Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-02-16

officers Of the Bureau endeavored to Undue,
the whites and blacks to remain together. tC
show them that property-holders and laborer,
have an identity Of interest, to urge the grant
ing OF leases and the making Of contracts fol
wages, and TO correct all the false opinions
as far as possible, that had been industriously :
circulated among the freedmen by inconsider.
ate people from all quarters. These efforts
aud the other means adopted, had good ef.
feet and II we can hold a steady hand now
prevent extreme and widespread suffering BY
timely aid, afford encouragement TO every
laudable enterprise, and exhibit examples oi
success in every county of every state, if pos
sible. my decided impression is, that before
hVe years, there will be no more need Of Ru
sgency Of the General Government in the
southern states than there is to-day in Ohio.
Loud applause. | may be too sanguine in
this matter; there may be a reaction our
public men may not come up to their duty.
But say II We do our duty, FIVE years will
place us upon the road, certainly, TO material
prosperity. In my report to Congress
claimed that education is absolutely necessary
to fit the freedmen for their new duties and
responsibilities. Applause. l am afraid
but few people in the South believe in edu
ting the negro. shall be glad to find that
| am mistaken; but my impression is, that a
prominent gentleman in Mobile gave me,
somewhat in anger. an expression Of the truth
when he said, " would rather see the build
ing now occupied by the colored school burned
to the ground than to have it used for such a
purpose as that to which il is now devoted"
| had met this man at Washington when he
was seeking his pardon, and he was very
Il I a..l II. al.
" Sir, when at Washington. you seemed to
be quite different man. Now that you ex-
press yourself so plainly, l understand that
you will not liit your finger to help the freed
men," Said he, a" l think that had better
be honest. The truth is. we don't mean the
negroes shall be educated now. If you will
leave us to ourselves, in the course of time
we may aid them" Laughter. The peo-
pie of the South do not believe the negro was
ever intended by nature for education. For
tunately, few fanatics and radicals would
try the experiment, and the experiment has
proved a complete success. Applause.
Schools have sprung up as if by magic.
report upwards of 10000 children attending
regularly organized schools in the southern
states. Applause. Mr.. Alvord, my school
inspector, says there are many more self sus-
tanning schools, not reported. found six in
the little town of Tallahassee, Florida.
spoke to the negroes at Tallahassee. and the
enthusiasm and delight that was mamie ted
when / told them they we're free, and that the
Government intended to defend them in that
freedom, would have astonished you. APP
plause. Whole regiments of grown men
have learned to read and write during the last
two years, and | should not be surprised to
find that there was not plantation in the
United States where a part at least OF the
people we're not able to read. Our hope 10
the future rests in no small degree upon the
negroes themselves upon their struggling to
Cooperate with all who favor and endeavor
to extend education. Our hope rests also
upon the churches of the South. Already |
hear it whispered in Virginia, d" 1t is no lon
ger question whether the negro shall be
taught, but who shall teach them !" and some
add, il we don't the Yankees will" Laugh
ter. But we should not be satisfied until
education is placed in the South, as in New
England, beyond any spasmodic efforts, be-
yond dependence upon churches or voluntary
associations. If the simple truth could break
into the minds of all classes of the South that
the elevation Of their common people to a
higher pIsne Of knowledge would be a posi-
tive advantage to the whole, so that in each
State there should be established such a sys-
tenn Of common schools as would bring the
privileges of education to the children OF the
hum blest, then indeed would we count upon
the substantial growth. II may be some time
before this state Of public sentiment is reached
there, yet the leaveu is working. Every Ger
man, every Northern soldier, every shrewd
Yankee going South, carries with him the
convictions of his youth. (You will excuse
me for using the word Yankee" because il
has become really honorsble.) Applause.
Education is vital. We must raise them up.
Never should your courage flag until the
great work OF revolution has been accom-
pished; until the cities. villages aud plsuta-
iions shall have school houses ample enough
and teachers brave enough to carry education
to every intelligent mind. Applause. Az
ter further describing the condition Of the
South and the desolstion and consequent Bit
terness of feeling occasionei by the war, the
General said he presented this picture to urge
upon the audience kindness, sympathy, liber-
ality, magnanimity towards the whole South,
without distinction of race or color. Loud
Applause. la view Of the fact that slavery,
the cause Of the crimes of those who aimed at
the life of the Republic, was dead, they could
seek courage and strength from on high, so
as to lay aside all malice. all purpose or feel
ing of revenge, and put on broad and living
charity. He had no fear but that all wrongs
would be righted and full justice secured by
our government, because he believed the pur-
pose of the President, of Congress, Of the SUI
preme Court was to do right. His assurance
was strengthened by the solemn belief that
the finger of Divine Providence was guiding
Us through this revolution, and that HIS pur-
poses concerning us were plainly discernsble
iu the remarkably rapid progress we had al
ready made. hope, said the General, that
may be permitted to live to good old age.
that may have the earnest Of what | SO
heartily believe, that i may tell my children's
children OF those days when the American
people put forth their strength, saved their
Republic, broke the chains Of four millions Of
slaves, aud inaugurated genuine, universal,
unqualified liberty. Prolonged applause
The BoMpARDMENr OF CAFE HAYTIKs.-
The outrageous conduct Of H. b. M. 5. Bull
dog, which, on the 23d Of October last, at
tackled Cape Haytien on her own account,
bom barded the harbor and town. ran aground,