American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1865-11-16
Gen. Towards Speech to the Freed
men,

) A large number Of negroes, men, We
men and children, assembled in the var
of the Governor Mansion in this cit,
on yesterday, TO listen to Gen. Howard
views on che situation We attended o
r the occasion, and found a number of Cit
zens listening, DESTROYS of hearing til
views of one Of the conservative" ora
tors and agents ofthe Freedman's Bureau
Gen. Howard made a very fair speech
take it all in all, and gave the negroet
sound advice en- many subjects. He TOLD
them that liberty was not license, and i
remained with the negroes themselves to
solve the problem whether freedom was
a blessing or an injury, That they must
work. work hard and have confidence in
their old masters and their own people,
otherwise poverty, destitution and death
would inevitably ensue. He advised them
TO get homes and employment quick, that
if they refused to work. the planters
could not produce, and if negro labor
could not be had, other labor would be
introduced, and the whole race of freed.
men would consequently die of destilution
and starvation. That it was their duty
to be polite to all men, and faithful in their
contracts, and use every effort to elevate
themselves to a proper standard Of NOR
atty.
He stated that the Freedman's Bureau
was a temporary establishment made nee.
essary by the war, in the absence of any
kind of organized courts of justice during
the existence of the rebellion.
From a "remark he made;" we feel
satisfied our neighbor of the Clarion
'spent the night" with him, as be gently
touched upon Che subject Of negro tes,i-
mony, but was very careful not to say
that it was a sine qua non or demand Of
the Government. We would not be sur,
prised if somebody claimed hat Gen.
Towards speech was a "settler" on this
question, and although he simply ex.
pressed his convictions that negro testi.
mony ought to be admitted, land who
could expect any other sentiment from
him., be was as we have before said,
very careful not to state that it was de-
manded by The government. Even hal
be made such a declaration, We are omo.
what Of the opinion that there are a few
citizens in this county, still left who
would entertain a different belief. Our
Legislature will doubtless put its own
construction upon the Constitution Of Mis-
and the Constitution of the Unit
I'd States, we do not believe as some have
that Gen. Howard has made his
appearance in our midst at thi, crisis as
he accredited agent of the government 10
make known to our Legislature what the
government will or will not demand. We
ire under the impression that Gen. How
srd is a volunteer orator, but if he will
ak the same way elsewhere to the blacks
lie will doubtless accomplish much good
n Mississippi. His effort is quite differ
mt from various spoutings to the negro
population that have frequently "come
,f" in our midst.
1t would be TOO much to expect per>
ection in thought or expression from any
me in Gen. Howard's position, but we
viii award him the justice to say, that in
ur opinion, he was sincere and honest
q his declarations, and evidently consid- |
RS himself "called" for his peculiar mis- 7
ion-which he declares to be, to produce {
onhdence between the whites and the
lacks, and explain to the negroes the
.ue idea of their liberty. !
We hope Gen. Howard will hurry up" C
s much as possible as his lease OF au- C
ionty is now quite short, and by so do.
lg he may be enabled to mitigate many ?
wills that have been ~engendered by the ?
and false teachings of The Bureau
gents in various portions OF the coun-
y. \
1t was very evident to US that General a
had been slightly handled and u
up" by somebody here to make il
political speech, with a view to effect
le action Of our Legislature, but il was
so very evident that Gen. Howard was "a
neasy when he approached such subjects r,
ID was exceedingly negative in bis de- c
~ ya,r ~roeifiyo in he u;sbos