Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-02-10
DEMOCRAT & NEWS.
Condition Of the Negro In the Beaufort
Distinct, South Carolina. .lmpOr.
tant Statement Of the Rev.
DIR. Strickland.

OIs CSr1CAu0u0s
The New York Christian AdUocate
and Journal Of the 2od ult, contains a
letter from Fort Pulaski, written by the
Rev. DIR. w. +. Strickland, q Chap
lain Of the army, and formerly assistant
editor, and now 4 regular correspon-
dent Of that paper. The letters of the
DR.. heretofore, have been very strongly
radical upon the subject Of slavery in
harmony with the journal itself. Com.
ing from such a source, therefore, the
statement Of DIR. Strickland is import
ant, and worthy Of careful consideration.
Will tho poor negro be better off under
a military servitudo than be is now I
Will he have reason to thank "Massa
Lincoln" Tor the change OF masters!
As our army advances we are enabled
to get at the real condition of the four
million slaves and the five million poor
whites in the South, and are also ena.
blcd to form more just and rational
opinion as to what are the best metho ls
Ct improving these conditions; for any
system Of reform which leaves out Of
view the poor, uncducsted whites will
prove as defective in philosophy as il.
will in benevolence. There is unhappi
" psludo philanthropy that would lift
the slaves at once from the ignorance
and degradation of slavery not only to
freedom, but to an equality with the
most refined and educated white people,
s.,L,ch tho
Of slavery has been widening Tor centu-
ries cannot be thus easily and quickly
crossed. The claims OF oppri ssed and
downtrodden humanity may and should
be acknowledged at once, but there must
be a preparation for such a transition.
Before the millions Of slaves in the South
are prepared for freedom they must
pass through a pupilage, as the vast
majority OF them are as helpless as chill
dren. Nothing can be more cruel or de-
structive to the interests OF tbs people
than TO convey the idea that they are
perfectly free, and that their freedom is
an exemption from work, aud that they
are to have perfect jubilee of rest. |
have had three men in my employ, and
gave them thirteen dollars month for
their services, and am sure that, for the
little work they did aud the good board
ing in addition which they received,
was more than they could bear. Com
ing as they did shoeless and coat!css,
with about corn enough to support \
chicken for their food, the transition
was too great. Even in accomplishing
the little they were required to do they
seemed to look for compnsion. Slave
ry has ruined them, and they never can
be saved without training adapted to
their condition. They must be proper
~ educated. and tho very fist lesson
that should be taught them in their
free estate is that they must labor for
their living.
After an experience of eighteen
months, | am satisfied that the slave is
not prepared for sudden liberty any
more than the man who has been all bis
lifetime in darkness is prepared for sud
den light, and he must pass through a
semi scrvitude before he can either enjoy
or appreciate it. Impressed as l an,
and ever have been, with the horrors Of
slavery, | was ready to see every chain
broken at once and forever; bnt | ain
satisfied that the good Of the cnslaved
requires that all who are brought into
liberty should pass through a probation
OF serstude which, while it recognizes
all their personal rights, at the same
time holds over them authority. Such
have been the habits of slaves that but
few Of them will work without compul.
sion.
AS friends Of the slaves, we are all
anxious to know Whist course is the best
to be pursued in regard to them in their
present freed condition. Time has only
confirmed tho opinion We suggested soon
after the entrance fthe liberating army
on these islands. We repeat that, with
the exception ofthose plantations where
we have no military force, no outside
he'll is needed either for the instruction
or benefit Of the colored people, beyond
what is provided by the government in
the Appointment Of chaplains. ] am con-
vinced, with the exception above stated,
that the corps of preachers and teachers
sent by the Freedman's Association has
not been Of that service which the
friends of the slave had anticipated. A
large amount Of opposition was elected
from the regiments by what they consid-
cred al ofiicious abolitionist intermed.
ding with the army, and SO violent was
this opposition that it was with the
greatest difficulty that any show could
DO made in the way of raising colored
regiment, and its failure is to be atlrib-
uted to this fact The highly exagger-
ated accounts of which have appeared
in some Of the papears of the bravery
OF the few African soldiers who went
on recent expedition to Georgia, how
ever much they may interest the
friends of the slave in the North, will
have contrary effect here. Pity that
a greater regard for truth and the cxer-