Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-12-22
MiseellaMfnMs.
For the American.
The Cause of Freedmen.
SIXTH PAPER.

Iy examination, we see tnaI the wan
Of activity and energy in the negro, il
very much the effects Of early experience
and training. The system Of labor ii
Virginia having been for many years o.
such q character as described il my last
paper, it is not strange that the freedmen
are without the energy and enterprise o.
Northern laborers. Not only have they
been brought up to stupid method o.
work, but having beheld their masters
their only pattern Of frcemcn, sitting up
on their balconies, smoking their meer
chaum day after day, or riding lcisurely
over their plantations, they, attaching the
ideas of idlenoss and ease to freedom, of:
ten attempt to put it in practice. The
results are evident. Slavery having ex.
isted in its mildest forms in Virginia, the
freedmen are in the worst condition o
any. That they are, at present, in a
worse condition in freedom than they
were in slavery, Few acquainted with
them will deny, and they themselves are
we'll aware of the fact. 81 was the aged
pilgrim when released from his long con.
fnement in the inqaisition.
Neither is there yet more than a mock
freedom given them. Independence alone
is true freedom. More every way is re.
euired of the ircemen than has been re.
quired Of the slave. Inclined to avail
himself of the benefits of freedom while
retaining the advantages Of slavery, he is
denied the former though robbed Of the
latter.
No longer to see his children torn from
his arms and sold at public auction, to
pay the debts of a reckless system Of la
Dor and prodigal master, he must sup.
port them amid the disadvantages Of re.
nowcd prejudice and oppression, though
destitute of home or property. More. as
we have seen, than was performed by tho
aid OF property, interest and skill Of the
white man. In order to succeed, an un
tutorcd African must correct the habits
contracted in slavery. iris is not sufic.
lent; he must not only. while the victim
of hatred, form new habits, but he must
rise above and control adverse circum.
stances. Should he succeed in this to
the extent required by those who would
return them to slavery, he would prove
himself deserving every right Of the
American citizen, and more than the peer
Of the sturdy pilgrims whose energy and
perseverance has given character to
American society and compelled the ad.
miration of the world.
Instead Of being an apologist for the
freedmen, have made most prominent
their ignorance, their incapacity and ten.
dency to vagrancy. Though l have not
dlsregarded their noble qualities, from
want of space, many Of their grievances
have l passed unnoticed. Two very i'm
portant considerations present themselves
as reasons why we should give this subjec.
careful study. The preservation Of our
government, on which depends TIE liber.
ties Of ourselves and our prosperity, is
one which concerns every person in our
and. speak for one who was torn from
hom G, from friends, and the pursuit ol
Industry and peace, for the avoeation OF
angry war. For three years an exile,
exposed to the burning sun and to the
cold dews of heaven, to the fatiguos Of
the march and fevers of the camp, as
we'll as the deadly missiles Of brutal
enemy would be uninterrupted in the
quiet pursuit OF peace and happiness. l
would have my country recognize those
seeds of strife and revolution, of oppress-
ion and war among US, and avert the aw'
full calamity in future. | would have
applied preventive of that deadly
scourge which consumes our property and
drinks the blood of our noblest citizens.
The cause Of suffering humanity does
not content itself with appeals to every
threshold in our land, or the patronage OF
any sect or party in this country. It's
voice from the South has long been the
moan OF despair but now. shrek of
doubtful hope and fear it pierccs to the
ends Of the earth and even to the farthcst
verge of Heaven From seventy thous-
and in Virginia alone. who are about to
be turned out of employment, from house
and home, comes no feeble cry. Already
l seem to sec the three thousand Of these
suffering creatures in Nottoway County,
homeless and shelterless, accused of tres
passing upon the lands Of paraoneq rph.