The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-11-18
Circular.
10 the Freedmen Of Western North Carolina
and adjoining Districts of South Odroliua.
,4 HEADo'Rs FREEDMEN's BUREAU,

and adjoining Districts of South Odroliua.
HEADo'Rs FREEDMEN's BUREAU,
r.... Charlotte, N c., Oct LIST.
Knowing that many Of you have wrong i'm
pressions relative to your freedom, send this
Circular that it may correct many erroneous
ideas which are operating very much against
your interests. | have learned that many of
you have the foolish idea that at christmas YOU
are to receive lands, horses and farming uten-
sis; that you expect the United States Govern
ment to give to you portion of your masters
property or plantations. AS to this, let me say
to you all, that the Government has no land in
this portion of the State, and that all planta-
tions and property of all kinds Except the
negro) belong to your masters as heretofore,
the Government having no claims upon them
whatever. Any of you having such expeeta-
tons, must at once and forever abandon such
preposterous and absurd ideas, and any per-
son or persons trying to made you believe
anything OF the kind, are either fools Or
knayes, and are imposing upon your ignor-
ance. !.H H'}
The Government has given you your free
dom, and you must not expect anything fnrth
err from it, The Government expects Won to
labor and work out your own salvation, and
dition far worse. Any property that you may
possess hereafter you must acquire by labor,
industry and honesty. AT the end of this year,
those who have remained with their former
masters and worked faithfully, will be paid
literally for their labor, and will be able to
provide clothing and food for themselves and
families for portion of another year, and will,
in the mean time, if they have SO conducted
fbo,,,c IN H. c i
spect Of their employers, be able toretain their
places for another year, or to obtain of others
good situations and good pay. Many of those
who have left their former homes and idled
away the proper season for the making of
crops, will at the end of the year, find them
selves destitute of food and clothing, and ina
situation far worse than slavery A long winter
is before you, and unless you provide for that
time your families must suffer- Yea, many must
perish, -., ...s ;...ss.4.a
Many of you are under tne impression that
the Government will feed you This is
not so. Government will not feed any lwho
have had an opportunity and are able to labor.
You have had four months of freedom, and all
that wished could get work for themselves and
families and those who have not improved the
past four months of their freedom must abide
by the consequences. lt.ai a
Ere long the troops will be Withdrawn from
the State You will be left to provide for and
protect yourselves By your labor you can
provide, and by your good behavior you will
secure protection. You must know that your
freedom has taken away that interest which
your former masters had for you. When in
slavery you were their property-they valued
you as dollars and cents-and it was their IN
terest to feed, clothe, and nurse you in sick
ness, but now that interest has gone. The re-
'sponsibiities that then rested upon them, now
fall upon you and you only. Your first step
now should be to establish for yourselves
characters for industry and integrity, and unless
you do so, your fate will be that of the North
American Indian-your race will pass away
and then you viii be known only by name
Then let me entreat you, as a friend, ere it
is too late, to think of these things-to look
upon the position as it is and make the re-
solve that you will make good name and
place in this great and free government
The Government has guaranteed to you GER
tain rights and privileges. In those rights
you will be protected Your rights consist in
your freedom to make your own contracts, to
receive the benefit of your own labor, to
choose. your own employer, to keep and govern
your own families, to educate your own child
rem, and worship God after your own manner.
The same powers that gave you these rights
and privileges have imposed upon you certain
and new duties, compelling you to labor to
support your families, and to obey the laws of
| your country, to show respect and cheerful
obedience to your employers, to fulfil aud re-
spect all contracts, to hold the marriage ties as
sacred, and to so conduct and deport yourselves
| as to win the respect and confidence of all
men. Fulfil, then, these requirements, and
| all viii be well Reject them, and your con-
dition will be a far worse one than you ever
| experienced when in slavery 1t Is true that
| there are some bad men that will take advan-
tage Of your ignorance and impose upon you
| Some may try to defraud You of your wages,
and few are wicked and cowardly enough to
| revenge their losses upon you by violence;
| but have patience, and ere long these matters
will regulate themselves. But good behaviour
on your part will ever gain for you the respect
and protection of all good and just men,
| Since have been among you have discov-
cred that a majority of you look upon your
| former masters as your enemies, and upon the
| Yankees" as your only friends. In this you
are mistaken. | am from the north, and know
well the feelings that exist there towards the
negro know that majority of the northern
people will not willingly consent toyour be-
coming citizens amongst them. The Govern
ment, through military necessity, has given
you. your freedom, and in that freedom the
people Of the north will ever protect you I'M
less you become unworthy of their protection,
The South is your natural home, and South
ern men viii be your friends. The majority
| of you We're raised, have grown up. on the
same plantations with your former masters; and
/ know it to be fact that there is feeling, q
sympathy, existing between you that does not
nor never eaa exist between you and the peo-