The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-06-27
serves We you'd probably pass but few
laWs relating ia the late siavas flat wouit

| ueiaaeas creatures are fast discovering, aflc
many thousands are returning to their fol
mer homes, tired Of the freedom thrusI
uponthem, which they never sought.
2. How would. You bette. the matter
!" ouldsthee eaplerethrIs tile taeefo to sla
very? A. There is no such intent or dis
position anywhere to Ie-ebslaye the negro
they regard that as entirely settled cues
ton, and impossible if they desired it. II
would be presumption on my part to sub
NIT aplan extemporaneously upon which
our people would work. can oise Won OH
" the views Of d private citizen. who has
never been in.or asrired to political pos.
ition' | would suggest, land believe il
would tlne favor with our people.) such leul
Station as Should compel all met
to comply with their own contracl
fer services, in kind at least for oil
year. under penalty Of working on uubIS
works without wages. All men nearly
would bargain with and treat them Justly
ana most men even kindly. The reported
antagonism which Ills northern Radical
papers is not. merely exaggerated It is
manufactured out of whole, coth--it is
false. No such antagonism exists; and col
lislons have occurred only, within MY own
knowledge. where negroes have been stimu
lated to impotence and hostility by opin.
ions ofsoldlers or agents of the Freedman s
Bureau. This will never be tolerated.
q. Have the freedmen gone to work in
Texas? and en- what terms? Al am in
formed that tRey have generally, since the
first OF January. Up to that time they
had vague expectation of something more
than a freedom, which had only deprived
them OF homes. Finding that nothing bat
work would get bread, they have hired. gen.
orally a good wages; men at SO to $l5, and
and women at S. to So per month. they
clothing themselves. Some planters have
hired by giving share Of the crop, one
fourth to one-third.
q. Is there disposition to educate and
Chrlstiani2e them? A. We would first en-.
deavor to find bread and clothes for them,
| think no one would oppose their getting
all education for themselves, like other BOO,
people. 1t would doubtless be well if they
could read the Bible, which has hitherto
been taught them eratuously. Tt will be
well II the negro ran maintain the moral
and religious teachings he has enjoyed, |
have no hope of it myself; as he will have
to keep himself, and has neither dispositicn
nor capacity to anleliorate the condition o,
his race, He has no history, no tradition
without or within, to stimulate
pride; no aspiration above the service of the
master race. Heretofore his master has
furnished him religious instruction. to the
extent that one single denomination. the
Methodist Church, South reports a mem.
bership OF hundreds Of thousands. This is
at an end now. They will have to pay for
their own religious teachings like other free
people. : .s,ss
q. f4avethay capacity to learn A. To
some extent they have. The little children
learn rapidly to read and write. But their
capacity is limited Ithiuks They ore i'm
tative, but without ambition. They will
learn, but cannot apply thair learning.
Q. Has this not been caused by their long
slavery? Wilithey not now have sufficient
stimulus to produce different result? A.
We believe not. In fact we view the
whole matter from standpoint so different
fronithat OF northern rden, that there is lit
tie room for debate.
@. VIII YOU stole whether you are not a
believer in slavery and whether most south.
ern men share your opinion? A. Emphati-
cally so I believe that SO far from the
black mans degradation by slavery. he was
exalted by It, and thatto the best condi
tion he has ever enjoyed, and to the best of
which, as race,h is capable. For some
thousands of years he has been in contact
with white civilizations, and has ever as
pred to serve the master race. He seeks
the mental employments, wherever he is
found, Even inndrthem States after half
a century Of freedom, ] find him nowhere
teaching your schools, filing your rulpits
or legislative halls; but blackina your boots
and cleaning your stables and ditches. Py
appropfiatins him to this department and
to manual industry, taking his service and
paying him by thinking aad providing for
him, we believe we served God and the
cause of humility. as
And as the questions have led to this
point, please to indulge me in reeiting some
of the evidence that my researches have
that this peoplehase seen their
best condition and will never flourish
again,
@. Certninly, Proceed, a.. Our census
takers furnish industrial altl vital statistics
from which there's no appeal. they shaw
three points thati will site from memo
~.
/. The free bhek in thelnoplhern statss.
in spite Of The c,ftinual Supplies from the
South, decreases in the Last decenninlperi /
cd, nearly eightoer cent ii numbers. I
"a. }Fhree fre blacks xdf the Southern
States increased ebout asmuch. mssine a
difference Of 'sixsen per cent, willie, Il
he rIaFe hlek BY lis eide INCREASED
ceuiin rlrMaafs /,
Taxing, thar the axiom Of politicsl
'clenes that ilt reproddctieeness ofa nea.
deis the mostuafallins avidenee -ofthdr :
iocial condition tho slse black has ben
n better condition thai any other people, {
White or black, an this ointment II isto 4
his oonclasionthat you may inputa nar s
enaeity in defending the System. Onrex- {
orrience had taught US, how t.. consult the {
oest interest olhoth. rsces, and we. fpad i
hem In precle harmony; believed the {
blacks wers designed by ProsiaeneeAs a
supplement to he white race, and tint TO
his institution,in port We owed the higher !
civilization we ,lailned. rs
@. Plense deine what you mean by high
,r civilization?' a, The pride of taarae- t
Ter. the ehivalra,s tope and the lilemlity 7
md hospitalits of oarpeqple; tn broad :
yiews and great geniss Of our pubic men
he delicacy, mdlesty. refinement, ard yet I
he lofty spirit of our women. We bad :
society with outgbssih envy or faraticism; !
/, population ofmiIliops without hggars or I
naupers. Whittier, this was hielciviliza-
ton. is matter If opinion. Certailyit had
a different tyns and one which toald not 9
onger harmenze with yours; Audience the 7
,ooasr;t1, &c y,o holtovad ,,f finp