Journal of freedom. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1865-186?, 1865-10-07
The Freedman's Catechism.

Gen. Fisk. of the FIeedmen's Bureau, recent
ly attended and addressed a meeting Of the PEG.
pie of Williamson and M aury counties, in Ten.
nessee, whici was largely composed offreedmen
After his address the following conversation took
place +:
Q, If a man is hired and does not work faith.
fully and honestly, what shall we do?
A. Reduce his wages or discharge him. I
know a man who became lazy, and only picked
dfty pounds of cotton in a day. The other
hands complained Of him. and insisted that he
should be docked 10 bis wages. The next doy,
seeing what was coming, he picked 200 pounds.
z. but suppose = man refuses to work alto
Rether3 ..et..
A. Treat him precisely as you would o white
employee In similar circumstances.
@. Suppose the children of the freedmen be.
have badly, what shall be done with them?
A. Let them be a,gqed. "He that sparyth,
the rod spoileih The child"
@. Shall we d. it il the parents do not 2
A. BY no means. / wouldn't want anybody
TO fog my child. Do in this matter just as you
woald if the parents and children were white.-
If parents will not correct their children, get ril
of them, and employ those who will.
i. 1t l hire a lot Of laborers, make a written
contract with them, and it is approved by your
agent, and when the time comes for the men to
begin .he work they hire to some one who can,
what will you do
A. | will compel the laborers to fulfil their
contract strictly, and compel you to fulfil yours
@. If work for a man, and he agrees to
give me a third Of the crop, and then when the
crop is made he refuses to give me the third,
what shall / do 7: ,.u
A. Report the case to the nearest agent Of
the Bu'eau. and he will see that the man per-
forms his contract.
@. If man hires us and we make q crop,
and then he sells 1t to another and RUS Of. who
are We to look to for our wages
a You havr'a lien on the crop itself, that
must ply you every doIlor due.
: Q Ii they burn down our school houses, what
is to b, do.e1 e.. s-@a OBI
A., They must rebuild them ; and more than
that. Gen. Thomas will send a guard of coIoreo
soldiers lnto all SUCH localities. But [ hope
that will never be necessary here.
Q. A p le woman rises in the audience, and
with deep emotion says: I have lived on z =
farm all my life. lie has used me as his wife.
| have had Eve children, all of which are his,
and nov be Is married, and wants to drive me
and his children out Of house aud homo. Is that
-t 49, $3.50 "
3. A. Where SIT q arose and made o bad
defence, and the case becoming too exciting, was
referred for adjudication to a court. The man
did not dare to deny the soft impeachment, and
will De required, no doubt, to take care Of his
children 5..,.4
The General made some amusing remarks in
relation to refugees and negroes in general;
said ne had far more trouble to get the refugees
to work than the negroes, and related an anec.
dote of old Nero that is too good to lose. Meet
ing Nero in town With a load of millet, the Gen.
eral remarked !: "How much of rhe crop do Won
get COR your labor Z" .'One-third, sab, y ansWx,.
ID Nero ''And how mecl is one-third Nero p
Why, | takes W loads and leaves Massa GYM.
son one" So endeth the freedman's catechism.