The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-08-21
Negroes in New Orleans.

SoA'
TRABANDs AND NEGRO SUFFRAGE AdrrATohs.
The charge of Judge Abel was delivered on the
7th instant, and from it we quote as follows:
The calling together Grand Jury at this season
of the year is unusual, but yield to the earnest
request of the Acknowledgement OF the state, hon
b. T. Lynch, who has better opportunity OK know
ing the pressing demands OF public interest than
! Judge on the bench could have.
Grand Jury there d1, Il one mem more ot
subject to which feel it my Sssl4ll
1t is the congregation Of contrabands in this
city without employment, or disposition to procure
it, crowded together in filthy and unwholesome
dens, i'll provided for. They will invite disease and
greatly endanger the general health OF the city.
L counsel You to confer with the best informed
OF Your felow-citizcns in different portions Of the
State and city as to the best mode of providing
against this influx and to devise and suggest ways
and means of employment for them in the country
at remuncrative wages.
There is, gentlemen, Bureau of Freedmen's
labor existing in the State, erected by act of
Congress and regulated by military authority. 1t
was created, believe, as war necessity, and hay
ing filled its mission by the return Of peace,
tertain no doubt but that it will soon BE removed,
and the whole subject be referred to the State
authorities
Every honorable means should be used that can
be devised to induce the Government to remove it
at the earliest day possible.
the colored people, and destructive Of the produc
ing interest of tho State. Planting and farming
cannot be regulated by hours; they are required
to be pressed at certain times and seasons, which
is followed by corresponding relaxation Mt other
| seasons, which moro than compensates for the
extra exertions Of laborers.
home, where they have no rent to pay, healthy
mir to breathe and q fair compensation for their
labor, and drift in herds to the city, where you
find them crowded together in filth and idleness.
The Bureau, it appears to me, if continued in
time OF peace, would so to history nursery Of
discomfort and school of vagrancy, alike destruc-
tive to the interest of the freedmen and the State
and city.
Labor must regulate itself upon the meritorious
conduct Of laborers. If the mass of these people
can be, induced to remain ut their old homes,
where they are comfortable have pure Dir to
breathe, and their morals protected, thoy would
have more ready cash at the end Of the year than
by drifting from place to place. ..
The former owners were induced by the Consti-
tuition and laws of the United States and Of this
State to invest large sums of money in slaves and
houses for their protection, and it is just and fit
ting that these people, now that they are Free be
encouraged by the Government to remain at home.
Gentlemen, there is a class Of politicians among
discovered, understood and appreciated by the col
ored people only. They induce many Of them to
believe that all they now require to make them
Be to vi hght
gentlemen differ. am of the mind that if the
colored race advance in knowledge, civilization
wealth, it will be by honest conduct, faithful con-
stant and persevering industry. And this believe
to be the language of the true friends of the color
cd man. The respectable and well l-behaved among
them in the city of New Orleans have acquired their
property and standing in that way and not by
voting
If admitted to the ballot box they would be herd
ed to the polls to vote for favorite Of their en-
poyees, and il my premises correct, these poll
ticians would be gravely disappointed, and should
be well satisfied if they received one vote Of hun
dred.
Gentlemen, recommend YOU to appeal to tho au-
thorities at Washington in favor Of encouraging
the coored people to remain at their homes by
every means in the power of the Government; and
am sure that Mnjor-G General Canby whose very
name is honor and discipline to the army, strength
to the Government, and confidence to the people
will, far consistent with his own instructions
not turn q deaf ear to respectful suggestions or
appeals you may make for stopping the ingress and
turning the tide of these contrabans to the coun-
try, where they can find employment and be useful
to the State and themselves.
We are bound by our oaths to obey all acts of
Congress, all proclamations of the President of the
United States, until abrogated, repealed or de-
clared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of
the United States. Every good Southerner will
implicitly obey, for the sake Of upholding law and
order; but his right to petition and demonstrate is
inahenable, as long as we arc free people.
God-inspired Trojan said:
"To speak his thoughts Is every freedman's right
In peace and war, In counsel and in fight" ..
Your powers in the promises are limited to sug-
gestions, petition and remonstrance let them be
respectful, let them be earnest and just.