New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-25
WIsAT s.aALL Be DONE WIFI
TssE NEGRDEst


Afew-a very few-ofthe most inveterate Rip
Van Wrinkles of our day have not yet quit ask-
ing. What shall be done with the Blacks who
have been made free by the Shareholders Re-
helion! Il has become a habit with them to
ask, as it is with Us pleasure to answer.
One bugbear has already vanished-that
which held up to view Four Millions OF vaga.
bond negroes, overSpreading the entire area OF
the Free States, begging stealing aud smelling
at least half of them are already free; yet
scarcely handful have LOFT tie South. There
they were born; there they have lived; there
they mean TO live and die. They used to run
North to escape from Slavery; but that impulse
has disappeared. There are many here many
in Canada, who now hope to return and live
where they were born: there are very few Ill.
tent Oh quitting that favored land. Its climate
agrees with them; they are Injured to its ways;
il they migrate, it will be southwark. They
are no longer attracted by the North Star.
So the blood and fury theory is exploded. The
negroes, whether freed by the War or still in
bondage, have had the fullest opportunities foT
carnage and devastation; but they have not
improved them. In many conntiea. they were
! for years ten 20 one of the remaining adult male
Whites; they knew their strength, but did not
abuse il. Under the old auspices, revenge and
despair might have made them ravage and STAY (;
now, their newborn hopes and prospects forbade
! it. There are bad fellows among them, and
some crimes have been committed; yet we
doubt whether any other -Four Millions OF
people have perpetrated fewer sanguinary revolt
ing outrages during the last four years than have
the Southern negroes.
It is settled. then, that they will remain at
the South, will be free, and will not abuse their
liberty by bloodshed and rapine.
What is'to I've done with them
We answer
Treat them exactly like any other people
Judge each according to his conduct rather than
his color. If you want their work, hire and
recompense them; if you desire the products
of their labor buy and pay for them; if they
want your lands or goods, require pay from
them. Help them to work i they are needy;
give aims to the sick or disabled; but teach
them that everything good has its price, and
that they can only obtain what they want by
paying for it. The lesson is simple, and nc
Ole. though negro, need be long in learning II,
-" But some OF them ,oiu not work.
OF course. Whites are also subject to tina,
infrmity There are always many thousands
of Whites in this very City who prefer to beg
or steal, to live by swindlng or debauchery,
rather than work Every year loads our
wharves with thousapds of immigrants who
come bither expecting to live without work
who deem that a miserable country III which
they must work for living Our alms-houses
and prisons are full Of Them our garrets, eel.
lars, blind alleys and "back slums swarm
with them. There are fifty thousand Whites in
this City to-day who would live more com.
fortably, behave more creditably and be far
less abOminable nuisances, if they belonged to
good masters; there is not one Of us who would
be better men or in better circumstances if we
owned them. Men abuse liberty--always did
abuse it-slways ,ciH abuse il: but that does
not prove that they ought to be slaves. Let
them still be free, and eat the fruit of their
dOings.
Freedom and Opportunity-these are all that
the best Government can secure 10 White or
Black. Give every one a chance, and let his
behavior control bis fate. Ifnegroes will not
work, they must starve or steal; and, if they
steal, they must be shut mp, Ike other thieves.
IL there be any among them who fancy that they.
being free can live in comfort without work,
they have now entered school in which they
will certainly and speedily he taught better.
There is Just one thing necessary at present.
frank, cheerful, ungrudging recognition Of
the fact that Slavery has ceased in this country
that all our people arc Free. We believe this
recognition is being generally and heartily made
by the Southern Whites lately in rebellion, and
we will do all in our power to encourage them
in this course. Only clear away the wreck Of
Slavery, dispel the lingering fear Of a return to
it, and we may soon break up our Freedmen's
Bureaus and all manner of coddling devices,
and let negroes take care Of themselves.