Non-Radical
Speech
We
favor the 13th amendment, the emancipation of slavery, and the14th
amendment to be secure in one’s house supported by Oath or affirmation of
citizenship; although our southern
states are in economic turmoil, we— the leaders of this great country—must work
together in order to regain economic security.
Before emancipation, the south had a stable economy. After emancipation, the economy dropped 50%
due to the “unemployment” of the newly freed slaves and the lack of resources
available to the former plantation owners to hire these “freedmen”. We would like to stop the inevitable southern
economic collapse, by instating codes of demeanor. The freedman is equal, but is an
inexperienced in exercising the rights of citizenship; Many of these new
citizens are unemployed, and no longer under the care of their former slave
owners. Hence, we must confront what we
believe to be the imminent economic collapse of the southern, states [J1] [J1] , which
in part was created by this new influx of unemployed freedman. Our current situation is dealing with the
aftermath of Civil War. Emancipation [J2][J1]
“South’s
per capita wealth in 1865 was only about half what it had been in 1860”
(pg.215). The south has been burned [J2] [J3] to the
ground, and is in dire need of reconstruction by implementing laws for
everyone; therefore, we must take action and have confidence in our great
states’ legislative system to reconstruct the south. “Several major cities, including Atlanta and
Richmond, were gutted by fire” (pg. 215), and factories and railroads were
dismantled. We must ask ourselves, what
is obtainable, given the resources easily excess able to reconstruct our once
great plantations, railroad, and factories?
We will, the government of our United States by using the capitols
already existing. The people of the land
are crying out for the guidance, we will be there to answer.
Do we want illiterate freedmen
voting for the country’s officials? It
is said we wish for the freedman to lose their right to vote [J3] [J4], but in
all actuality, we simply wish to keep the ignorant from having that right. They have yet to fully understand what
exactly they have been given, and until they do, must be kept from making any
decisions that can affect the Nation’s Constitution. A Literacy Test does just that [J4] [J5]. We want everyone to have the rights and
freedom stated in the 13th and 14th amendments we wish to
make sure they qualify to vote and are capable of handling the given
responsibility. The right to vote is a
responsibility to have; however, a freedman unable to read English and
understand English creating a liability.
[J5] [J6]. A literacy test is needed to separate the
citizens that do and do not understand what exactly it means to vote for
political leaders. This will prevent
the ignorant from distorting the current or future outcome of any laws,
articles, or amendments to come. Yes,
this means only the properly educated citizens will be allowed to vote, but
this does not mean that the uneducated shall have their right to vote
stripped. It means the freedman shall
lose their right if they fail the literacy test; however, only until they have
proven the competence of proper citizenship, by passing a literacy test. This was not mentioned and might be so it
would be later on as a standard to who can vote. [J7][J5]
Issues
of the freedman’s unemployment can be addressed as a reflection on their
character. [J8][J5] We would like to impose laws to protect the
society as a whole to secure the success of our economically disabled
states. The freedman can pursue contract
work, and if he does not have, work will be considered vagrant; these people
have no structure and are seen as wanderers.
Each state shall have their own way of dealing with freedmen and, for
their own well-being, if deemed vagrant, may be arrested and held. .
While in confinement, freedman would be given a chance to progress in
the new unionized society. This of
course should be seen as an act committed to their own safety, as well as the publics. The distraught freedman should be kept from
entering towns where they are unknown and can be seen as a threat. We wish to settle them down [J6] [J9], these
contracts will do so by giving them a job and a place to live, until they are
properly ready to move, and what person has the means to relocate. To secure their movements, freedman may be
seen as separate but equal citizens, their rights to equal facilities, for the
general safety of the citizens. This
right to own property or choice of occupation, but will be seen as a
necessity. Necessity [J7] [J10]. Our equal man should be respected for the
households they have formed; therefore, giving the freedmen a separate but
equal place to express themselves; however, this may lead to the refinement of
public places and facilities, as well as set boundaries around their currently
qualifying choice of occupations, given their skill needed to efficiently
perform employment. Let us be honest about what the majority of freedman
capability to be productive citizens.
Our
wounded Southern States can and will recover economically with a helping
hand. We have design, and the resource
of citizens already occupying these states.
Are we going to let the southern unionized states shrivel up and
die? No- we will work together,
initiating laws to enable the freedman structural support to establish them in
society. We will oblige the skills the
freedman possesses, supporting employment, and facilitating their need of
money, after the destructive Civil War.
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