, 1865-07-08

An Official Fourth OF July address to
the Freedmen Of T1FE1n1A.
BCRLkC Or REFCGEEa, FREEDMEN AND AHay.f
Vy1


D5NKD LASDs. HEADQUARTERS Asst j
CoMX1sstoSER. tIRG1SIA, {
R1cmoSp. VA, July 4, 1855.
TO the Freedmen OF Virginia:
u4v!nG becu appointed A.. .istaut Cpumles[pncr
IN the Date.u Of Refugees, freedmen ani Abap.
deneo ta.ds for th: State pf Tirginia, 1t becomes
my cnty To LOOK after Ill m.ttets lhat pert1tn t,
yo1r KeGre. to cqdeavor to teteh yoa ho5 70 uas
that nceton you hive 30 cerneetly deE.ie1, huG
70 ptesent the abnse Of 1t by joufselye. or OH
erk.
IT, dlae1tpse betw1en yoss :orne. and TOT.
WIS directed, and the proceeds Of it tak:n by
your snssera. aud yon were cured for by thtm,
1ou1 oSn sbo1 tnd cIs iu1
srsHeI to The world. Your frtends believe snu
I'd ,ou, but TIL, assistance VII be Of u.le ac.
rsnise+, unless you help yourtelves. Tn do t1is
Sou mutt pe Industrious aad f'usa1. You hare
celve payment for yopr laoof; and ron hive every
tnauc* Mtns TO Gaye your waies. a. your rIsatz IL
wLst yIu ocss6ss will be protected. You hare
and ola sse, hcnce you mu's zee The ntcoirisy Of
eayire rom vazet whl:e 3ou Ere Hb!e to work
for this purpose.
While ii + be.3eved that mot Of you will fsel
'he responsibility Ut your pe% condition, ard
~fll do al II your power TO become iudependc:,t
ef charity aLu u Government aid, il fc ared tn
eonr Will act FROM the Htt,sken notion TAFT free
eors. ku1Wn A. TngFznts. u,uet 1t onte correct
THE ntztske. They viii MT oc allowed to ltye
In idsetets whep there Is wo.k 20 be hsa.
Ton Ere nut TO suppose taat 3nur former n1as-
teIs have ErcoHt youf enemies because rou are
Ire. Ell good men among then will recognizes
your new rel.dt ns TO them rs free lsborcrs and
Hs you provo yourselves hsneet, industrious aud
frugal, ycu Will receive from ltem ktndnes. ami
rGneldrr1t.on. II o'bcra fall 10 rtcng1lza your
right to eQusl 6ft edom with white ptrtone, yan
will find the Government. through the agents OF
this bureau. IT Ftady 10 scene tU you Al 10 them
liberty End Justice. ...
Schools, ss u. ss poea1blc, viii be eatabliAhed
smong you. n1deE the protection OF the roVrrn-
ton 81 free Ecp, ecu anon Is OF the highest In
poItance. and II Is hop.d that you wilt avail
eelvet tu tie utmost of the opportunity offered
you.
In the new carter before jon, eacE man uus,
feel the great rtrpocsbt,iy tbat rests Upon him
self, In shsplng the dcstfniee Of his :ace. Tbs
special ea1e that the GOV r:Inraent now excrcfaes
and you will DO LETT to work and provide for
youruelveB.
II IL, ilen. Of the grcatest lmportsn1 tEatyou
take immediate advantage Of the protection Hnd
askIrrancc LoH afforded you 10 place yourself II
po4ltian in which yon can do so. All Officers
and employees Of thiE Bureau will aid you t1 do.
lnR this. lyon are IN location where work Il
son 10 1cnslu than 10 be looking fpr something
better. You must remember that owing to the
untett Cd et1ie Of the country. work IL scarce.
and The chances are against 6odtnE c0nFta1t e:a
p'oyni Mt It high wages.
Be quiet peAceahle, law-3h.ding citizens. Be
iLduei.rus, ie frugal, md the glory Of ps-s'ng
sueee aefuly from slavefJ to freedom will, ~ t.
blessing Of Cos, be ypuis.
7o.opA1 .@3 Asatst,n+ fsnmn+.k4nner