The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-06

and as clear as the sunlight. Then
returning to our text Of what vast
consequence 1t is that cultivation of our
lands should be stimulated and facilitated
in every possible way, especially at q
time like this? The subject comes
directly horne to the bosoms aud bushes
Of every man in the community. It
claims precedence over all others In the
public mind, inasmuch as IL Is pre-
eminent in Importance.
We have represented the difficulty of
making adequate and seasonable prep
arations on our farms for this years
crops-a difficulty arising not from a
restitution of labor but from destitu-
ten of the means Of commanding it !!
We have freedmen and freedwomen In
abundance, trained to plantation work
and thoroughly acquainted with all its
details. But owing to circumstances
beyond our control this ample supply of
labor, right at our doors, is of no more
benefit to us than treasure buried ten
thousand fathoms deep in the bowels Of
the earth. How can It be made avail
able? This is the point to be considered
and determined. 1t occurs to us that
the Freedmen's Bureau could contribute
effectually to the correction of an evil
whose injurious influences are not linn
tied to The community in which 1t ex-
lists, but extends to the government,
which is seriously interested in the
well-doing and well-being of the SOUTH.
ern negroes. From that bureau exhort-
alton after Observation-Disclosures
after admonition, have been officially
and solemnly addressed to the freedmen.
They have been time and again told Of
the determination of the government
not to support them in idleness, and
they have been warned of the conse-
quences of not working honestly and
steadily for their support. Whilst
some Of them have been induced
by these appeals to return to
the homes which they abandoned
and seek employment, multitudes
of them have been wholly unim-
pressed, and persist in leading the indo-
lent and worthless life they embraced
last spring, even al the imminent hazard
of perishing from starvation, cold, dis
ease and other causes. In view of this
fact, and in view, also, of the immense
benefits, as we'll to the government as to
the community, and to themselves,
which would result from the labor Of
these thousands of robust negroes, who
are now going about with their hands in
their breeches pockets, without thought
of tomorrow, utterly needless Of the
duties and responsibilities of their new
condition-insv view of all this, we say,
the Bureau should forthwith take the
matter in hand, and having failed by
persuasion to bring them to proper sense
and appreciation of their true position
and the relations in which they now
stand towards society around them-it
should resort to more vigorous measures
for accomplishing its object. What
these measures should be, Il does not be-
come us to say, but the Bureau, after the
intelligent and judicious course it has
generally pursued in discharge of its du-
ties, will doubtless recognize the necess-
ity of enforcing, by more en- ergetic
process, o practical acquiescsnce on the
part of the freedmen in the excellent ad-
vice and instructive appeals which it
has SO often and so earnestly addressed
to them,