The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-10-10
CIRCULAR
To the Freedmen

OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA,
And adjoining Districts Of South Carolina
HEADQUARTERS FREEDMEN's BUREAU
Charlotte, N. c., Oct. l, 1865.
Knowing that many of you have wrong i'm
prsssions relative to your freedom, sepd this
Circular that it may correct many erroneous
Ideas which are operating very much against
your interests. have learned that many of
you have the foolish idea that at Christmas you
are to receive lands, horses and farming utensils;
that you expect the United States Government
to give to you a portion OF your former masters
propertyor plantation. As to this, let me say
to you all that the Government has no land in
this portion of the State, and that all plantations
and property of all kinds (except the negro) be-
! long to your masters heretofore-the Gov
ernment having no claim upon them whatever.
Any of you having such expectations, must at
once and forever abandon such preposterous and
absurd ideas; and any person or persons trying
to make you believe anything of the kind are
either fools or knayes, and are imposing upon
your ignorance.
The Government has given you your freedom,
and you must not expect any thing further from
1t. The Government expects you to labor and
work put your own salvation, and unless you do
you 60 back to slavery or a condition far worse.
Any property that you may possess hereafter
you must acquire by labor, industry and hon.
esty. At the end Of this year, those who have
remained with their former masters, and worked
faithfully, will DO paid literally for their labor,
and will be able to provide clothing and food
for themselves and families for portion of
another year, and will, in the mean time, # they
have SO conducted themselves as to gain the
conhdanno 0f fhoir ho
able to retain their places for another year. or to
obtain of others good situations and good pay
Many of those who have left their former homes
and idled away the proper season for the making
Of crops, will, at the end of the year, find them
selves destitute of food and clothing, and in a
situation far worse than slavery. A long Winter
is before you and unless you provide for that
time your families must suffer-yea, many must
perish.
Many of you are under the impression that
the Government will feed you This is not so.
Government will not feed any who have had an
opportunity and are able to labor. You have
had four months of freedom, and all that wished
could get work for themselves and families; and
those who have not improved the past four
months Of their freedom must abide by the con-
sequences.
Ere long the troops will be withdrawn from
the State. You will be left to provide for and
protect yourselves. BY your labor you can pro-
vide, and by your good behavior you will secure
protection. You musslknow that your freedom
has taken away that interest which your former
masters had for you. When 10 slavery you were
their property-they valued you as dollars and
cents-and it was their interest to feed, clothe,
and nurse you in sickness; but now that interest
has gone. The responsibilities that then rested
upon them, now falls upon you and you only.
Your first step now should be to establish for
yourselves character for industry and integrity,
and unless you do so, your fate will be that of
the NorthAmerican Indian-your race will pass
away and you will be known only in name.
Then let me entreat Of you, as friend, ere it
is too late, to think of these things-to look
upon your positions as it is, and make the resolve
that you will make good name and place in
this great and free government.
The Government has guaranteed to you cer-
tain rights and privileges In those rights you
will be protested. Your rights consist in your
freedom, which is freedom to make your own !
contracts, to receive the benefit of your own |
labor, to choose your own employer, to keepand
govern your own families, to educate your chill |
dren, and to worship God after your own man.
ner: The same powers that gave you these
rights and privileges have imposed upon you !
certain and new duties, compeling'you to labor |
to support your families, to obey the laws of
your country, to show respect and cheerful obe-
dience to your employers, to fulfill and respect |
all contracts to hold the marriage ties sacred
and to so conduct and deport yourselves as to |
win the respect and confidence of all men
Fulfill, then, these requirements, and all will be
well. Reject them, and your condition will be |
a far worse one than you ever experienced when
in slavery. 1t is true that there are some bad |
hat taGa oHu e
and impose upon you. Some may try to de-
fraud you of your wages, aud few wicked and |
cowardly enough to revenge their losses upon
you by violence; but have patience, and ere
long these matters will regulate themselves
But good behaviour on your part will ever gain |
for you the respect and protection of all good
and just men.
Since have been among you have discoy-
cred that majority Of you look upon your
former masters your enemies, and upon the
yankees" as your only friends. In this you
are mistaken. l am from the North, and know
we'll the feeling that exists there towards the
negro. know that majority Of the Northern
people will not willingly consent to your becon-
ing citizens amongst them. The Government,
through military necessity, has given you your
freedom, and in that freedom the people of the
North will ever protect you, unless you become
unworthy of their protection.
The South is your natural homes, and South 7
ern men will be your friends. The majority of
you were raised, have grown up on the same.
plantations with your former masters; and /
know it to be fact that there is feeling,
sympathy, existing between you thatsdoes not
nor never can exist between you and the people
of the North. If Southern men are your enc
mics it is your bad behaviour that has made .
them So The fact Is that you know not bow to