life. Men and women
should abstain from those qualities and
habits that too frequently follow IA war;
fncutcate among your childred and among
your associates, notwithstanding yOu are
black, from the army of the United States,
that virtue, that merit, that intelligence
are the standards to be observed, and those
which you are determined to maintain du
ring your future lives; this is the way to
make white men black and black men
white. TCheers.1 He that is most merito-
riOus, and virtuous, and intellectual, and
weli-informed, must stand highest, with
out regard to color. 1t is the very basis
upon which heaven rests itself Each in
dividual takes his degree in the sublime
and more exalted regions in proportion to
his merits and his virtues.


Then shall say to YOU OH this occasions:
in returning to your homes and firesides
after feeling conscious and proud Of having
faithfully discharged your duty, returning
with the determination that you will per-
form your duty in the future as you have
in the past. ahstaining from all those bick
ernrs and ieaIousies and revengefhll feel
ings which too often spring up between
different races. there is agreat problem be-
fore MS and may as well Rllude to it here
i'm this connections: and that is, whether
this race can he Incorporated and mixed
with the people of the United States. to be
made harmonious and permanent ingre-
dient i'm the population. Thisis aproblem
not vet settled. but we are on the rightltn
to do so. Slavery raised its hands against
the Government and the Government raised
it's strong arm and struck it to the ground;
part Of the problem is settled. The insti-
tuition of slavery is overthrown, but an
other part remains to be solved, and that
is: can four millions of people, raised as
they have been with all the preiudices of
the whites, can they take their places in
the community and be made to work har-
moniously and congruously in our system?
This is problem to be considered. Are
the digenitive powers of the American
Government sufficient to receive this ele
ment in a new shape and digest it and
make it work healthfully upon the system
that ras incorporated ii? This is theques-
ton to be determined. Let us make the
experiment and nuke it in good faith. If
that cannot be done, there is another prob
lem before us, if we have become a sepa-
rate annd distinct people, although 1 trust
the system can be made to work harmoni-
ouslv and that the great problem will be
settled without going any further. But if
it should be so that the two races cannot
agree To live in peace and prosperity, and
the laws of Providence require that they
should be separated, in that event, look
ing 10 the far distant future, and trusting





Providence can work mvsteriousiv. but
unepringly, and certainly will point to the
way and the mode and the manner by
which these people areto be separated, and
are to be taken totheir land of inheritance
and promise. for such one is before them
-lsnca we are making the experiment.
Let me impress upon you the Importance
of controlling your passions, developing
your intellect, and of applying your phys
ical powers TO the industrial interests of
the country; and that is the true process
by which lhis question can be settled. Be
patient. persevering and forbearing, and
you will help to solve the problem. Make
for yourselves reputation i'm this cause,
as YOU have won for yourselves a reputa-
ton i'm the cause in which you have been
engaged.


In Speaking to the members of this reg
ment want them to understand that, so
far as am concerned. do not assume or
pretend that am stronger than the laws
of nature or that am wiser than Provi-
dence itself 1t is our duty to try and dis
cover what these great laws are, which are
at the foundation of all things, and having
discovered what they are, conform our ac-
tionS and our conduct to them and the Will
OF God, who ruleth all things. He holds
the destinies of nations in the palm of His
hand; and He VIII solve the question and
rescue these people from the difficulties
that have so longsurrounded them. Then
let us be patient, industrious and perse-
verirg: let us develope any intellectual
and moral worth. l trust what have said
may he understood and appreciated. Go
to your homes and lead peaceful, prosper
ous and happy lives, inpeace with all men.
Give uttarance TO no word that would cause
dissensions, but do that which will be cred
liable to yourselves and to your country.


70 tie officers who have led and have so
noblv comman led you in the field, also
return my thanks, for the compliment you
have conferred upon me.


The troops thon returned to Campbell
Hospital. where they ptrtook of the abun-
dant hospitalities of their colored fellow
citizens.


Col. Chapman, Judge Advocate Of the
Wirz trial. is an Iowa man. He entered
the service as Adiutant of the 2d Iowa In
fantry; was promoted Major Sept. 23d, '65,
and afterwards accepted position on the
staff of Major General s. II. Curtis. with
the rank of Colonel. When that General
was removed from the Department of Kan
sas, Col. Chapman was ordered on duty at
Washington, where he has been since that
time. Col. Chipman was wounded Sc