Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1865-08-18

Whatever conflicting theories may be entertained
regarding the future of the negro, and hs proper
status in the body polite, one fact garngy patent
and Of pressing Importance suggests itself now.
and that is the presence Of q large colored cle-
ment in midst and the question arising from it,
Of making them Understand the responsibility at
taching to their changed condition, and the absO-
lutte necessity Of thrft and industry in their new
relations 1t is the conviction offs great many. that
the class we refer TO, just emerging from slavery
into freedom would exhibit the best possible proofof
their worth and capabilities by an earnest desire to
become sef-supporting and Intelligent rather than
by hasty and wild clamor for the possession Of
certain abstract political rights. The right Of sul-
rage If il does not ought to involve reasonable in
elligence, at least as a-qualiiieation and, until
that is 6htained, aud evidence furnished of proper
application to industrial pursuits the acquiring o
the latter would be frat in order. However, the
immediate question onhand is, the best disposition
and elevation of the freedmen at presen. among us
From a conversation with Gen. Fisk, Commits
sioner Of Freedmen, learn that Nashville is, al
present, oFcrstocked with negroes; and it is his
earnest desire that they should be so distributed
throughout the State that their energies may be
brought into healthy play in agricultural aud other
industrial pursuits, The Government is still at
siderable expense in providing for contrabands
who will persist in clinging TO the cities and towns
while in some parts Of the State there Is the live
est demand for labor. For the interest of the Gov
ernment and also of the other party interested,
this thing Of issuing free rations must be gradually
stopped and all brought to SCI f-sustainng status
To show the tendency Of the freedmen to cling to
the cities we will furnish few figures. In 1860
the total negro population Of Nashville was 3,945
To-day the figures are as follows: Male adults
5000; female, 1858; children under fifteen years
$3.50. Total, 1914, or an increase since 1860
of 6,7s9. In Edgefield in 1860, the colored popu-
auon Numbered about 800; now about 1000
Now, II is of paramount importance that this sur
plus negro element should be where their services
are most needed-on the farms and cotton panta-
tions. Huddled together in the city, in ricketty
tenements and Government houses, both physically
and monlly, they are deteriorating, and present
an appearance anything but creditabe to their
newly acquired freedom.
- The freedmen, even il they are looked upon by
many with dstrust and aversi on, are nevertheless
living patent fact and the interest Of black and
white require that the relations existing between
them should be amicablc and harmonious To our
friends in town and country, We can cheerfully
youch for the nrbanity and accommodating dispo-
sition Of General Fisk, and his earnest desire to
see all irritating and disturbing elements soothed
down or removed. He wishes il distinctly under
stood that, except in extraordinary emergencies
the affairs Of the Freedmen's Bureau will be con-
Quoted without military interference or molestation
Where agents are TO he, appointed through the
State, they win, in all cases, be civilians, well
known in their respective neighborhoods and SO
octed for their present worth and capacity withopt
regard 10 any issue of the past Under the changed
aspects Of society, matters cannot DO expected ia
assume all at once, an appearance OF millennia
security but il iswithin the bounds Of possibility
that the freedmen are to be brought 10 rcsponsi-
bic aud intelligent statusy the development OF the
problem, we ere we'll satisfied, could not be undel
more favorable auspices than when controlled by
the genius Of Genersl Clinton D. fisk.--SasbrilI
! Di,Patek.