The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-01-19
OPPRESSION OF THE NEGRO

The white man has got bis hand on the
negro's throat, and will not easily be fore
ed into loosing his hold. The name of
slavery is gone, but the condition remains
il many parts Of both the Caro!iaas and
Georgia. They tell us they will give free
labor a fair trial. and in the next breath
assure the world that the free negro viii
not work. and cannot take care of HIM
self. As have before had occasion 70
sly. this assumption of the free negro's
worthlessness goes far to make him worth
less. They prophe>y his determination,
ami seem determined TO accomplish it
The battle appears hardly half done
Consider for moment how they tigh,
against allowing him to be heard in the
courts and this Is the simplest of MAN.
hoods rights. Suffrage, the highest Of
manhood'S rights,-why, if If depends on
the people of these states If Is further from
the negro than the millennium Is. Wade
Hampton even had the impulence to ad
wise his people TO sustain hle action Of
the convention in prohibiting slavery, AMI
one of the Georgia politicians says the
state has probably done wisely in acqui-
escing in lis abolition. Yet the whites
will have their freelmen's code, and their
warrant laws, and their new system of
crimes and puni>hments; and, with toilr-
iifih> of them working 10 the one end %,
- keeping the nigger in his place" ii Will
he strange i. they don't succeed in making
his freedom something of burden TO him
The really good men Of all these states
sincerely desire TO see the freedman elu-
cate! and speedily admitted to all legal
rights; but they must fight his battles in a
minority of one to four. There Is much
talk in Lower Georgia, in Eastern North
Carolina, and in all parts of South Caro-
lima. about All insurrection. Much OF j:
| believe to be mask, under cover OF
which injustice may the more readily be
done to the freedmen; and yet | cannot
doubt that some persons really believe the
negroes will attempt bloody work about
Christmas. Inquiry among the blacks
develops Il state of feeling that can. in
Individual cases, he very easily famed in
TO Il spirit of vengeance; but was not
IDLE 10 find any purpose under this feeling
except in two OF three instances. Still,
the whole body Of freedmen is in such
condition that i: would not BE- very diff
iicut task 10 excite large numbers of them
10 Il wr;,:htul rising: and am sure the
course ri thousands of the whites Is almos,
the best that could be devised TO bring on
such 4 calamity, The injustice done 10
the freed people by STATES and communi-
ties i easily seen OF all men; but the
thou>anl little wrong> OF everyday lii,
bv winch their re>cntmen.S are kindlel
can only be understood by those who Visit
the whole people in their own homes.
DO not anticipate any outbreak. and yet
know ii Is among the possibilities
FREEDMEN BUREAU. ETC.
! For the abolition of the freeinen's bu
rrau AMI the removal of the military. til,
m.,-> of citizens of the three states ar,
very anxious: th"uch protests have beel
q IN .de from some localities against tn,
g ~iih travail OF the troops till after tn,
HOLIDAYS, AMI. in some quarters OF Souii
:. CarIiina. there Is even demand tha
they shall he retained there Indefinitely
n The truth l.. that the whites uf tn. low
country of that stale are air:lil of III
! heroes. their number in many pariShc
{ hcing scared one-tuurth is great rs this
= ui' the blacks. Bat every interest of TN
n heroes requires that the freelmen's lon
y rrlu SHALL not ONLY not he alnli>hel. bu
1 bc more vigorously administered. an
Y more cn~rgeli-:lliv sustained by the GOV
ernmcnt and The nation, than heretofore
j. and the safety OF the officers and AGENTS &
n the bureau. IL less than the wcil-l,cinm ,
i the negroes. tn fiurihcrance of good orlg
ii everywhere. AMI the protection OF North
* crn lmmi grants IN MANY sections. and III
Il, inculcation of a sound national Sentimc!
= anon" all classes. requires that the stat,
: he still kept under military control. an
10 that more attention be paid 10 the cl
le torcemcnt Of discipline among the soldier