Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-10-31
GencrnI rIItcheI 10 The Negroes.


General Mitchell TO the Negroes.
On Sunday 18th instant, negro church was
dedicated at Hilton Head, 8. G. The services
were conducted by Chaplain Hudson, aud at
the conclusion Of the ceremonies General Mitch
el made the following manly address to the con-
trabands
81 have been requested TO say few words TO
you by your teacher, who is good man. Any
good man like, regardless of color. respect
him as much whether he is black or whito. IL
he be bad man / shall treat him as such,
whether he is white or black. Most Of you
know that have talked to all my soldiers since
came here, and now j am talking to you who
are another set of soldiers, who have not yet
arms in their hands, but who are under my pro-
lection and guidance, and in whom l take a deep
interest. With your past life fully sy ympalhize
know and understand il all. l was reared in
the midst of slavery, born in Kentucky, and
know all aboutit. While there are many things
connected with it that are pleasant, TO which
you will testify, there a great many other
things which are not pleasant and think that
God intends all men shall be free, because He
intends that all men shall serve Him with their
whole heart. think this is true. ] am not
certain. don't know. But in any condition
we can all love and serve God. That privilege
cannot be taken away. care not how savage
and wicked the master may be, he cannot pre-
vent you from praying 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 new time
coming for you colored people; a better day is
dawning for you oppressed and down-trodden
! blacks. / don't know that this is true but
hope that the door is being opened for your de-
| lverance. And now, how deeply you should
ponder these words. fnow you are unwilling
to help yourselves, nobody will be willing to
| help you. You must trust yourselves 10 the
| IF Nvhn hn IN
/ ties and have acquired superior wisdom, if you
would be carried through this crisis successfully
! And i believe the good God will bless your ef-
| forts, and lift you up to higher level than you
have yet occupied so that you and your child
rem may become educated and industrious citi-
zens. You must organize yourselves into FAM
lilies. Husbands must love their wives and
children, cling To them and turning from all 9TH
ers 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 eontin
ually.
"Good colored friends, you have great worl
to do aud you are in position of responsibility
The whole North, all the people in the fre'
{ states, are looking at you and the experiment
now tried in your behalf with the deepest in
terest This experiment is to give you freedom
position, home aud your own families-wives
. property, your own soil. You shall till and cul
iivate your own crops; you shall gather anC
. y
, benefit; you shall own your own savings, anC
you shall be able to feel that God is prosperins
you from day to day and from year to year, anC
raising you To a higher level of goodness, relig
ion aud nobler life.
"Supposing you fail down here; that will b.
an end 10 the whole matter 1t is like attach
ing cable to a stranded vessel, and all the
strength that can be mustered is put upon this
rope to haul her off. If this only rope break:
the vessel is lost God help you all, and helI
us all to help you. Ifyou are idle, vicious, in
dolent and negligent you will fail, and your las
hope is gone; # you are not faithful you rive
eternaly the fetters upon those who to-day are
fastened down by fetters and suffer by the dri
ver's goad. You have in your hands the res
cuing of those sufferers over whose sorrows yo
q mourn continually. If you fail, what dread
i fil responsibility it will be when you come
die, to feel that the only great opportunity yo
. had for serving yourselves and your oppresse'
race was allowed to slip.
sAnd you, women, you must be careful of you
children. You must teach them to be indus
trous, cleanly, obedent and dutiful at all times
, You must keep your houses neat and tidy, work
ing all day if necessary 10 have them in tn
, best possible condition, always thinking an
contriving to make them cleaner and more com
; Portable. When your husband cnmes home froT
T the labors aud fatigues of the day always hav
i something good and nice for his supper, an
speak kindly to him, for these little acts of loy
and attention will bring you happiness aud JOY
4 "And when you men go out to work you Inu:
a labor with diligence and zeal. 1t seems to III
had the stimulus to work that you have, tn;
] could labor like giant Now you know WI
y am. My first duty here is to deal justly; se'
!. ond, to love mercy; and third to walk humbl.
q First JUSTLY shall eudeav0r to get you 10 yOl
: duty faithfully. If you do l shall reward yO
4 and fyou refuse, then what comes next? VIII
I the wicked must be punished and made to
). right will take the bad man by the thro'
. and force him to do his duty. l do not mea
II that will take hold of him with my own hand
n but with the strong arm of military power
:, Now do we understand each other3 am worl
i ing for you already am told by your supe
~ iniendent that gang of fifty men are buildir
+oo your houses at the rate OF six a day. The
i houses are to make you more comfortable. YC
= are to have patch of ground which you CT
call your own, to raise your own garden true
IN and you may work for the government for goo
,o wages. And you women must make yo
~ houses shine; you must plaster them and whit
, wash them, aud gradually get furniture in yo
4 cabins, and cooking stove. lhave arranged
a. such way that you will get your clothi
cheaper and better than before and you
9 have a school for your children. And you mt
have flowers in your gardens and blossoms
fore your doors You will see in little VIII
how much happier you will be made. Are y
10 not willing to work for thisf Yes God helpiT
% YOU will all work. This is only for yourselv'
!, y but if you are successful this plan will go tn
-, the country and we will have answered the que
,.n S ton that has puzzled all good-thinkimg men
nc the world for one hundred years. They ha
~ 20 asked. What viii you do with the black m
IIo' after liberating himG Wewill show them wi
y we will do We will make him a useful, ind'
'a trious citizen. We viii give him his family,
~ wife and children-gve him the earnings OF
W sweat Of his brow, and as man we will q
P- him what the Lord ordained him TO have.
ed al shall watch everything closely fespecti
,ee this experiment. II is something to be perm
nent-more than for day, more than for a ye
10. Upon you depends whether this mighty res
IL shall be worked out, aud the day Ofjubilee CO
lv TO Gods ransomed people"
rs ----''--'~s- s--
is yellow Fever at Wilmington.
ite The Yellow Fever is raging fearfully at "
lly mington, N. @. The Journal Of Monday Il