The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-31
Aitl,mond Dispatrk.
MONDAY DECEMBER 81, 1866.
The Colored Paradise.

In his last report as Commissioner of
rrcedmen's Bureau "for the District OF
Columbia and portions of Maryland and
Virginia" General Howard expresses an
earnest anxiety to get rid, somehow, OF the
too great negro population now crowded
together in Washington and Georgetown.
There are, he says, SAC of them. Sub
tracing 5000 "who have been removed"
ne says, during the year, there remain still
more than 10000" much greater num-
Der than can be employed of adequate
wages" Great exertions have been used,
as this report assures us, to "remove"
these people. Transportation is furnished !;
agents are employed to induce them to so
away by flattering representations always
quite true-no deception herc) Of the easy
life awaiting the poor creatures somewhere
else. But 60 they will not. "Therc seems
to be agreat reluctance" General HOWARD
says, "on the part Of the majority to leave
"cven the miserable homes they have es-
"tsblished here, and start forth to parts of
"the country new aud strange TO them"
But If il was desired to discourage and
thin ont the colorcd population at Washing
ton, surely it was a very singular way OF
setting about that desirable work to give
universal suffrage and political power TO
the very people who cannot be employed
at wages which will support them, and
4 ,l
forhuman beings" The colorcd persons
are very right to remain close under the
wing of that Congress which loves them so
well. They suffer, perhaps, in their ma
terial intcrcstS-live in miserable novels,
and have not clothes 10 keep them warm /;
but they feel themselves amongst friends,
who warmly assert for them the immortal
birthright of freedom. Why should they
quit Washington, the place which is pc
culiarly under the constant government
and control of their philanthropic friends,
and trust themselves away in Pennsyl-
vania, where they will be kicked out OF
street-cars or in Virginia, where their
old masters have been cmancipated from
them. and are bound to take care of them
nolonrer Besides, they like the society Of
Washington for there is no diSputing
about tasscs), and when the "agent " goes
totempt them away from their happy homes
and affairs free, he is bound to convince
them that they will be better off and have
kinder friends somewhere else. General
Howard himself, in the performance of
his responsible office, is very humane and
benevolent towards them: "has reQuested,'
he saws, "thc city authorities 10 have Ger
"tain of these novels destroyed as nui-
"sances," but undertook at the same
time "to provide homes elsewhere for the
"people inhabiting them II there be an
Elysium on earth for colored persons, II
must certainly be the District of Columbia
and instead of eXhorting them to migrate
from SO happy home, we would venture
to suggest that freedmen in Virginia can do
no better than 90 and establish! themselves
there. Congress is bound to support them,
and has nothing to do but attend to them.
The society is charming, religious privi-
legcs convenient, and in no city is there
finer hog and hominy. Thirty thousand
additional hands settling this winter at
Washington would confirm and assure the
colored interest and influence IN the Dis
trict and govern the metropolitan city.