Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-12-06
Our Relations to the Negro.

Our Relations to the Negro.
We are now brought to consider another
subject relating to the negro's condition;
and one upon which his usefulness in the
broad field of Southern industry will very
greatly depend. The Legislature is now in
session, and we feel confident that in devils
ing laws for his government, that body will
not let escape its mature consideration the
principal means by which the negro may
be improved in his own condition, and
thereby made more useful member of the
community. With this conviction, we deem
it not out of time to present, briefly, some
views upon the men of the South taking
hold of the Negroes education.
Under our former system, when every
necessary want of the slave was provided
for without his exercising any forethought,
no mental development was required, be-
yond what was acquired in the every day
practice of that industry which was exacted
and enforced by the master. The incen-
tive which influenced the master provided
efficiently for the slave. Those relations
no longer exist. The negro, in his lgno-
rance, is left to rely upon his own resour
ces ; and without the capacity to compre-
bend his condition, must necessarily deteri-
crate into worse state, unless assisted to
understand the necessity for improved, con-
tinued and systematic labor on his part
We are convinced that it is our duty to be
his instructors in those useful branches OF
industry for which his capacity fits him.
A large portion of the adults have been
instructed by actual experience in the prac
teal manual of farm labor. Another part
have been we'll taught the duties of domes
tics, and a small number have acquired a
slight proficiency in the arts of craftsmen.
With all of these but little can be done,
more than to so guide and influence them
by wise counsel and kind treatment under
the restraint of wholesome laws, to pursue
for the future those avocations for which
their past experience has fitted them. Ev-
cry effort should be made to this end; for
upon our success in this direction, viii de-
pend the prosperity of both white and
black for the next generation. But from
the young we may look for a greater result
if we apply ourselves in time to a proper
development of their capacities. These
ought to be taken at once, and I'M
der some wise system universally ap-
pled-shown the necessity for earnest
effort on their part to acquire that
practical knowledge which is necessary
for self-support, and to exhibit to them the
benefits to be derived from enlightened in
dustry. Besides, we should feel that, I'M
less guided by moral and intellectual truths,
they will inevitably imbibe vice from every
source We should not permit them to be-
come the victims of INSCRIPTIONS mercina-
ries, who ostensibly come among them to
do work of noble benevolence, but who,
in reality. are either striving for self
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, or else are the tools of
party passion, whose work must result in
utter ruin to the negro and in incalculable
injury to us.
There is no branch of the useful arts in
which the negro may not be instructed with
great benefit to him and with equal advan-
tage to us. Our laborers are almost exclu-
siyely from that class. Our mechanics from
the same source are largely in the majority H.;
true, they are but poor representatives gen
orally of their trades, but it should be our
task to see that the coming generation shall
reach to that perfection of which it is capa-
ble For the future we must look for the
supply to come from the same source
whence else can it flow Reason tells us all
this, and interest impresses it in terms
which must not be disregarded.
The negro has commended himself to us
by long service as q slave, and gene
rally by cheerful and faithful labor and
during protracted struggle, in which he
was taught to believe that all his interests
were involved on the opposing side, he re-
manned, in most instances, the same faith
full and obedient creature of our wishes
exhibiting in numberless cases a devoted
attachment to the master and his family,
which no temptation could shake Since
obtaining his freedom, as q general rule
he has borne himself with propriety which
was unexpected, and from which the in
been able to force him. That many have
committed grievous wrongs, all admit, but
let US not forget all the past; and let u:
not be oblivious to duty and Justice.
We have not forgotten our duty to the
suffering whites, whose many privations
our pen is unable to depict. For them, we
say, do all that gratitude, honor and ability
permit, and do not let pass uncared for the
dependent ones of our fallen heroes
We have them before US in all that we
advocate, andnotfor oneinstant is their vel
fare disregarded in what we urge.
In presenting this subject, it is not asked
that the negro become beneficiary upo1
the public purse. He is able to work, and
he will be ready and willing to pay for the
care we may bestow in our efforts to adj
vance him In his line of usefulness We
desire to impress all with the necessity and
propriety OF doing this work ourselves, and
In not permitting our enemies to divert this
element of strength and utility into an en-.
gine of malice and destruction. II NAV be
said that all our efforts will end without frni-
ton; but we have no right 80 to conclnde
L.. .1on ! ~~~o~~~~~~