The national Republican., 1862-01-17
WILL tn. COnTRAsAsDs LsAnr,


Shses House Of Rsprescntativss' on she 1tth
Instant, stated that what he wss pleased 70 csll
| ne mission 10 the nssrpes Of Port Royal, Souta
Carolins, in connection with " portioss Of u
Union army end navy nov there, y totsl
failure; that the blacks csahot and will not
learn TO read; that they are utterly incapable
| Of acquiring even the rudiments Of education.
Iregret to be under the necessity Of differ
ing from this honorable gentleman, but my
long and careful experience aud observation
On this sahisot, he's, for several yesn past
completely, disproved All bis assertions.
shall put the facts Of the csse on record. J.
Some time previous 10 the passage Of the
great and benl6cent act Of immediate and uni.
versal emancipation In the West Iudies-sn act
let me here say. that wss obtained by the peo-
pie Of Great Britain, b, their direct aud contin.
nous petitions to the Goverumsnt-ths mis-
slonaries among the people Of color devoted
their best energies to secure the education Of
the ignorant masses, in rpite Of sneers, and
insults, aud personal dangers, Notwithstanding
they were told by planters and persons high in
authority that the negroes could not and would
not learn. Although their school.houses were
torn down, their churches burned, and them
blocd-thirsty, pro-slavery mote to British YES
eels Of war In West Indian harbors, these holy
men Of God persevered to the glorious and
lusl issue, proving, beyond the shadow Of 9
doubt, that the negroes could and would learn,
and that they ought to receive their liberty.
As education progressed, as Christianity took
its blessed work among the slaves, they rose
from their degradation and chains 10 manhood
and freedom. When that priceless boon came
to them, by the proclamation Of the Queen Of
England, as . military necessity to prevent in
surrections as we'll as for other good and sum.
cient reasons, the people Of color received II
on their bended knees, many Of them with their
bibles and primers and hymn books 10 their
hands Education and liberty came to them
together, and they who had proved that they
were able to be educated proved that they
were entitled to be free.
More than a quarter Of century has now
rolled away since West India emancipation.
What has followed: A series Of years Of con.
tentment, quiet, happiness, and prosperity
Not white man, woman or child has been In
jured In person or property. On the contrary,
the products OF the West Indies, In favorable
seasons and at times Of health, have ste sdily
increased in the aggregate, land has advanced
in value, crime has been lesssned, and the
blessings of Christianity and civilization have
multiplied, I" some thirty, some sixty, and some
q hundredfold.'
Such is the condition Of the free West Indies
to-day. as know by personal observation and
repeated experience. am prepared to show,
by similar testimony, that like results are now
being. aud will be, produced at the south.
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA.
At Fortress Monroe and Newport News.
where our troops and ships Of war are main
tanning the cause AID colors of the Union, ju-
dcious measures We're early taken to give
education to the cOntrsbaud.. lh.-e measures
were and have been violently opposed by Ger.
tain authorities Many obstacles are even now
thrown In the way OF cOut-abAn education.
They have not been, and are not, as viol-n,
a. those In the West Indies, but they sprina
from the same Causes, and have been prosecuted
with like teuacity. But Notwithstanding all
this opposition, the colored people of South
eastern Virginia have incontsstibly proved
their desire aud determination to learn to r, I'D.
As the chaplain Of the general hospital at For.
tress Monroe, was early led to put forth all
the efforts properly in my power to dinuss the
blessings Of education. Ny very first public
ssssmb proved bow strongly the coutrabands
loved to learn. Tieir early and late demand
werc ior books. Give US alphabets" LET
us have spelling books.' Grant us Testa
ments" These were the earnest and oft re
peatsd cries that arose among the people all
around me. How could refuse to listen From
that day TO this the good work Of education
has steadily progressed. | have been sue.
cseded by faithful Iellow-laborers. They have
gone on psrsevsringly and successfully to this
hour. There are now over three hundred adults
who are patiently learning to read. aud more
than t,oice that number Of children. As many a.
eight distinct and prosperous classes are in con-
stant operation. The words Of learning are
passing constantly around. The rude songs
aRd catchwords Of the plantation are giving
place to the rudimentsl passages aud melodies
Of sound education. Old men and women, 10
spectacles, learn how TO read from the children
who sit at their aged feet. Thousands In this
way will obtain the essentials Of reading writ
ing, and arithmetic before the close of this year
Of our Lord, 1862.
30 much for the war for the Union 10 South
eastern Virginia.
NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
As l had the happiness TO be one Of the first
to enter Fort Hstteras, at the time of its cap.
ture by the Union forces, so It was my privilege
to prepare the way for the introduction of 'cgh.
trabsnd education in North Carolina. fhe
number Of students is not 50 large as it fs in
l.. H.