New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-12
THE FREEDMEN IN TENNESSEE.
Letter TO the Hon. John Covodc.


The Hon. JOHN COyODE-Dear Sir: l have
observed that
FYr,. The large majority Of the people Of thi,
try retain their old prejudice agans, the Colored race
and this is no, cssened by their being free. 1t was
once the fear Of their being free that caused severe op
preston Now It is the fear Of their being cqus in
intelligence wealth and political rights, that will lead
tie OF the South TO throw every obstacle in the
way OF the progress of the Freedmen. No index
Is needed than the determined and bitter opposition
given to the policy Of enffanchsng the colored men
Our Hon ChiefJ usce Chase has been abused as much
for his course with the ooloied people at Charleston
and Savannah. as Northern Aboliiionsts used TO be-
nd why because lie gave the impression that co!ored
men might vote.
Sec,sd. No specaI effort will be made " the former
masters to instruct their slaves now hired ns TO their
rsl1 and obi cations a. (rss=s7. IL Is assumed tha,
being ffeerncn. they 10 know what they ought and
VIVA, they ought not to DO. In mingling with this
people hear such rem srks as the Copperheids
have been TO make about tie negroes than
otherwise The Freedmen are spoken Of with contempt
rather than with charity. Little indiscrctons are
often magnifed without all considering that these
negroes are the oppressed OF three hundred years and
not intelligent rcemsn.
Third; The grea, majority OF tho people are not In
active sympathy with the policy Of the Government
nor with the Government ITSELF The fact q tho nbo
iion Of Slavery accepted but the leading indocncc
Of the press and Of politicians OF this section Is FIRMLY
set against any further advance Of the ooored race.
and military restriction. and that opposition
will be much stronger than az present and tho Freed
man would apply In vain for the redress Of wrongs
inflicted upon him. He wonld have a nominal freedom
without protection OF than when he was ssaye'
for then, he had a sort Of protection.
Fourth: That the Government mus, carry out its
policy by military authority Is eyidcnt-if 30 be the
object Is 10 raise the coorcd people 10 the condition OF
intelligence and independence implied In the term
freemen" For first the Southerners VIII not do TINS
by freely aiding the Frcedmen and second the Freed
men cannot rise by their own energy without bringing
mon them the enmity Of the rabble. They must be
protected and instructed and this the Government can
do it seems 10 me. by encouraging philanthropsts to
come to this country and occupy these lands
and employ the Freedmen. The present system OF
Leasing plantations do no, like But lot /, be system
Of humanity well profit and the work viii DO ac'
complishod These Freedmen want instruction. They
are literally thiraing for knowledge / have had them
sit round me aud with great eagernes listen to the real
condition in which they are now placed. They
want TO know the truth. and then they
will do something for themselves one great reason
why those who have into camps are doing better
than those who remain with their masters is because
they are more intelligent and comprehend their status
as freemen This region is nearly dcsolated aud the
most Of the landholders will sell at moderate price
and many Of them must sell. II pbilanthroplss could
be induced to the line OF the Memphis and
Charleston Ohio and Mississippi OF Mississippi Central
Railroads, they could find good locations
II fhc reurped Hebels are suffered TO vote We are
going to wade through dark here unless can
outvote them by fredericksburg the blacks and colonz
ing from the North.
Fyh; These people very iHduarions as a rule. !
and they mind their own business" which Is not a
mail item. We have had from 1000 to 10000 at this
place for the past year aud half and believe there
have been ten disturbances among whites whore there
has been one among them. They have now about loo
children in schools and the schools nearly self
porting Notwithstanding Memphis boasts of her pro.
eress &c. believe the ooioyd schools stand ahead Of
the hhe schools ard they do far excel ihem all things
considered We distribute 10000 papers to these pupils
every month. Many regiments have from 800 TO 800
IN them who read and who have learned since
they enlisted. If they progress In tho next five years
Us rapidly they have in the past two they will have
school system that will be 100 years in adj
varcc Of any system that has existed the South
What has thu, far been done has been done by pilan
thropsts guiding the ambition Of the freedmen. IL
mains now for the Government TO erabsh the same
good work all through the land and the desert shall
blossom like the rose asl the lion and the lamb sha
lie down together" and the land will be redeemed
Sinh; These people Qreedmen) Nigh. and should be
encouraged to become land holders and to work their
svn lands No people be truly independent and