Year: 1865

.1r~l,r
persuaded, of the greatest consequence tC
your future peace, prosperity and harpi
ness.


First. II would remove all just sropnd'
Of antsgonism and hostility between th'
white and black races Unless this is done
; endless strife and bitterness Of feeling mus
characterize their relations. And all his
tory and human experience teach rs must
sooner or later, result in war Of races.-
We now know, from sad experience, what
war is between equals and enlightened
people. But of all wars, n social war Of
races is the most relentless and cruel. The
determination or expulsion from tho coun-
try, or enslavement, of the ono or the other
being its inevitable end, whore they are loft
TO themselves; or the loss Of liberty to both
races, where they are all subject TO the con.
troll of n superior power which would be
our situation. | speak of course, OF the
legal rights and status of the two races
Their social relations arc matters Of taste
and choice, and not subject to Legislative
regulation.


Second. This course would disarm and
put an end to intors state, sectional poIlti-
cal agitation, On this subject atlcast--wAieh
was the cause Of the unnumbered woes VIC
have recently experienced and suffer-
by deprivng the agita;ors Of subject on
which to keep up such au agitation and OF
the means of producing Jealousy, animosi.
ty and hatred between the different parts OF
the country, and between the different raceS
And this would do much towards the renew
al of the ancient relations Of national har-
mony and fralernal good will between all
parts Of the country. And thia, too, is Of
The greatest consequence to our future vel
fare, and especially as our people now know
there is no hope Of escape from it by ap-
pcaling to the principles of State Sovereign
ty and the right of secession


If the State will accept this policy at
once, it will attain the great ends heretofore
mentioned, and it will save its own people
from years of painful strife and agitation
Oh these questions, which would et last,
probably, after years Of contention, be found
to be the only means Of bringing it to nm
end even if it lead to nothing worse. How
infinitely better II will be for you, for both
races, for the present and future, for the
whole country, if you will unhcsitatingly
recognize the unaltcrable facts as to your
condition. and the inevitable lo.ic of events
and hasten, as it is in your power to do, the
return of the blessings Of civil governmcn
and constitutional liberty; and avoid as Il
is in your power to do, the fearful pcri!s
which now lie before you know the pain
ful struggle against education, and habit,
and policy, and tradition, and prejudice
which such course will require you to
oncountcr; and how hard it is for human
namre to overcome such difficulties. But
my aincere prayer is that God, in His good
ness and mercy may enable youto exhibit
this last crowning evidence, in the midst OF
your calamties and sorrows, Of your great
ness. wisdom and goodness as q people.


do not know how far it may be thought
necessary or wise by the Convention, and
the succeeding Legislature, to change the
general frame of the State Government
But if you will pardon me, there is sub
iect in this connection to which | would
coll your attention.


For many years past it has been my opin-
ion that we had carried our system Of pop
ular government to o vicious extreme,
which had developed sad evils, and which
required correction. refer to the frequen-
cy of the occurrence of popular elections,
to the great number of Offices filled by the
popular vote, and to the shortness of tho
terms of office. AS our laws now stand, all
Offices, executive, legislative, judicial min
isterial, corporate and military, | believe
with the exception Of the Secretary of State
the Governors Private Secretary, and the
Clerk of the Supreme Court are elected by
popular vote Of the people. And with
the exception Of the Judges and Clerks OF
the Supreme and District Courts, and OF
State Senators, for the short term of two
years And the elections are so arranged
that part of these are elected in one year
and part the next or alternate year,
causing d general popular election every
year.


To this there is, it seems to me, several
serious objections:


First. 1t involves the too frequent change
of officers, and often the loss of skill and
experience; and these changes produce, al
SO, unnecessary, expensive and inconven-
lent changes of business great number
of people,


Second 1t involves too much expense
and loss Of time, to the public generally,
and especially to the large number of can
didates, with no compensaiing benefit


And, third, Which is the main and most
serious objec ton, annual, popular elections
keep the country in an almost continual
political canvass and commotion, and pro-
duce and keep up an unnatural ana inJu-
rious public excitement for which there is
no necessity, and compromising benefit
And for many years before the commence
ment of our late troubles, these might well
have produced the impression that the car
rying on OF the canvasses and holding ci
elections we're the principal business of the
country. While the carrying on Of the va
rious industrial and professional pursuits,
the rearing and education OF families aud
the support of the Government, were but
incidental matters. The remedy for these
things may be eesily found, and ae easily
applied, with very great benefits to the pub
lie, and with greatly increased credit Of
safety TO our system Of free popular self
government.


The one would recommend would be:


First. To lengthen all terms OF Office,
which are now two, TO four years.


Second. To require all general elections,
as far as practicable, TO take place during
the same year and at the same time.


And, third. To provide; lstihat the state
Treasurer, Comptroller, Attorney General,
and Commissioner Of the General Land OF
fee, shall be appointed by the nomination
Of the Governor and confirmation Of the
Senate. as the Secretary Of STATE nov is.-
2nd. That the Clerks Of the District Courts
should Sc appointed BY the several Judges,
as the Clerk of the Supreme Court is by the
I -. ~ ,b.t Cortrt I'd That the COUu-