The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-11-22

Prospects Of the Freedmen-The Proposition to Admit
Negro Testimony Against White Mon Rejected by the
Assembly. 'f al l-t aHs5lt
Correspondence Of the New YORK Hsrald
JACKSON, Miss. Nov. O. 1885.
There Is very little ofinterest transpir-
ing at the present writing. The NeDs,
the anti-administratio paper, has
leading article in to-day's issue recon-
mending the presentation of a ''magnifi-
cent homestead" to jeff. Davis, or the
means of purchasing one in foreign
country, after he has been set free. The
modus Operdndi which it proposes is
this-that every surviving soldier who
has at one time or another, either direct
ly or indirectly, been engaged in the
| Confederate service, shall subscribe one
dollar to the fund, commissioned officers
| to contribute at their discretion. 1t is
calculated that such subscription
would amount in the aggregate to half
million of dollars; and it is purposed
to make it exclusively soldiers testi-
monial.
The Legislature he's agreed to adjourn
on the 18th inst. 20 re-assemble on the
first Monday L.. February next. Quite a
considerable amount of necessary local
| legislation has been transacted during
| the present session, but great deal more
remains to be done. During the war all
| the processes oflaw seeil to have been
at a standstill, so that the internal
affairs of the State are pretty nearly in
| the condition of the famous Augean
stables. Whether there be any Hercules
among the law making fraternity of
Mississippi remains to be seen. Judging
from appearances, should think not.
The present condition and future
status of the Freedmen continue to pro-
life sources of discussion among the
| Journals of the state; a few of which, re-
presenting hardly moiety of the num-
Der. and still less of the talent OF that
ilk, are loud and incessant in their out
cry against what they term the fanti-
cism of admitting him us competent
| witness before the courts. Thus far the
advocates of such measure have had
clearly the best of the argument. 1t is
yet doubtful as to how the Legislature
will act; but am inclined to the belief
that they will try to stave off the ques-
ton until final adjournment, leaving
| the matter in the condition in which 1t
now stands muddled. 1t is reported
that on the return of General Howard
from his tour of inspection IN
the southern states, the Freed
mems Bureau is to be broken up, and
its agents withdrawn. This is, in
some aspects of the case, greatly to
be desired; but 1 am very much mis-
taken In my impressions If it does not
work alike badly for the negro and for
society in this state, or al least in this
section of 1t. The government is now
issuing at this post about five hundred
rations per day to INDECENT whites and
blacks. If the bureau of freedmen anC
refugees be discontinued, l suppose sucl
, relief measures will be discontinued
, also; and it is by no means pleasant t,
contemplate the terrible suffering which
must ensue should this charity be a
: once stopped. Some of the negroe
. manifest an insane dislike for work, an
, all of them are far too prone to congre
. gate about the towns and villages
where, at best, they can earn onl
such precarious livelihood as
picked up from hand to mouth, instea
: of seeking employment on cOuntr
: farms and plantations. 1t is perhaI
!, hardly to be wondered at that in man
cases they are disinclined to go back
their former masters and mistresse
7 though that is assuredly the best thir
: they could, under the circumstances, d
4 Somehow or other a great many
tueln appear 10 nave cOntTacteu u
d notion that the government has NJ
e kept faith with them. They seem
IS have had vague and indistinct lde
y that the lands of rebels were 10 !
7. divided among themselves, ana ca
Of discern i'm their hesitancy and distrust
Of the counsels of their friends that the
N should hire out, as far as practlcaDie,
i'd their old owners, for the reason tni
h, they would in all probability be trea.e
at better by them than by anybody els
C. a lingering suspicion and fear tnaI IN
I'd NAV be the beginning o. measures ca
.r. cuIated to reduce them in the end
of their original servitude and chattl
n. shin. This foolish and pernicio
r. notion is doubtless fed and Ike
nv alive by the unaccountable. cour
nry Of n few papers, which have been
10, along and are hammering away at t
inn legislature to pass law in regard
nd them which shall keep them in tn
ass proper sphere" The infericTity of
.ep negro is rung SO constantly and on
m. many changes, and so much blath
he skite is being written and published
n | to the necessity of making them