The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-12-12
CHI A r l. e S II O N
TUESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 70, 1865.

A FEW DAYS since we took occasion to re-
mark upon tho uncertainties affecting enter
prise in this unhappy country, and, among
others, maintained that the negroes might not
work, or their friends permit them, even if
inclined to do 30. TO this remark exception
has been taken, and an officer of the Freed
mems Bureau, whose article we publish, tells
us that it is not merely slanderous, but con-
veys false impression to the public, and an
nounces fact to freedmen which, it pretends,
is injurious, but which certainly could not
have been taught them from any other
source"
This language is harsher than was necessa-
ry to the efficiency and forco of the communi-
cation; harsher, perhaps, than may have been
intended, for the author is of standing and
culture, and we might, with propriety, have
declined its publication; but we accept it. We
accept it for tho reason that it exhibits u SEN
sibility to public sentiment. Such has been
the apparent disregard of public feeling pub
lie interest, and, we will add, of public decen-
cy, exhibited by persons processing to act as
friends of freedmen, that we have doubted
if they have felt it any part of their mission
to respect impressions on the public,"-con-
siderate, perhaps, of impressions elsewhere,
they may have been,-for we presume no
human beings are SO lost to nature as not to
have opinion of some sort for thoir rule of
action; but not considorate of opinion here;
and we are pleased with the assurance that
such opinion, SO respected, even to slight
extent, has been our own.
We accept it for the reason that it admits
tho obligation to act for the public good.
This, also, we had doubted. So perverse
has been the conduct of these friends of freed
men-so utterly inconsistent with the real
interests of blacks as well as whites-that we
have doubted if they have felt such obligation;
and even now may doubt if it be felt by ALL
But even hypocrisy, the tribute which vice
pays to virtue, is so far commendable as to
acknowledge virtue in the effort to assume it;
and this article, if not strictly true of all to
whom applied, has yet the merit of admitting
the obligation to respect tho public good, and
of accepting that as the principle by which
action may be tested. We accept it, also, for
reason of the satisfaction we find, even when
charged that we have slandered them, in the
assurance of ut least one respectable person
that thoy can be slandered.
But more especially do we accept it for the
reason that it is tho entry of defence for
the &c friends of freedmen, and raises the oues-
tion of their merits to the judgment of IN en-
lightened public. That question we accept
upon the point at issue, and say that we were
warranted in our apprehensions of such bale
full influence upon tho character and conduct
of the negro. We were warranted by the
conduct of these friends of freedmen Instant
upon the occupation of the country there
was the persistent effort to disturb existing
order Freedmen were enticed from their
homes and their employments; professions
were formed; inhammatory addresses were
made; the men who had come to pray with
them, or upon them, went with them to the
throne of Eternal Grace to protest of their
wrongs; and as nothing seemed SO near to
their hearts as the injury of masters, even at
the expense of slaves, it was not unreasonable
to suppose that policy to that effect had be-
come established, md was to be remorselessly
pursued until its miserable instruments should
become its victims. -
We were warranted by the consequences of
their conduct. They found the negro in order,
they brought him to disorder; they found him
industrious, they have made him idle; they
found him in homes, they have made him
houseless; they found him in comfort, they
have brought him to want: they found him in
peace with masters upon whom yet he must
of necessity depend for the employment ne
cessary to subsistence, and they have brought
him to estrangement SO perfect that nothing
but the hard necessities of their condition can
bring them into contact; and in view of such
conduct and such consequences we were not
unwarranted in the apprehension that still
that malignant spirit might prevail; that the
seeds of ruin so industriously sown light still
be cultivated; that the negro might be kept
to his work of appointed OWL to the end and
that is is not still their purpose, us it would
seem to be the result of their action, to COM
plete the work inauguratod in the war, and
extinguish the lust lingering spark of vitality
and hope which may yet family illumino the
widespread ruinof tho land. Ies.~ 81
Rut ~ 10 III ttot :, tLo ,,,,uxo,o &c