Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-14
Negro Liberty, Fraternity, Equality
at Port Royal.

By our correspondence from Hilton Head and
Port Royal published on Wednesday, we are
placed in possession of some interesting facts
about the operations of the missionaries who have
gone to that part of South Carolina to teach the
blacks that they are just good as the Caucas
sian race, and a great deal better, inasmuch as
white men have 10 work for living, whereas the
new teaching inspires the negro with the idea that
his millennium has come and that he is to work
no more; consequently that he is the superior of
the white man, work being, in SambOs estlma-
ton, the essence of slavery, and ideness, with
good living, the perfection of freedom.
The Tribune also publishes curious CORES
pondence on the same subject. From it we
learn that the ffty-6v missiOnates-twelve of
them wOmen-whO went to Port Royal on the
Atlantic 'to begin the experiment" have been
appointed agents, on the ground of their "human-
ity" which is explained to mean belief that the
negro is equal to the white man, and capable of
the same success by his own exertions. Conse
quently, some of these days we may expect to
see Fred. Douglas President of the United States
This humanity, it is added, must be Sustained
by religious faith" Surely il must be faith
that can remove mountains. On this point our
correspondent remarks that these humane and
religious agents are "instilling into the contra
bands mind valuable lessons on the universal
brotherhood of men and the like" "The assur-
ances made to the contrabands by the missona-
rles, that they are their brothers and equals. not
obliged to render service, if they should choose
otherwise, and free to act their pleasure in
all things, have inspired the ignorant blacks with
the idea that they are perfectly free. Freedom.
as they understand it, means indolence and mac
tivity. They have no higher idea of its true
meaning, aud consequently they believe they are
hereafter to enjoy a continued holiday; and when
they are asked 10 work they refuse in many in
stances and inquire if they are not free."
The heads of these unfortunate people are al
ready turned, and we fear their hearts will soon
be turned also. The Tribune correspondent is
compelled to admit that the ruling propensity of
the negro is horror of work. He says, eff
negro refuses to work, or is habitually idle, sug
gestion and remonstrance will first be tried.
These failing. the delinquent, after due warning,
will be removed from the plantation, and sent to
Beaufort to work in the quartermaster's depart
ment. destination to which the negroes have
reasonable aversion This is acknowledging
the corn. The negro has a natural aversion to
work, and the tendency of the teachings of the
missionaries is to develop it. Our correspondent
observes-and we have no doubt it is perfectly
true-that cit is the. general opinion of those
competent to form correct judgment that a
vast majority of the men brought out by Mr.
Pierce are perfectly incompetent for the positions
they have assumed, and that their career, which
will be brief, will be marked with ignominious
failure" 1t is stated that not one in ten of them
knows anything about farming, nor the use of
tools and implements How could they succeed?
Was such farce ever enacted before. and that
in the presence of one of the most awful tragedes
performed on the stage of this world since the
dawn of history1 While our brave soldiers are
pouring out their blood like water to maintain the
integrity of the Union, and have left families be
hind them badly provided for set of fanatics can
think OF nothisg but blacks, blacksl The ever
lasting negro is>ae burden OF their song morning,
noon and night. Now what is necessary to be
done for the negro is to put him to work and keep
him at it. and leave him on Sundays to be taught
religion by the clergy of the South or bv the ne
gro preachers who know just as much about it as
the white fanatics who undertake the task of re-
Hgious instruction Let them get some lessons
themselves. It'll melancholy to have the time of
our Generals occupied and their attention dis
tracted with such folly, instead of being engaged
exclusively in fighting the battles of the Union
and putting down the rebellion. That is their
proper business and they have nothing to do with
negroes, exceptto drive off the mischievous, pes
tient Missionaries, whose instructions, if permit
ted, can not fail to create negro nsunection and
result in the ndiscriminate slaughter of the white
race of every age aud sex in many sections OF the
South. But General Hunter is by this time r.
rived at his post TO assume the command Of the
army of the Department of the South and we ex-
pect at his hahds safe and practical solution of
dangerous ouestion.--N. Y. Herald