The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-04-12
"FREEDMEN'S VILLAGES"
Coed Advice from Greeley.
From the New York Tribune, April 6.
PETTING NEGROES,
A recent Washington dispatch saws;

recent Washington dispatch says:
'There is, at the present tin Q, a very large
population of eolored refugees in and around this
city. 1t has been estimated high as fifteen
thousand. They are in a needy condi tion, and
aid from abroad to the Freedmen's association
here would be thankfully received
Doubtless there sick, wounded crippled
insane idiotic, paralytic and superannuated ne
groes as well whites about Westinghouse
say nothing OF very young orphans-who need
charity and should have it, "The poor We have
always with you" and no Christian will DENY or
evade the duty of contributing literally to their
relief. War, too, is fruitful source of devasta-
ton and anarchy, whereby thousands through no
fault OF theirs, are suddenly deprived not only of
subsistence but of the means of earning any
Let all give freely who can there will be ample
want and suffering after benevolence has done
its best.
But we do most earnestly protest against the
gathering of negroes or whites, in vast aggrega-
tions of paupers-whether called freedmen's vii
lagos something less plausibe-and undertak-
ing to feed, clothe, shelter and educate them in
good part by aims. IL is gross imposition TO
attempt this-an uni ust tax on the charitable
and grievous wrong to the benefciaries 1t
has pleased God to make labor the fundamental
law OF human existence, and We firmly believe
the law benefcent or il would not have been en-
acted. You do not benefit any human being,
whether white, black yellow, by contriving
tnaI ne siaA i've IuIN on tue pTOuuctS OF others
labor on the contrary, you do him very great
injury. Root, hog, die !" is natures man
date; whatever opposes or seeAs to evade it is
atheism, and must result in evil
We know well that many blacks are poorly fit.
ted for freedOm-as, indeed, many whites are
But all coddling and pampering, and guardian
ship tend to perpetuate some of the worst abu
SEES of slavery. Let every freedman or woman
understand at the very outset "YOu are free &c
plan, aud bargain, and work, and save for your
self Lean upon no one, but take your destiny
into your keeping. Go to work if yeu can onl,
obtain fifty cents per day, take that, and save
half of it wherewith to make your way to some
! locality where YOU do better Better work
for your board only, than beg board, clothing anC
shelter altogether.
! Just now, the rudest and cOmmonest labor i:
| in eager and general demand, A freedman
/ though burdened with u family, can find work
shelter and food, il he only will We need Il
| grow great crop this year and farm hand
are scarce and command very high wages. lie
US, then, have general breaking up of contra
band camps and freedmen's villages, an let ev
| cry one go to work where his labor is most need
ed. Ifthere be fifteen thousand negroes in ant
around Washington who want work for fair wa
| ges, let the fact be duly advertised and Wa,
| opened to obtain their services and they will al
soon be planting corn and potatoes from Norfoll
! to Bangor This is the true way to improve thei
needy condition !" and, if the Freedmen's asso
citation want help to find them employment, W.
are on hand to give it.