Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-08-07
The Negroes south Their Present
and Prospective COnditiOn-w hut
the GOvernm Must 40.
From the Richmond Times.

When bees lose their queen the whole hive is
thrown into confusion. They all quit work and
run hither and thither without any apparent aim
or object They seem to lose their senses, or
TO speak more correctly. their proper instincts.
Ants are thrown irto the same disorder when
their hills are rudely broken into They are
called "wise folk" in the inspired volume, but
on such occasions they appear 10 lose all of their
wisdom. We have recently witnessed, in these
Southern States, an exhibition OF the same
character among the lsboring class of the
South The human hive lost their head, the
African ant hill was broken into, and from
hive and hill the swarming thousands pour
ed in confusion. Chaos is scarcely a word
strong enough to describe their condition. The
idea of freedom, freedom from labor and re-
strsint, with all the vague visions OF happiness il
inspired, acted upon them like so much eXhila-
rating gas Ii set them to running about, Jump
ing aud gesticulating. The plantations upon
which they. and their forefathers we're accus
toned TO work were abandoned, their homes
desolated. Packed down with all their worldly
goods they filled the public highways leading to
our cities All seemed bound "fer the happy
land of Canaan" Scattered, confused, unem-
ployed and hon eless, they soon found that labor.
80 much dreaded by man. is mans greatest
blessing. Ii 10 his capital, his money, his bread
and meat. his home, his source Of comfort and
happiness
A few months have passed, and in the lapse of
that time marked change has taken place
Pilgrim negroes no longer throng the thorough
fares leading to our cities, and no longer oc-
cupy the street corners, the unbuilt lots and
the cellar caps in the cities and towns. They
appear to have settled down. Chaos has been
reduced 10 order and the wandering tribes
have found resting places Many of the negroes
have returned TO their former homes and gone
to work, finding BY bitter experience that
freedom without labor is nothing but freedom
10 starve Others Influenced by vague APP
prehension that their title 10 freedom would be
Incomplete and unsatisfactory as long as they
remained with their former owners, have sought
and found employ ment with others. Many, un-
able to provide for themselves, have been taken
in hand by Provost Marshals and officers OF the
Freedmen Bureau. and have either been hired
out or provided with quarters until they can be
permanently settled Ii is seldom now that the
eye falls upon . travelling negro, loaded down
like pack mule. with his goods and chattels,
and in quest of q new home The great bulk of
them appear to be supplied. with lodging places
But the warm season is rapidly passing away
Spring has been succeeded by Summer and
Summer will soon be followed by Autumn. Then
the rigorous Winter. With its blasts and SHOWS,
will come upon Us. and the troubles of the ne
groes will begin in earnest The fruits. vege
tables and fish which now afford them cheap
subsistence. will be gone, and solid meats will
have to be purchased The genial sunshine
which warns the world without cost will no
longer be felt, and for seven long and dresry
months fuel will have TO be bough, Happy
those -ho can provide themselves with IT, 1t is
to be feared that great numbers of the emsucipa-
ted negroes will be unable TO DO 40. and will have
to shver through the long. cold season with fec
blankets and no fuel We are all alike, poor
here now The whites find it almost i'm ossible
10 take care of themselves, and altogether
unable TO assist the colored people. however
much they may desire 20 do So Ii the Govern
ment does not provide for them. either by fur
nishing fuel or by keeping up steady fires at Ger
tain stations. day and night. their condition will
be deplorable indeed