Year: 1866

.
r fact 1t is a bootless question now to
+ discuss, whether the new system is bet
t ter for both races than the old one was or


not. That may be proper matter for the
3 philosophie and philanthropic historian,
t at some future time to inquire into, after
5 the new system shall have been fully and
) fairly tried


All changes of system or proposed re-
forms, are but experiments and problems
to be solved. Our system of self-govern-


ment was an experiment at first. Per
} haps as problem it is not yet solved
Our present duty on this subject is not
with the past or the future. 1t Is with
, the present. The wisest and the best Of
ten err, in the judgments as to the prob
able workings of any new system. Let


US therefore give this one a fair and just
trial, without prejudice and with that


earnestness OF purpose, which always


looks hopefully to success. 1t Is an eth


biological problem, on the solution Of
j which depends, not only the best inter
rests of both races, but it may be the ex-
istence of one or the other, if not both.
i To give this new system fair and just
trial, will require Of you, as Legislators of


the land, great changes in our former


laws in regard to this large class of popu-


lation. Wise and humane provision


should be made for them. It is not for
me to go into detail Suffice it to say on
this occasion, that ample and full protec-
I ton should besecured to them, so that they


stand equal before the law, in the posses


sion and enjoyment of the rights of lib


erty, person and property. Many eonsid-
erations claim this at your hands. Among


these may be stated their fidelity in


times past. They cultivated your fields;


ministered to your personal wants and


comforts; nursed your children and eV-


en- in the hour Of danger and peril,
they were in the main, true to you and
yours. To them We owe debt of graft
tude, as well as acts of kindness. This


-should also be done because they are
poor, untutored, uninformed many of
them helpless. liable TO be imposed on,


and need it. Legislation should ever look


to the protection of the weak against the


strong. Whatever may be said of the


equality OF races, or their natural capaci-


ty to become equal, no one can doubt


that at this time, this race among US IS


not equal to the Caucasian. This iner
quality does not lessen the moral obliga-


tions on the part of the superior to the


inferior, it rather increases them. From
him who has much, more IS required


than from him who has little. The pres


ent generation of them, it IS true, are far


above their savage progenitors, who were


at first introduced into this country, in


general intelligence, virtue and moral


culture. This shows capacity for improve


ment. But in all the higher character
istics Of mental development, they are


still very faE below the European type
| What further advancement they make,


or to what standard they may attain, un-


der different system of laws every way


suitable and wisely applicable to their
changed condition, time alone can dis


close. l speak Of them as we now know


them to be, having no longer the protec-


ton of a master or legal guardian; they


now need all the protection which the


shield of the law can give. 1aT


But above all this protection should be
secured because it is right and just that


it should be, upon general principles. All
governments, in their organic structure,
as we'll as in their administration, should
have this leading object in Yiew-the
good of the governed. Protection and
security to all under its jurisdiction,
should be the chief end of every govern
ment. 1t IS a melancholy truth, that
while this should be the chief end of all
governments, most of them are used only
as instruments of power for the aggran-
disement of the few, at the expense of
and by the oppression of the many. Such
are not our ideas of government. never
have been and never should be. Gov
ernments, according to our ideas, should
look to the good of the whole, and not a
part only. 1.-The greatest good to the
greatest number" is faVorite dogma
with some Some so defended our old
system. But you know this was never
my doctrine The greatest good to all,
without detriment or injury to any, is
the true rule. Those governments only
are founded upon correct principles of
reason and justice, which look to the
greatest attainable advancement, i'm
provement ahd progress, physically, intel
lectually and morally, of all classes and
conditions within their. rightful juFisdic-
ton. If our old system was not the best,
or could not have been made the best for
both races, in this respect and upon this
basis, it ought to have been abolished
This was my view of that system while
it lasted. and 1 repeat it now that it is no
more. In legislation, therefore, under
the new system, you should look to the
>
tion, security, advancement and improve
nent, physically, intellectually and NOR
ally. All obstacles, If there be any,
should be removed, which can possibly
hinder or retard the improvement of the
blacks to the extent of their capacity
All proper aid should be given to their
own efforts. Channels of education
should be opened up to them. Schools
and the usual means of moral and relig-
Gus training should be encouraged
amongst them This is the dictate not
,nly of what is right and proper and just
n itself, but is also the prompting of the
highest consideration of interest. 1t is
lifficult to conceive greater evil or curse
hat could befall our country, stricken
md distressed as it now is, than for so
arge portion of its population as this
lass will probably constitute amongst Us
hereafter, to be reared in ignorance. de-
)Iavity and vice. In view of such
tate of things, well might the prudent
wen now look to its abandonment. Let
Is not, however, indulge in such thoughts
# the future. Nor let us, without an ef
ort, say the system cannot be worked
Let us not, standing still, hesitatingly
SIX, F" Can any good come out of Naza-
eth ?" but let US rather say as Gamaliel

lid, ''If this counsel or this work be of
nen twill come to nouhgt, ,butifitis ofGod,
Q cannot overthrow 1t, lest haply ye be
Ound even to fight against God" The
most vexed questions of the age are soci-
! problems These we have heretofore
ad but little to do with we were reliey-
d from them by our peculiar institution.
Emancipation Of the blacks, with its con-
equences, was ever considered by me
nth much more interest as a social ques-
ion, one relating to the proper status of
he different elements of society and
heir relations to each other, looking to
be best interest of all. than in any 9TH
r light. The pecuniary aspect Of it, the
on siderations of labor and capital in a
olitico-eeouomic view, sunk into insig-
in comparison with this. This
roblem, as one of the results of the war,


now upon us, presenting one of the
lost perplexing- questions of the sort
nat any people ever had to deal with
et US resolve to do the best we can with