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course while there was such a restriction； was it abandoned。
Becoming satisfied that I could not rely on my trade in New
Bedford to give me a living； I prepared myself to do any kind of
work that came to hand。 I sawed wood； shoveled coal； dug cellars；
moved rubbish from back yards； worked on the wharves； loaded and
unloaded vessels； and scoured their cabins。
I afterward got steady work at the brass…foundry owned by Mr。 Richmond。
My duty here was to blow the bellows； swing the crane； and empty the flasks
in which castings were made； and at times this was hot and heavy work。
The articles produced here were mostly for ship work； and in the busy season
the foundry was in operation night and day。 I have often worked two nights
and every working day of the week。 My foreman； Mr。 Cobb； was a good man；
and more than once protected me from abuse that one or more of the hands
was disposed to throw upon me。 While in this situation I had little time
for mental improvement。 Hard work； night and day； over a furnace hot
enough to keep the metal running like water； was more favorable
to action than thought； yet here I often nailed a newspaper to the post
near my bellows； and read while I was performing the up and down motion
of the heavy beam by which the bellows was inflated and discharged。
It was the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties； and I look back to it now；
after so many years； with some complacency and a little wonder that I could
have been so earnest and persevering in any pursuit other than for my
daily bread。 I certainly saw nothing in the conduct of those around
to inspire me with such interest： they were all devoted exclusively
to what their hands found to do。 I am glad to be able to say that；
during my engagement in this foundry； no complaint was ever made against
me that I did not do my work； and do it well。 The bellows which I worked
by main strength was； after I left； moved by a steam…engine。
Douglass； Frederick。 〃Reconstruction。〃
Atlantic Monthly 18 （1866）： 761…765。
RECONSTRUCTION
The assembling of the Second Session of the Thirty…ninth Congress
may very properly be made the occasion of a few earnest words
on the already much…worn topic of reconstruction。
Seldom has any legislative body been the subject of a solicitude
more intense； or of aspirations more sincere and ardent。
There are the best of reasons for this profound interest。
Questions of vast moment； left undecided by the last session of Congress；
must be manfully grappled with by this。 No political skirmishing will avail。
The occasion demands statesmanship。
Whether the tremendous war so heroically fought and so victoriously ended
shall pass into history a miserable failure； barren of permanent results；
a scandalous and shocking waste of blood and treasure；a strife for empire；
as Earl Russell characterized it； of no value to liberty or civilization；
an attempt to re…establish a Union by force； which must be the
merest mockery of a Union；an effort to bring under Federal authority
States into which no loyal man from the North may safely enter；
and to bring men into the national councils who deliberate with daggers
and vote with revolvers； and who do not even conceal their deadly hate
of the country that conquered them； or whether； on the other hand；
we shall； as the rightful reward of victory over treason； have a solid nation；
entirely delivered from all contradictions and social antagonisms；
based upon loyalty； liberty； and equality； must be determined one way
or the other by the present session of Congress。 The last session
really did nothing which can be considered final as to these questions。
The Civil Rights Bill and the Freedmen's Bureau Bill and the proposed
constitutional amendments； with the amendment already adopted and recognized
as the law of the land； do not reach the difficulty； and cannot；
unless the whole structure of the government is changed from a
government by States to something like a despotic central government；
with power to control even the municipal regulations of States；
and to make them conform to its own despotic will。 While there remains
such an idea as the right of each State to control its own local affairs；
an idea； by the way； more deeply rooted in the minds of men of all sections
of the country than perhaps any one other political idea；no general assertion
of human rights can be of any practical value。 To change the character
of the government at this point is neither possible nor desirable。
All that is necessary to be done is to make the government consistent
with itself； and render the rights of the States compatible with the sacred
rights of human nature。
The arm of the Federal government is long； but it is far too short
to protect the rights of individuals in the interior of distant States。
They must have the power to protect themselves； or they will go unprotected；
spite of all the laws the Federal government can put upon the national
statute…book。
Slavery； like all other great systems of wrong； founded in the depths
of human selfishness； and existing for ages； has not neglected its own
conservation。 It has steadily exerted an influence upon all around
it favorable to its own continuance。 And to…day it is so strong
that it could exist； not only without law； but even against law。
Custom； manners； morals； religion； are all on its side everywhere
in the South； and when you add the ignorance and servility
of the ex…slave to the intelligence and accustomed authority
of the master； you have the conditions； not out of which slavery
will again grow； but under which it is impossible for the Federal
government to wholly destroy it； unless the Federal government
be armed with despotic power； to blot out State authority；
and to station a Federal officer at every cross…road。
This； of course； cannot be done； and ought not even if it could。
The true way and the easiest way is to make our government entirely
consistent with itself； and give to every loyal citizen the elective franchise；
a right and power which will be ever present； and will form a wall
of fire for his protection。
One of the invaluable compensations of the late Rebellion
is the highly instructive disclosure it made of the true source
of danger to republican government。 Whatever may be tolerated
in monarchical and despotic governments； no republic is safe
that tolerates a privileged class； or denies to any of its citizens
equal rights and equal means to maintain them。 What was theory
before the war has been made fact by the war。
There is cause to be thankful even for rebellion。 It is an impressive teacher；
though a stern and terrible one。 In both characters it has come to us；
and it was perhaps needed in both。 It is an instructor never
a day before its time； for it comes only when all other means
of progress and enlightenment have failed。 Whether the oppressed
and despairing bondman；