The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-11
From the Christian Messenger.
An Imnortant Movement.

ALI
Ignorance and Slavery are closely blended.
It is one of the dark features in the system Of
American Slavery, that it cannot accomplish
its purpose without dwarGng the intellect and
shutting from the human mind the genial light
of science. Hence the most stringent laws
arc enacted, making it penal offence to learn
the slaves to read. The STAKEHOLDER admits
that knowledge is power, and power that
must be dangerous to slavery. But the curse
of the system is not merely the ignorance and
debasement of tho slaves, but the poor white
population of the south share in the degrada-
ton and ignorance which the system entails.
The slave owner may employ teacher to ed
ucate his own family but the poorer classes
are not favored with the means Of salvation.
1t appears more and more evident, as we
learn more of the real condition of the South,
that the masses have been duped into this
war, in ignorance of its real issues. If the
South had not been reared in ignorance-the
present state of affairs would not exist.
As cur arms triumph at the South we can
carry to the benighted and down-trolden, the
the means OF education. The slaves are now
the loyal portion of the South, and education
although it may unfit them for slaves, will fit
them to be useful citizens
The fact has recently been announced of
the sailing of the steamer Atlantic bound to
Port Royal, with q company on board ofper-
sons from boston, New York, Philadelphia,
and Washington, appointed FOR the care and
instruction Of the negroes upon the abandoned
estates of the coast of South Carolina. This
mere announcement, however affords little
idea Of the importance Of this undertaking, or
OF the character and qualifications of those
engaged ia it. The movement is understood
to have originated in Boston, in response to
a call, not many weeks ago, by Mr.. Edward
L. Pierce, Special Agent for the United
States. Some benevolent persons Of tba, city
had already been engaged in making and for.
warding clothing for the relief Of the contra.
bands, and their efforts were readily turned
to supplying the wants of these in this Lew
direction. An association was Immediately
formed, under the name of the Educationa
Commission" Constitution was adopted, and
Committees were appointed Of active and in
Auential persons, each Committee having
charge of u special department., as Of finance
of teachers, of clothing, NC. Contribution
have already BEEN collected to the amount O
about So 900, and, almost be fore ny publ,
notice had been given, numerous application
were received by the Committee on Teachers
frou persons Of high character, position ane
education, members Of the learned profession
engineers and architects, as well as those cs
peclally devoted to teaching. From anon;
large number Of applicants, about forty wcr
carefully selected, regard being had to tn
peculiar qualifications Of each, and at tn
same time to the varied requirements of tn
position. In New York, an Association wa
also formed for the same purpose, and TWEEN
ty-eight persons, including seven ladies' wer
selected from among those who offered thei
services, by Mr.. Pierce, under the authorit
of his letter of instructions from the Secretar
, Of the Treasury. The party from Boston in
cluded four ladies, and three others io;oe
them from Philadelphia and Washington
The Government Agent received SO mspv O
these persons offered by the Commission as h
0 saw tit, agreeing to provide for them " subsis
tence, quarters, and transportation oplv
= while each Commission from its yoluntar
3 contributions furnished compensation for tn
services of the agents it presented.
o 1t our forces succeed in protecting tbes
friends of humanity at the South what q ,,o
= rious work they will soon accomnlish Tbo,
are carrying the light Of science and christi. n