Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-06-15

unfortunate in the chief of the Bureau, who
was fanatical and exceedingly self-sufficient
man; he began by preaching to the negroes,
and offending society by his social treatment
of them; we don't need missionaries to teach
rs social relations or labor system; and he
offended us by his arrogance and turned the
heads of the poor ignorant negroes.
Q. Could you manage the institution bet
ter yourselves? Would your people deal fair
ly and humanely by the negroes? A. The
institution is offensive In itself, and nui-
sance in practice; II left to ourselves we
deserves; we would pass but few laws rela-
ting to the late slaves, that would not apply
10 whiteS and as to fair treatment, the best
and only friend the poor negro has on earth,
is the old MASTER this the poor deluded crea-
lures are fast discovering and many thous-
ands are returning to their former homes,
tired of the freedom thrust upon them, which
they never sought.
Q. How would you better the matter2
Would the people return the negro to slave
ry2 A. There Is no such intent or DISPOSE
tion anywhere to re-enslave tho negro. They
regard that as entirely settled question, and
impossible If they desired 1t. II would be
presumption on my part to submit plan
extemporane0usly upon which our people
would work. can give you only the views
Of private citizen, who has never been in,
or aspired to political position. would
suggest land believe it would find favor with
your people, such legislation as would COM
pei all men to comply with their contracts
for services in kind. ut least for one year.
under penalty Of working on public works
without wages. All men nearly would bar
gain with and treat them justly, and most
men kindly. The reported antsgonism which
fills Northern Radical papers is not merely
exaggerated-.it Is manufactured out Of
whole cloth-it ID false. No such antago-
nism exists and collisions have occurred on
ly, within my own knowledge, where ne
groes have been stimulated to impudence
and hostility by opinions of soldiers or agents
Of the Freedmens Bureau. This will never
be tolerated.
Q. Have the freedmen gone to work in
Texas, and on what terms? A. am in-
formed that they have generally, since the
first Of January. Up to that time they had
a vague expectation of something more than
freedom, which had only deprived them of
homes. Finding that nothing but work
would get bread, they have hired, generally
at good wages men at So to SIS, and wo-
men at 81 to sl5 per month, they clothing
themselves. Some planters hired by giving
share Of the crop, one-fourth to one-third.
Q. Is there disposition to educate and
Christianize them2 A. We would first en-
deavor to find bread and clothing for them.
think no one would oppose their getting an
education for themselves, like other poor
people. II would, doubtless, be well if they
could read the Bible, which has hitherto
been taught them gratuitously. IL will be
well if the negro can 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 disposition oil
capacity to ameliorate the condition of hi:
race. He has no history, no tradition, moth
ing without or within, to stimulate pride; nc
aspiration above the service of the master
race. Heretofore his master has furnished
him religious instruction, to the extent tha,
one single denomination, the Methods
Church, South, reports a membership Of hun.
dreds of thousands. This is at an end now
They will have to pay for their own reli
gious teachings, like other free people.
| O. Have they capacity to learn2 A. II
some extent they have. The little childrer
learn rapidly to read and write. But tiei
capacity is limited, think. They are imi
tative, but without ambition. They will
learn, but cannot apply their learning.
| Q. Has not this been caused by their Ions
degradation in slavery? Will they not nov
have sufficient stimulous to produce diff
ferent result? A. We believe not. In fac
we view the whole matter from standpoint
so different from that Of Northern men, tina
there is little TO hope from debate.
z. Will you state whether YOU are firm
believer in slavery, and whether most South
ern men share your opinion? A. Emphat
ically so. ! believe that so far from tn
black mans degradation by slavery, he wa
exalted by it, and that to the best condition
he has ever enjoyed, and to the best o
which, as a race, he is capable. For som
thousands of years he has been in contac
to serve the master race. He seeks the me
nial employments, wherever he is found
Even in Northern States, after half centur.
Of freedom, find him nowhere teaching
your schools, filling your pulpits or legisla
tive halls, but backing your boots an
cleaning your stables aud bitches. By ar
propriating him to It's department and (.
manual industry taking his service an
paying him by thinking and providing fo
him, we believe we served God and the caus
Of humanity.
And as the questions have led tc this poin
please TO indulge me In recilng some Of tn
the evidence that my researches have fuI
nished, that this people have seen their bes
condition and will never flourish again.
Q. Certainly. Proceed. A. Our censu
: takers furnish industrial and vital stati:
, tics from which there is no appeal. The
show three points that ! will state fros
{ memory.
!. The free black In the Northern State
I in spite Of tho continual supplies from tn
7 South, decreased, in the last biennial periot
Q nearly one-eighth per cent in numbers:
O. The free blacks OF the Southern State
e increased about as much, making dihei
e ence of sixteen per cent, while 4.
: 8. The slave black by his side increase
4 twenty flour per cent. in numbers.
Taking, then, the axiom of political sc
: ence, that the reproductiveness Of people
! the most unfailing evidence Of their socii
D condition, the black slave has been in n be
: ter condition than any other people, whit
: or black, on this continent. II is TO th
y conclusion that you may impute our tena'
J. ity in defending the system. Our exper
= ence had taught US how to consult the be-
Q interest of both races, and we found them
l. precise harmony; believed the blacks wei
+ designed by Providence as supplement
!. the whits race aRd that 10 this institution
+ in part We owed the higher civilization "
!, claimed.
; O. Please define what you mean by ci'
% ilization.
A. The pride of character, the chivalro'