The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-10

BY request of General Mann, COM
manding the sub-d district of Norfolk, we
publish the following:
To the Freedmen of the Sub-District of
Norfolk
HEAD QUARTERS SUE. DISTRICT OF NoRPo1Kl
NORFOLK, Va, Aug. 4th, 1865. ;
CIRCULAR:
The fortunes of the late war, directed
by an overruling Providence, have az
fected no other class of people so materi-
ally as you are affected. They have
broken the chains of slavery, which for
many years, have bound you to invol-
untary servitude, and you are now free.
Those who became traitors to their
country and sought to nationalfze and
perpetuate slavery by making it the
''chief corner stone," on which should
rest the Southern Confederacy," have
most signally failed in their terrible de-
signs, and, instead of making your bond
age more enduring, they have actually
| become your H6erators. This change is
80 unexpected to you, and some of YOU
are 80 elated, that you wander about half
bewildered in your new position, in
steadof going earnestly at work. Listen,
therefore, Freedmen, to q few words of
advice from friend, and heed we'll the
counsel that is given.
1st. Remember that, being free, you
must become your own supporters. You
no longer have masters to provide for
you by your own industry and econo-
my you must now live. You have no
one to care for you when you becomeold
and helpless; hence you must yourselves
provide for those days when manly vi
gor and strength are gone, and age and
infirmity are upon you.
I'd. Do not rely too much on the gov
eminent for support. Your freedom
and our national existence have already
cost the government millions of money.
While many of your stalwart sons have
heroically fought for your liberties and
the nations life, the government has
clothed and fed many of you, and will
continue to do SO in extreme cases; but
the government desires you to support
yourselves as far as possible, and thus
make you self-reliant and Industrious.
| 3d. Remember, meantime, that the
Government is ever ready toprotect you,
assist and encourage you in your free
dom, and in your every laudable effort
| to elevate yourselves in the scale ofhu-
man existence. For this purpose the
Freedman's Bureau is established-a
"Bureau which, in strength. and USE
fulness is Giant, standing in the Ma
tional Capital, and reaching with his
long arms, and feeling. with his strong
| fingers into every State, county and
town, recently in rebellion" This Blu
reau is organized to furnish protection
| to the weak, work for the poor, and
houses and rations for the old, infirm
and absolutely needy, and help you as far
| as possible, to educate yourselves and
your children. 1t is established to dc
for you what wise father would do for
his children. Confer then, with the
representatives of this bureau. Let
them assist you in making your con.
tracts; and when they are made, be
careful that you most faithfully fulfil
them on your part; give no one occasion
to say "you broke your bargain"
4th. Cultivate friendly relations with
your former masters, and with all peo-
pie among whom you may reside.
The fact that certianpersonsh have once
owned you is no good reason why you
should cherish hard feelings towards
them-feelings that would prevent you
from working for them on the old PLAN
tation where you have so long worked,
if proper remuneration is offered. These
persons may yet be among your best
friends they need your labor now, and
they will need it for years to come; you
need the remuneration which they will
give you now, and you will need it for
Years to come. Forget, therefore, your
former relations and return to work on
the old plantation with all the deter
mined will and good cheer of honest,
hopeful, happy Freedmen.
5th. Abandon at once and for
ever the false idea which many oil
you have imbided, that cities and
towns alone can furnish yen means
of support. Cities keep more of you
poor than they furnish with honorable
| and honest support. Quit your peanut
peddling and penny hUckstering. Leave
your crowded huts and houses in cities
and towns, and, as many of you as can,
90 to the country where rents are nOmi.
nal: where pure air and good health
NAV be found; where broad acres are
ready to yield you rich harvests, and
where permanent foundation for pro.
peaty and prosperity may be laid.
9Th. But, if you must stay in cities
| and towns, be not idle loiter not lazily
about the streets, but follow the noble
example of enterprise and,industry that
many of your race have set you. Let
your boys enter shops and learn trades
let them become workers of wood, iron,
leather and cloth. Let them navigate
our waters, and learn to conduct
ships over the mighty deep. Let
them penetrate the depths of old
ocean and make her yield up por-
ton of her fnny tribes and shell
cased wealth for their support. Let
your girls braid bonnets and hats, man.
age sewing machines, make garments,
knit socks and control kitchens. Be in
Industrious. Let each Saturday night
| find few cents, few dimes, or few
dollars laid aside from your honest earn
ings for future nse.
7tb. Cultivate and advocate the high
est respect for the marriage relation pro-
perly established. .
Discountenance at once, the loose, ire
sponsible manner in which many OF
you, owing to the peculiarities of your
former situation, are now living. Ifyou
are living together as husband and wife,
without having been married in accord
ance with the customs of any half-civi-
liked society, then go quickly to your
preacher, become lawfully married, and
thus take one step further from the
barbarous regions from whose borders
you have lately escaped. -
Remember, in the Language of our la
mented LINCOLN, that Freedom is only
Liberty to do Right" and do right in
| respect to marriage, as well as in all