Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-12-25
RAWLINGS OF ABOLITIoNIsM.
A BlasphemOus Sermon In the National
Capital-NegrO Equality Proclaimed,

SoPhtm -Ne6IO Gqudilty ITOClutneu'
- From the Washington Star, Dec. III
! Rev. Mansfield French, teacher OF contra.
bands in South Carolina, delivered al address
on Sunday morning, in the hall of the House of
Representatives, on the negro as he is in the
South.
After eulogizing Robert Smalls, the oolored
pilot, the speaker said he would take view of
the war through the black mans eyes. If o
slave in South Carolina we're asked when the
war would be'ended, he would reply, when the
rebels arc all killed, and if asked when that
would be, he would gay, when you give the ne
gro fair chance.
There were two views, an outer and an inner
view, that were taken of this war. Politicians
and sometimes statesmen, took the outer view
but the black man took the inner and proper
view of the war. When the rebellion COM
menced 1t was supposed that three months
would witness its death, but God did not in
tend it should end until His programme of
emancipation for all bondmen was carried ont
The speaker could plainly see the hard of
God in oil that had taken place during this
rebellion.
Tho speaker then highly oxtolled Tho indus
try of the South Carolina negroes, and pro.
ceeded to detail the progress attained in the es-
tsblshment Of schools among the slaves of
South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. When
he went to Fernandins, Florida, he established
school of about lao blacks, and among the
number was one very black girl, who had avail
ed herself of opportunities of education, and
Who, from her proficiency as singer, was se.
lected to teach the pupils to sing On one oc-
casion he (Mr. French) gathered sixty mem
bers of this school around him, and, after lhey
had sang for some time, they we're ordered to
their seats. But they stirred not, but stood ST.
lent and motioDless for few mOmonte, when
the leader struck up in clear, sweet voice, that
song commencing "John Browns body lies
mouldering in the grave,." etc, and, after
singing the first verse solo, the whole cchool
took up the strain and sang the song through
out. Mr.. French said his audience might
think him superstltious, but he took the sing.
ing of that song by these people as an evidence
that God had come down ior the deliverance of
that people. 1t appeared to him like inspira-
ton, and as though an angel from heaven had
come down and taught these children this, for
how else could they learn it ia that far off
southern country.
The religious character of the negro was al
30 highly extolled, and when not associated
with whites they were the moet moral and hon.
eat people In the world. He never heard any
swearing, or knew of any drinking, living or
stealing among them.* He believed thar If
negroes were permitted to have homes in South
Carolina they would develope the soil and beau.
tlfy that State, and soon establish trade with
the North four or FIVE times greater than that
which had ever existed.
The act of emancipation was not SO much
that of President Lincoln as it was the act of
God, as the first great move toward the free
dom of the negro, for everything appeared to
be tending to that point.
In relation to the negro brigade the speaker
said that Gen. Hunter disbanded them as a
matter OF justice to their families, because they
could not get paid, and for no other resson.-
The negroes were brave people, and would
light, and desired the opportunity. President
Lincoln had told him (the speaker) that he
feared his emancipation proclamation had
only gone skin deep into the rebels. II
the slaves, however (argued Mr.. French.
were allowed to fight they would make
it strike into the bone. The slaves even
in the interior OF the South knew of the eman-
oipation proclamation. In fact the slaves had
sort of secret telegraph among themselves,
and they we're not only quickly informed of eli
that was done in Congress or in the Cabinet,
but they knew also of the action of high
Heaven In their favor.
The negro must be recognized as man; and
not only must slavery he destroyed, but this
country must reach q point to love the African
and raise him to point of equality, before it
can come safely out of this trouble. Just az
the national heart beats for the negro, In that
proportion will we have victory or defeat
Every defeat the Union arms had suffered had
been blessing, for it had best aided to work
out the plan Of the Almighty for the elevation
Of the slave, The speaker had become so we'll
acquainted with the slaves of South Carolina,
thatif they were Obliged to return to bondage,
liberty would not be sweet to him, but he
would desire to share their hard fare and man
ner of living with them. The negroes are not
only the nations poor, but they are the Lord q
poor; and If we take caro- of them, the Lord
will take care Of the nation.
The lecturer closed by q request for aid for
the negro.
AT the commencement of the discourse the
ball was completely filled, but persons contin-
ued leaving to such an extent, that at the close
not more than one-fourth the original number
were present. A large number, principally of
ladies', left Immediately after the allusion to
the singing Of John Browns song in Fernando
no and the speaker said that he hoped that he
had offended no one by relating the fact, or by
anything he. had said. Thereis one thing certain,
had Mr.. French spoken half an hour longer than
he did, he would have had no audience except
sprinkling of that class who parallel John Brown
and Jesus Christ tsa
I'm which particulars they seem to have the adyan.
tage OF the free negroes ofthe North. Rep
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lIgrom the Nevv York rresm.r,s Tc,,,,nt Z rs