The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-11-22
On planters and she rraeaman.

Tfa wise 38st and practical course adopted aud pur-
freedmens bureau ia this STATE and which, Re learn,
has been sanctioned and approved by Gen Howard the
chief of that bureau appeals to our people generally,
and our planters especially for their cordal ana IN CIV
ing effect to his various measures Tor the
Of industry. In performing this p am daty aud
carrying out this wise policy, it will be incumbent on
our planters to dismiss and expel from their minds
many old ideas and some preudices which were formed
under the old and abolished system. They must reaIse
the great change that has taken place IN their relations
the colored population. Their civil rights as freed
men must be fully and cheerfully recognised. The
fanatics ultras and mischief-makers must have no
apology for their foolish schemes, for resisting the
natural laws, the unconquerabe repugnance to socai
equality and the unanswerable arguments OF political
expediency relating alike the whites and blacks,
which oppose and denounce the proposition of invest
ing the coored freedmen with equal social and political
rights with the white freemen That such denial of
social equality and political suffrage does not involve
any Injustice or infringement Of personal and civil
rights is abundantly proved by the condition Of other
classes of society in countries where personal rights
have full and certain protection as they have IN this
country The poor men, the laborers, the immense
BODY Of nonandholders Of England and France appear
in all the courts and in every civil and personal right
stand level with the richest and most potent noble
So in this country foreigners enjoy equal civil
rights with our citizens, and women who are denied
the right of suffrage, exercise greater privileges
and civil rights than the men, These facts retute the
assertion of The anarchists that the right to suffrage IS
essential to secure protection and equal civil rights
These rights guaranteed and guarded by charters
and securities which beyond the reach of legislators
These iuE f0tESje ana wisely exercised VIII
in time secure to every class endowed with them all
other rights that capable OF benefcialy
Cising They supply the fulcrum by which our coored
population may eventually elevate itself to that moral
intellectual and social position to which only dreamers
and social empires propose 10 force it. by violent and
irrational process, which is condemned and opposed
alike by natural laws and the experience of the whole
civsed world Let our freedmen acquire those habits
of selfrelance, of industry Of moral and social
sponsibiiy which theirrecent condition never demand
ed of developed in them, and when they have thus
naturaised themselves to the demands of their
claim and exercise duties and privileges, the
bestowa Of which in their present circumstances would
iufict upon them incalculable injury.
This ought to be and believe will be the position
of our white people towards the colored freedmen
They ought to be and will be encouraged in all endeaY
institution Of slavery negroes valued according to
their intelligence their honesty and rustworthness-
These qualities will be still valuable under the
new system. Our planters interested in de-
yelopng the capacity Of the negroes to take of
themselves and in their comprehension and appreCa
ton of their social duties and responsibilities So far
therefore, from opposing any wise and practical plan
for their moral aad intellectual improvement they of
all other people will be most inclined and interested in
such measures. They may not relish the undigested
and silly schemes of strong-mnded women and weak
minded persons, of the Mrs Jeeby school, who would
seduce the poor negroes into the same course of un
productive proftless Impractical and visionary habits
and empoyments in which these ismatics pass their
lives and waste faculties and energies that might be
employed in some useful aTocatiOn Butor all sensible
and practical plans which contemplate the training of
our freedmen in the duties and knowledge which will
render them honest industrious; intelligent and pro
ductve members Of society, have little doubt that
the Jealous and active and efficient cooperation of all
good citizens and especially of the old slave owners Of
this State, may be confidently depended on.
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