The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-11-07
General Hlitchell's Speech to the
Negroes.

; On Sunday, 12th instant. negro church
was dedicated at Hilton Head, s. c. The
services were conducted by Chaplain Hud-
son, and at the conclusion of the ceremonies
General Mitchell made the following manly
address to the contrabands:
:" l have been requested to say a few
words to you by your teacher, who is good
man. Any good man | like, regardless of
color. l respect him as much whether he
is black or white. II he be bad man
! shall treat him as such, whether he is white
OF black. Most of you know that l have
liked to all my soldiers since came here,
and now l am talking to you who are an
other set of soldiers, who have not yet arms
in their hands, but who are under my pro.
lection and guidance, and in whom [ take
a deep interest. With your past lie fully
sympathze. | know and understand it all
was reared in the midst Of slavery, born
IN Kentuck. and know all about it, While
there many things connected with it
that are pleasant. 20 which you will testify,
there are great many other things which
are not pleasant, and | think that God in
tends all men shall be free. because he
intends that all men shall serve him with
their whole heart l think this is true. l
am not certain. / don't know. But In any
condition can all love and serve God
That privilege cannot be taken away /
care not how savage and wicked the master
may be, he cannot prevent you from pray
ing in the midst OF the night, and God hears
and answers the prayer of all. slave or
free.
But it seems to me that there is a new
time coming for you colored people; bet
ter day in dawning tor you oppes. ed and
down trodden blacks. | don't know that
this is true, but L hope that the door is
being opened for your deiiverance. And
now. how deeply you should ponder these
words. If now you unwilling to help
yourselves, nobody will be willing to he p
you. You must trust yourselves to the
guidance of those who have had better op-
poriunities and have acquired superior wis
dom. If you would be carried through this
crisis successfully. And l believe the good
God will bless your efforts, and lift you up
to a higher level than you have vet occupi-
ed, so that you and your children may be.
come educated and industrious Citizens
You must organize yourselves into families.
Husbands must love their wives and chill
dren, cliDging to them and turning from all
others, and feeling that their highest object
in life, next TO serving the good God, is to
do all they can for their families, working
for them continually.
Good colored friends. you have great
work to do, and you are in position Of
responsibility. The whole North, all the
people in the free States are looking at you
and the experiment now tried in your be
half with the deepest interest. This exper-
ment is to give you freedom, position, home
faun
own soil. You shall till and cultivate your
own crops; you shall gather and sell the
products of your own industry for your own
benefit you shall own your own savings,
and you shall be able to feel that God is
prospering you from day to day and from
year to year, and raising you to a higher
level of goodness, religion aud nobler life.
.Supposiug you fall down here; that
will be an end of the whole matter. 1t is
like attaching cable to stranded vessel, /
and all the strength that can be mustered is
put upon this rope to haul her off Ii this /
only rope breaks the vessel is lost. God
help you all, and help US all to help you
Ii you are idle, vicious INDECENT and negli- /
gelt you will fail. and your last hope is .
gone If you not faithful you riv.t eter- /
nally the letters upon those who to day are
fastened down by letters and suffer by the .
drivers goad You have in your hands
the rescuing of those sufferers over whose .
sorrows you mourn continually. If you
fail, what dreadful responsibility it will be .
when you come TO die, to feel that the only .
great opportunity you had for serving your
selves and your oppressed race was allowed
to slip.
And you, women, you must be careful
of your children. You must teach them to
be industrious. clearly obedieat and dutiful
a, all times. You must keep yoar houses
neat and tidy. working all day if necessary
TO have them in the bes. possible condition.
always thinking and contriviog - make
them cleaner and more comfortable. When
your husband comes home from the labors
and fasigues OF the day always aare some
thing good aud nice Tor his supper, and
speak kindly to him, for these little acts of
love and attention will bring you happiness
add joy
Aud when you men 60 out TO work you
must labor with diligence and zeal II,
seems to ne, had I the Stimulus to work
hat you have, that could labor like