The Van Buren press., 1866-09-28
Our Duty to the Negro.

OuT Outy W tnc Ne6IV'
If our reader has ever reflected what
advantage and consolation it is to him,
to be able to read, he will be prepared to
appreciate rightly the grounds on which
we advocate the education of the negro.
The human being who does not under
stand the relations which exist between
him and his fellow man, and does not
comprehend the duties and obligations
that religion and humanity impose upon
him, cannot, reasonably, be expected to
render to society what is due to him.
The negro, when in state of bondage,
was entirely under the control and guild
ance of his master, who could exact from
him the proper performances of what So
cietv demanded Of him To-day, he is
free to follow his own british instincts
and our greatest wonder is that lie has
not been guilty of greater excesses than
he has.
Over what little mind his Maker has
seen fit to give him, hangs the dark pail
of ignorance. We can attribute our i'm
punity from danger in times past, only to
his tractable disposition. 4..es
RENTED, by the sudden bestowal OF
freedom, to the guidance Of his own ami
nal passions; excited to deeds of vio-
lence by tmmitigated villains, and taught
to look uponus as his natural enemy, we
are surprised that he has not been guilty
Of greater crimes than he has
In the days of slavery, when we could
control him, it was our constant care to
guard his coming in contact with bad
men, Now that he is beyond our con
t-"i, and ran oo whittier he pleases, and
associate with whom he IIkee, No .-----i,
fest a strange indifference to a danger
that in the past was the source Of con
stant uneasiness. ~ ~
We think that there is more danger to
be apprehended Of insurrecton and con
spiracies now, than ever before. He has
opportunities of organizing, and has been
thoroughly corrupted by INSCRIPTIONS
emissaries. The same inducements are
held out to him as formerly--a gratifca-
ton of his lust, the possession of ouf
wealth, and the elevation to power Of his
race. And what is more, he is taught
that there is an immense party which
would, to crafty vengcfu spirit, re-
ioice at, and uphold him in, a course OF
rape, rapine, and murder SO long as the
South was the theatre of it.
Common humanity appeals to as to
provide against any of our race becom-
ing the victims Of his unbridled ferocity,
as well as against the wholesale slaugh-
ter Of his entire race among us. For
merly, interest led us to guard against
the latter contingency; shall humanity
have less influence with us 1iaf
Our people have genuine sympathy
for the negro in his unfortunate condi-
ton. Past associations attach us to him
and we would fain alleviate his condition.
Humanity urges it upon us, and religion
demands it at our hands. Let us respond
by endeavoring to educate him to com
prehend the laws of his being, the duties
devolving upon him, and the relation In
which he stands to the world. BY yteaeh-
ing him to read, we open up the way for
him, from barbarism to civilization.
Farther our holy religion teaches us
that, as human being, he has q soul to
be saved. Christianity demands that We
put the Bible into his hands, that from
the inspiration Of its pages, he may seek
consolation, that by its precepts he may
frame his conduct, and from its teachings
he may learn to be content with his
lot.
1t is useless TO waste time in preaching
to him Of the sin Of stealing, orof VIC
lating any of the commandments in the
Decaloguc, when his mind, in its benign.
ted condition, cannot appreciate the force
Of the obligation he is under to avoid it.
We conceive it to be our solemn duty,
equally taught us by humanity and relig-
ion, to attempt the improvement Of his
mind. f1-r Io I,lfi.,i
I. We can surely leave it to Providence TO
work out his destiny, after we shall have
performed our duty, and discharged our
selves from the great responsibility rest
ing upon us in the matter. Interest, hu
manity and religion, are co-incdent in
their appeals to us in reference to this
subject. HrHt"
Let us heed their voice.-LiMe Roel
Gazette. .f,.
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