Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-09-14

When the rules Of exact justice shall DO ob-
served in the relations between oil. employer
nhd employed, aud each shall regard the 9th.
or's rights, then will DO practically demonstra
ted, so'clearly that none can doubt. the advan-
tages Of the free labor system.
by order of Bv't Mai. Gen..
.-, Il. SAXTON.
Asst Com'r of Freedmen for $. c., Ca, aud Fin.
Sept. II. 1865 If
HEADQUARTERS, ASST COMMISSIONER,
Bureeau Refugees. Freedmen and Abandoned
Lands South Carolina. Georgia and Florida
BEAUFORT, s. C., Aug. 1G, 1865.
CIRCULAR, No. Q.
To the Freedmen Of South Carolina, Georgia
and Florida:
In entering upon that portion of my duty
which relates to your welfare Tdeem' it proper
to address TO you few words OF counsel. By
the Emancipation Proclamation Of President
Lincoln, the laws OF Congress and the will Of
God you .have been declared s'forever free"
At the outset of your new career it is impor-
tant that you should understand some Of the
duties aud respon onsibilties of freemen Your
first duty is to 60 to work at whatever honest
labor your hands can find to do. and provide
food, clothing and shelter for your familes.-
Bear in mind that man who will not work
should not be allowed to eat Labor is en-.
rected, brings to the laborer all the comforts
and luxurics of life. The only argument left
to those who would keep you in slavery is
that in freedom. you will not work; that the
lash is necessary TO drive you to the cotton and
rice fields; that these fair lands which you
have cultivated go many years in slavery, will
now be left desolate. On the Sea Islands of
South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, where
your brethren have been free for three Years,
they have nobly shown how much better they
can work in freedom. Over forty thousand
are now engaged.i in cultivatiDg the soil, their
children are being educated, and they are aelf-
sustaining, happy and free. Some are work
ing for Wa: :es othersare cultiva,ing the land
OH shares, giving one.half to the owner
The Agents of the Freedmen's Bureau will
aid you making contracts 10 work for fair wa
ges for yonr former masters or others who may
desire to hire you, or will locate you on small
farms OF forty qcres which you can hIe at an
easy rent. with en- opportunity to purchase at
low rates any time within three years. These
are splendid opportunities. Freedmen, let not
day pass ere you find some work for your
hands to do, and do it,with all your might
Plough and plant. dig and hoe, cut and gather
in the harvest. Let it. be seen that where in
slavery there was raised blade Of corn or
pound Of cotton, in freedom there will he f,co
BE peaceful and honest. Falsehood and theft
should not be found in freedon: they are the
vices of slavery. Keep in good faith all your
contracts and agreements, remembering always
that you are slave no longer. While guard
ing carefully your own rights. he as careful not
to violate your neighbours. do unto others
as you.woull they should DO unto you"
In cases where you feel that you have been
wroHged. it is either wise nor expedient 10
take redress into your own hands. but leave
the matter to be settled by impartial friends of
both Partiec. In cases Of difficulty between
white men and yourselves. yau should appeal
to one OF the agents of this Bureau in your
vicinity who may appoint one referee: the
other party one and you should appoint third,
and the decision Of the minority should be con-
sidered final. BY this easy mode of settling
difficulties much trouble may be avoided.
In slavery you only thought of TO-DAY
Having nothing 70 hope for beyond the pre
sent, you did not think Of the future. but, like
the OK and horse, thought only of the fnod and
work for the day. In freedom you must have
an eye TO the future, and have plan and OBJ.
,5ect in life. Decide now what you are 10 do
next 5ear--where you IRE to plant in the
spring; and, how nueh-aud in the autumn
and winter prepare your land and manure for
the early spriug planting. After being sure
that you haye-panted sufficient corn aud DO.
tatoes for food then put in all the cotton and
rice you can. for these are the crops which viii viii
pay :tle best. Bear in mind that cotton is a
regal plant and The more carefully it is cult.
yateds the greater will be the crop. Let the
world see ere long the fields Of South Carolina
Georgia and Florida white with this impor-
tant staple, cultivated by. free labor. go
In slavery the domestic relations of man
and wife were generally disregarded. Virtue,
purity and honor among men and women were
not required or expected; Ali this must change
now that you are free. The domestic altar
must be held saered. and with Jealous dare
must ar you Guard ths purity ef wife, sister
or should be pnnisiied, and held up to univar.
sal condemnation. You are dvised to study,
IN church and ont Of il, the rules of the mar.
rage relation Issued from these Hesdduartera
Coiored men apd women, prove by your future
iryss that you can be virtuous and pure. -
,nt m people can be truiy great or free with
| children depends in o great degree the .measnre
OF your success tas a people. &Ssld your chill.
dren to school when eVdF you can. -: Deuy your
selves even the neeessaries OF life to keep your
boys and gTls at schoo1 -ordne allow. them
70 pc absent SEN day er an hour while II, 10 Iin
:, Your liberty is q grest blessing; whief, Inns
been yo9chsafsd to yoni ma you Should be spa.
tisnt and hopeful The nation: through this
bGreap, has taken your Cause ID hand, and will
endeavor to, do you ampls Justice. ffsyou 40
mol obtaia nll y0us rights this, year. bs content
" with part. and u yoas rightly ailwiIl come
das sGa sss ss ss,sy e gee ss.
ever may happen let n o nnsasp spirit stir YOU
up to any aeh or rebellion aea Inst the oyerni
.meEt. StriEe tof fiya dpya 6Y Sour srfia and
loyal !; sondsst LIE. lie snh weak inveps
tlon l1 OF yous sfnies g6atEin any sYenE yod
1onld rebei egainst that goyerhmepfa and, peos
lives and SD much 5treasjrl "a. .lyJns SsaIA;
Could you :fises oven -agAinsts tffoss w4ia H.
press ypus or salgst g GOyesbuis1t With III
given you 4 tight yonfseis sAh fyopss
and childrsn. aaa stsn Ssa tks oysss