The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-23 00:00:00

The Prospects of the Negro in Americo,

The following is an extract from a letter sent by
Frederick Douglas to a friend in Leeds, dated Ro-
chester, U.S., Dec. 29, 1863

" I never was listened to with such attention as now.
My leading idea now before the people is, No war but
an abolition war; no peace but an abolition peace.' The
Government and people still need line upon line and pre-
cent upon preecept. At Washington, a few evenings ago,
where I went to deliver two lectures in aid of the contra-
bands or freedmen, and where I raised mere than 100
dollars for them, the house was densely packed by white
and coloured people, and the papers say that 2000 went
away unable to gain admission. Now, think of me in
Washington, where three years ago I should have been
murdered in ten minutes had I dared to open my mouth for
my enslaved people. While in Washington I was taken by
Mr. James Wormley over to the Virginia side, to visit the
contraband village on the estate of the rebel General Lee,
known us Arlington Heights. All around were striking proofs
of retribution. Here we see the proud mansion of the rebel
slaveholder occupied by common soldiers and by his former
slaves; his fences in ruins; his noble ancestral trees, the
pride of generations, cut down ; his once beautifully winding
lane, over which ho rolled in pride and splendour, all cut
up by the wheels of army waggons ; his formerly richly
furnished parlours are now occupied by soldiers, and the
whole premises bear marks of desolation. I should have
been deeply sad over the ruin but for the thought that this
wr s the reward of iniquity—a righteous retribution —a wise
and necessary chastisement of crimes unrcpented, perpe •
trated against the weak, the ignorant, and the defenceless.
I went to the gentlemeu•s ' Smoke House :' there I saw do.r
little children, some of them nearly white, and possibly
more nearly related to the General than he would be will-
ing to own. They were too small to be taken south in his
flight, and had been left on the place with a few old slaves,
who were too old to be taken, and not wanted, The little
children in the Smoke House' were being taught to read.
The Smoke House' had become the school house, and the
property of the pupils. Taking a book in my hand, I
said to one little fellow, ' Can you spell where your book is
opened? Yes, sir,' he answered. I pronounced abandon'
which was the first word in the column. He spelt it off with
a look of triumph and pride that he could do it with such
ease. Had the past participle been added, the word might
be the crying word of the slave system of Arlington Heights.
I tried to make a few encouraging remarks to these dear
little children and their teachers, and left for the ' freed-
men's village,' about a mile from the mansion of General
Lee, situated on the south part of his plantation. This
place is the temporary home for slave women, children, and
old slaves, who were abandoned and deserted by their mas-
ters on the approach of the loyal army. Others, too, are
here who have made good their escape, after having en-
dured untold hardships and perils in their efforts to reach
our lines. More than a thousand here have thus gained
their freedom and are beginning life with nothing but the
few rags upon their persons with which they made their
escape. Of course they are in great destitution; much has
been done for them, but they need much more. Regular
religious exercises aro held among them every Sunday, and
now they have a day school established, from which much
good may be expected. I wish you could eco this school.
What I was there there were 100 children in it, the de-
scendants of slaves, so held for many generations, going
back more than 200 years. The sight of these poor little
children brought tears of joy, sadness, hope, and fear, and I
know not what else. Three years ago to have taught these
children in Virginia would have subjected the teacher to a
heavy fine and to imprisonment. Now teachers and pupils
are alike safe. I thought and felt much as I looked upon
and listened to those black children. I thought of tho gene-
rations of the race which had preceded them, sent from
time to eternity in the dark, and not even allowed to learn
to read the name of Heaven; I thought how much
further these children might have been advanced had
their ancestors enjoyedithe privileges now:opening (heaven
grant that they be not shut) before them. The teachers
(Mr. and Mrs. Simmons) kindly asked me to address the
children. I complied, and sang two or three hymns with
them, I enjoyed, the interview more than I can express,