The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-10
TREATMENT OF NORTHERN
EACH RS.

A Boston correspondent OF the Ne1O IOW
Ecdp0eliSt says: that those who came out to
the South to educate the Freedmen were gen.
orally able teachers, many of whom could not
have been hired at home to teach. Some Of
the young men were college graduates. Some
of the young ladies were among the best edu-
Gated in Massachusetts, and were qualified to
grace the highest social circles in the country.
In too many instances adds this writer they
receive rude and vulgar treatmentin the South,
from those who profess to be gentlemen and
ladies-treatment that could be properly des
cribed in stronger language. Whereupon, he
argues: "Slavery has terribly demoralized
masters and mistresses as we'll as politicians
As this Bostonian exhibits in the general
tone of his letter degree Of moderation and
good temper unusual for the times and the lat
itude in which he lives, we deem his cOmmu-
nication worthy of that notice which we can
not consent to bcstow upon the wild, extrava
CANT, and foolish charges with which some Of
the Northern papers abound.
l. 1t is very hard to meet these vague and
general allegations against Southern manners.
We read about a great deal Of this sort OF
treatment bestowed upon Northern people who
come among us; but as no names, dates, or
places are given, 1t is impossible to defend
ourselves, or to show, as we no doubt could do,
that such occurrences are altogether exception
al, and ought in no wise to be taken as the
groundwork of sweeping and insulting accusa-
- ,,lo or
will look into the Richmond daily papers of a
recent date, he will find that female teacher
of one of the colored schools lately appeared
before the Mayor in a very disreputable garb,
and upon charge which proved her to be
wretched vagabond. No doubt we should be
considered extremely uncharitable if We were
to form our opinion of the Northern teachers
upon this example, and so publish them in the
columns of religious newspaper. But 1t Is
by seizing upon isolated and extraordinary
cases and publishing them, as illustrations Of
what is done at the South, that the Northern
press continually increase the prejudice and
bitterness of their readers against us.
3. 1t is not to be denied that there are some
people at the South who, under deep feeling
of outrageous wrong inflicted upon them, by
which they have been subjected to the loss Of
every earthly possession, and the severest be-
reavements, and many indignities still added,
do feel too deeply, to tolerate without some de-
gree of resentment the presence Of those who
helped to destroy them.
But the cases are very rare In which any
well-bred Southemer, even when thus excited,
interferes in any way with Northern strangers.
They do not seek their society, and this is the
extent of their rudeness. No rejecting per-
son will be surprized at this, or expect two
people who have so recently been engaged in
civil and social war to mingle together in per-
feet harmony and love. We commend to the
correspondent of the Evangelist the remarks
of Rev. Albert Barnes on this subject, in
which, comparing the conductOf the Southern
people since the war with that of other COM
ouered nations under similar circumstances, he
generously awards them a remarkable degree
of moderation and good temper. We would
also remind this writer that if occasional rude
ness and ill-mamers among the people Of one
section towards visitors from the other are to
be taken as an evidence of barbarism-the cit
liens of the North are sunk very low in the
scale of civilization We have heard from
Northern folks when sojourning among them
such anathemas and such abuse as showed an
utter disregard to the feelings of SOutherners
in their hearing. We have known Northern
born people, who lived at the South during the
war, to return from visits to their own relatives
and friends in those ATTITUDES so deeply grieved
and mortified that they were glad to come
away. We have seen within few days gen.
tleman lust returned from the North-who
though he went thither with feelings in unison
with the Northern people upon some of the
most important questions that divided us, has
returned disappointed and ill-treated man.
Are we to Judge of the temper of the North by
these instances?
8. We have seen some Northern teachers in
this COMMUNICATIVE made it our business to
treat them civilly, have urged others to do so,
and have not known one single instance in
which any thing occurred like what the cor
respondent of the Evangelist mentions-the
nearest approach to it being rumor to the
effect that one of these ladies visited one of
our churches, and was so rudely treated by
lady who sat in the pew with her. that she de-
,lared she never would 60 again. But at what
church it occurred we could never learn-nor
lid we ever hear any Southerner, male or fe-
male, give an opinion on the subject, which