Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-10-31
The Freedmen"

solution, than tile future OF the freed
men," Half million OF ignorant and
helpless people, have been turned loose
i'll Virginia, with no capital to begin
business, no skill in mechanic arts, and
no means of providing for themselves
and families. In tie first paroxysm of
delight at being released from bondage,
they have generally hurried to TIE towns
and country stores, with characteristic
isnproyidence, to spend, in tobacco and
CIGARS and iinery, their little hoardings
AMI earnings. During the Summer and
early Fall, they have been able to live
without much difficulty. The hay-loft
furnished comfortable lodging, and
the gardens and orchards and corn
fields the means of subsistence. But
cola weather is coming-the paroxysm
of Joy at the release from labor has SUBJ
SIDED, ard the more thoughtful are be-
ginning to find that freedom is not the
nnalloyed blessing they supposed it TO
be. 1t does not mean exemption from
work, but on tho contrary it involves a
higher strain than ever, on their phys
ical powers.
No observing man can have. failed to
notice the traces of care and anxiety on
The faces of the once happy negro. We
10 longer hear the cloud laugh that
speak the vacant mind" A moody
and anxious expression marks their
coutenances. 1t is not surprising that
it should be so, for gloomy time is be-
fore them in The coming Winter.
The fate Of the poor negro is hard
one. TIER protested friends in the
North have cut loose the ties which
bound them to their masters and Sc
cured for them comfortable homes ard
ample provision for al their wants in
sickness ard in health, and having set
them, as it were, adritt, they leave them
to float on to destruction. We have
been informed that there is large de-
,nand tor agricultural labour in the
great grain growing State OF illinois,
and yet the people of that State will
not allow the poor negroes to come
among them. A short time ago, an en-
terprising man from Edgar County,
went to Cairo, and engaged 150 able.
bodied negroes, to go to that county, to
work on the farms, but the people rose
in mass, and compelled him 10 send
them back. Yet, in the face Of facts
like these, many northern men pretend
TO be in favor Of negro suffrage and ne
gro equality If they wish to get cred
It for sincerity, they must show by their
own example, their readiness to recog-
nize this equality. Before they call on
lis to grant negro suffrage, and equality
of rights, let them commence the work
at home,-then we may, possibly, profit
by their example.
The negro seems now destined to be
crushed between the upper and the
neither milestone. The South does not
want him, aud the North will not have
him. What is the or darkey to Go ?
He must live in some way. He will
not willingly starve. If he cannot get
work, he must steal.
This brings before us the question !:
"What is the policy and duty of the
South in regard TO him q
We are inclined to think that if the
Legislature will pass system of wise
laws to secure the fulflGent Of labor
contracts, similar in its general features,
to the regulations prescribed for the
freedmen OF Tennessee, it will be best
for Southern people to employ negroes.
They are among us-they are accds-
toned to the cultivation of orr staples
they suit our climate-and they delight
in corn bread and bacon, the peculiar
diet of Virginia. When the intoxica-
ton of freedom passes, and the pres
sure of want comes, they can be made
to work.
Many Of Chr people are anxious to
import foreign labor to take the place
of the negro in the cultivation of our
farms. It would be well if the people
of Virginia would consider this matter
maturely before they act. There are
difficulties attending such radical in
novation. Among these are: lst. The
inconvenience OF communication ar-
sing ont of want of knowledge OF the
language Of the foreigner. End. Their
want of acquaintance with our habits,
climate, and peculiar systems Of culture.
3rd. The difference in diet. The for
eigner will not eat corn bread and fat
bacon. They will require the kind of
food they have been accustomed to.
These and many other points of disa.
greement may and probably will lead
to dissatisfaction and difficulty.
Better employ the industrious negroes
who know our ways, and will eat corn
bread and fat middling. Large pro
prietors will probably find it to their
interest to lease parcels OF their lands to
the better class of negroes, on what
:nay be termed improving leases. Why
NAV we not have system Of black ten
antrya In every neighborhood We
l now industrious, well behaved negroes.