Year: 1865

obtain Participation In the elective
| franchise through the States than through


the General Government, even if it had
power TO intervene. When the tumult


of passion that has been raised by the
suddenness of the social change has sub


sided. it may prove that they will receive


the kindliest usage from some of those


on whom they have heretofore most close
/ Iy depended. But while have no doubt
that now that after the close of the war,


il is not compatible for the General Gov
| arnment to extend the elective franchise


in the several States, it is equally clear
| that good faith requires the security OF
the freedmen in their liberty and their
| property, their right to labor, and their
right to claim the just reward of their
labor.


cannot too strongly urge dispassion'


ate treatment of this subject, which


should be carefully kept aloof from all


party strife. We must equity avoid par
| ty assumption of any natural impossible
ty for the two races to live side by side
in state of mutual benefit and good


will. The experiments involves us in no
inconsistency. Let US then go on and
make that experiment in good faith, and


not be too easily oisheartened. The


country is in need of labor and the freed


men are in need of employment, culture,


and protection. While they have the


right OF voluntary migration and expatri>
alton would not advise their forced re-


moval and colonization. Let us rather


encourage them to honorable and useful
industry, where it may be beneficial to
themselves and to the country, and in
stead of party anticipations of the GER


tainty of failure, let there be nothing


wanting to the fair trial of the expert


ment. The change in their condition is


the substitution of labor by contract for
the status of slavery. The freedmen can.


not fairly be accused af unwillingness to


work, solong as a doubt remains about


his freedom of choice in bis pursuits and


the certainty of his recovering his stipula-


ted wages. On this, the interests of the
employer and the employed coincide.


The employer desires in his workmen
spirit and alacrity, and they can be per-
manently secured in no other way, and if
the one ought to be able to enforce the
contract, so ought the other. The pub
lie interest will be best promoted if the
several States will provide adequate pro-
lection and remedies for the freedmen.


Until this is in some way accomplished,
there is no chance for the advantsgeou





success will not rest on them. l know
that sincere philanthropy is earnest for
the immediate realization of its remotest
aims, but time is always an element in
reform. 1t is one of the greatest acts on
record to have brought 4, ,O0O, 200 people
into freedom. The career of industry
must be fairly opened to them and then
their future prosperity and condition
must, after all, rest mainly in them
selves. If they fail and so perish away,
let as be careful that the failure shall not
be attributed to any denial of justice. In
all that relates to the destiny Of the
freedmen we need not be too anxious to
read the future. Many incidents which,
from speculative point of view, might
raise alarm, will quietly settle themselves.


Now that slavery is at an END, or near
its end, the greatness of its evil in the
the point of view of public economy be
comes more and more apparent. Slavery
was essentially labor and as such locked |
the States where it prevailed against the |
emigration of free industry Where |
labor was the property of the capitalist, |
the white man was excluded from EN-
or had to run his best chance
of finding it, and the foreign emigrant
turned away from the region where his |
condition would be so precarious. With |
the destl uction of the monopoly, free |
civilized world to assist in developing |
various and immeasurable resources
which have hitherto lain DOR
mant. The eight or nine States
nearest the Gulf of Mexico have a soil
of exuberant richness and a climate
conducive to long life, and can sustain
denser population than is found, as yet,
in any other part of our country, and the
future influx of population to them will
be mainly from the North or from the
most celebrated nations in Europe. From
the suffering that attended them during
BUR late struggle, let US look away to the
future, which is sure to be illumined for
hem with greater prosperity than has
ever before been known. The removal of
he monopoly of slave labor is a pledge
hat these regions will be peopled by
numerous and enterprising population,
which will vie with any in the universe.


For its cOmpactness, inventive genius,
wealth and industry. Our Government
pl ings from, and was made for the peo- r
Die, not the people for the Government
o, them it owes allegience; from them it
must derive its courage, strength and
wisdom; but while the Government is
nus OOuuU W U0I0F 10 the people, 1rOm {
whom it derives its existence, it should, s
rom the very consideration of its origin, {
'e strong in its power of existence. {


The establishment of equalities and 8
nonopolies, and class legislation, are con- !
rary to the genius of Iree government, I
nd ought not to be allowed. Here there S
} no room for favored classes and mono :
'olles. The principle of our Govern r
nent is that of equal laws and freedom I
t industry. Wherever monopoly OBJ '
aims a foothold, it is seen to be source :
f danger, discord and trouble. Weft
hall but fulfill our duties as legislators, :
y according equal any exact justice to :
II men special privileges to none. The :
government is subordinate to the people, :
'ut as the agent and representative of ;
he people, it must be held superior to :
which, in themselves, ought e
ever to be granted, and which, where
hey exist, must be subordinate and Weld a
. the Government. The Constitution :
onfers on Congress the right to regulate.
among the several States, I'll :
OF the tirst necessity Tor the mainten a
ncs OF the Union that commerce should | q
efree and unobstructed. No State can be- =
1sntied IN any device to tax the transit I y
travel and commerce between States. .
he position of many States is such that .
they were allowed to take advantage Il
It for purposes of revenue, the com. n
lerce b0tWeafSz ffensgbAfna v,r;cbt ~ 80. .