Year: 1865

know that those who look to the past only


with It's sacrifices, and losses, Of principles
believed to be true, OF property possessed,
of national independence sought and oi
the heroic dead, may say why talk OF lih'
erty now, and equality in the uniong The
answer is, that having attempted to secure
and preserve these by an appeal to the god
of battles We fuilcd, and they now, so fax
as relates to our political restoration, be-
long to the dead past, where it is the policy
of the conauerors TO leave them, and We are
required to look to the living present anu
future. If it be thought hard to surrender
so much, il must be remembered that such
is the fate of war; and We must not forget
that by the appeal to arms, whether willing
" made or not, we staked not only what
the Government exacts, but all our rights
and property on the result. That We are
not required to surrender ALL is due, not to
the laws of war, but to the enlightened and
christian age and country in which welive
to the liberality of the Government, and TO
the spirit and genius Of our Institutions
The question, as to which party to the con-
test was right or wrong or as to whether
both parties we're partly right or partly
wrong and as to whether we did right or
wrong in stalking all on the fate Of battle,
were discussed before the war commenced,
and were decided by each party itself, and
failing to agree, they made their appeal to
the abitrament Of arms. 1t was precisely
because the parties could not agree as to
the issues between them that they went to
war, to settle them in that way;


Why should We now think of roopning
the discussion of these questions What
good could come of doing so? Wisdom re-
quires us to accept the decision of battle
upon the issues involved, and be thankful
that no more has been demanded by the
conquerors, and to unite frankly and as
chccrfully as we can, with the Government
in carrying out the policy it has proposed
Some Of our people seem still to think they
can retain their property in slaves under
the authority Of the Constitution and laws
| of the United States. If the question had
been originally submitted to the courts Of
the country, instead of the trial of battle,
this might have been the case. But we are
not now permitted to claim the protection
of the Government, which We repudiated
and fought against, unless by its consent
1t says to the great mass OF our people, you
may retain your property except your slaves
| They are now free. And unless you agree
to this you can neither get back into the
government as citizens, nor into its courts
to assert your claims to slaves or any other
species Of property. The only wise and
safe course for you to pursue is to accept
promptly, unreservedly and in good faith
the termg and policy offered, and to 60 for
ward to the work of reorganization and
restoration to the Union. This requires
your assent to great pecuniary sacrifices,
momentous changes in your social and in
dustrial system, and surrender of your
opinions and prejudices On most important
! questions. II is humbling to our self-esteem,
humiliating to our pride, and cannot be
more unwelcome to you than it is painful
| to me to feel that duty requires me to give
and you 10 accept this advice. 1t is not
that sort of advice which persons some
| times give but do not accept for themselves.
! 1t is for me and mine as we'll as you and
yours.


To the comforting of the elective franchise
| on your former slaves, / anticipate stub
born and sincere opposition, based on the
| ignorance Of the great mass of them and on
their total want of information and expert
ence in matters of Legislation, administra-
ton, and everything which pertains to the
science Of government, and upon the pride
of race. And this objection may sus-
tained by pointing to the examples of Mex
ico and Of the Central and South American
States, where, by the cnfranchisement OF
the Indians, negroes and all others, with
out reference TO race, or mental or moral
fitness for the exercise of these responsible
rights thGy have been deprived OF tho bles-
sings of peace, order, and good government
and involved in an almost uninterrupted
series Of wars and revolutions often of the
most cruel and bsrbarous character, for
more than half a century, with no present
prospect Of an amelioration or improve
ment of their condition.


But these difficulties are not in juperable,
| If you meet them with patience and reason.
l have no doubt ysu can adOpta plan which
! will fully meet the demands of justice and
| fairness, and satisfy the Northern mind,
and the requirements Of the Government,
without endangering good government, and
| the repose of society. This can be done by:


First: Extending the privileges and pro-
lection of the laws oyer the negroes as they
are over the whites, and allowing them to
testify in the courts IN the sanc conditions,
leaving their testimony subject to tie rules
relating to its crcdibility but not ohiecting
to it. admissbility. And in this you will
conform with the wise current of modern
legislation, and the tendency Of Judicial de-
cisions in all enlightened countries.


And second: By fixing an Intellectual
and moral, and if thought necessary, a
property test, for the admissions Of all per-
sons to the exercise of the elective franchise
without reference TO race or color, which
would sccure its intelligent exercise.


Ny own view would be:


/. That no person now cniitlel TO the
privilege of voting should be deprived Of IT
| because of any new test. | would recognize
in this the difference between taking away
a right heretofore enjoyed, and the confer
ing q right not heretofore exercised.


?. That to authorize theadmission Of per-
sons hereafter to the elective franchise,
they should be, first, males second, u years
Of age; third, citizens Of the United States
| fourth, should have resided in the State one
year, andin the district, county or precinct
six months next prdccding any election, AT
which they propose to vote; fifth, should be
able to read in the English language un-
derstandingly sixth, and must have paid
taxes for the last year preceding for which
said taxes we're due and payable, subject 70
any disqualification for crime, Of which the
person may have been convicted, which may
be prescribed by law.


The adoption Of these measures, in addi-
tion 70 those before mentioned, would, IN M
Judgment meet the ends Of justice and
! - tfsaIr,auf of the