Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-03
THE FREEDMEN.

1t cannot be denied that the negro is en-
titled to the sympathy of the Southern peo-
pie. Faithful as a slave, his conduct as a
freedman has been as good as the rejecting
couldhave expected under thecircumstances,
all in all, by which he has been surrounded.
In his native state he ranks among thelower,
if not the lowest, order of human beings.
Transplanted TO America, he has been
greatly elevated and improved. In his con-
dition as a slave, he was neither expected nor
desired to look 10 his future comforts, or 10
exercise the proyidential foresight incumbent
on all, whose comfortable existence depends
upon their own exertions. liz his master he
found guardian who provided for his wants,
ministered TO him in Sickness and cared for
his comfort and sustenance in old age
Brought up under these circumstances, with
mind and habits matured to his daily rou-
tine, ard cultivated to an indifference to
temporal future, he is suddenly thrown upon
his own resources. 1t is not to be expected
that he will be provident in all respects, nor
capable of maniiesting the higher traits Of the
white people. On the contrary, while COM
paratiyely innocent, he seems to regard his
present freedom from domestic restraint as
Saturday holiday, considerably heightened,
and is disposed to take the full benefit of it.
He getshis firearms, without, in the majority
of instances, intention to do wrong; he goes
to the city, and enters upon career of idle
ness, and pays marked attention to the DAM
sells of his race, and considers it very fine
and very romantic, and very agreeable. If
he does not get into trouble it is purely ac-
cidental AT all events, he does not make
any money, or better his condition. There
are some old gray-beards in every commu-
nifty, who have cut their eye-teeth, who have
occupied their leisure hours IN the past, in
making brooms, door mats, horse-collars and
80 forth, 10 whom these remarks do not APP
ply. Bat the majority of those who run to
the cities and towns, generally spend what
they have made, or steal something to spend.
They are met by the police, or by the intel
igent agents of the Freedmen's Bureau, and
get into the work-house or the mil
itary prison. I'VE have to-day a gen.
eral order upon the subject from Col.
Cav, commanding at Chattanooga, in which
he says; lowing TO the accumulation Of a
great number of Freedmen at this post, liv-
ing without visible means of support, and
setting bad examples to those better dispos-
ed, it is ordered that all colored men who
cannot give satisfactory assurances of being
engaged in some legitimate employment,
will be arrested and confined in the military
prison, until employment can be found for
them. All pistols, revolvers, muskets, or
other firearms found in the possession of
these people will be taken from them"
Now, that the old year has expired, and
the notion of a general division of lands,
is exploded, and it is so clearly indicated
that the negro, like the white man, must
rely upon his own industry and good be-
havior for support and responsibility, it is
time that his more immediate advisers
should inculcate the lessons of virtue, indus
try and frugality-and teach him that,
while his own life is at best but short, he
should raise up his children to habits of G.
economy and selfdeniaI, and look to their
development as his true happiness. Let
them learn that the great fortunes achieved
and the great distinctions won by white
people, in all thepast, have been the result of
constant and laborious effort, accompaniedby
good intentions and upright conduct. Let
them know that idleness and dissipation and
bad conduct lead to sure degradation and
misery. Having nothing in general to be-
| gin on, let them understand that they will
have to build for themselves. II this
thoroughly instilled into the negro mind
does not urge him to honorable, continuous
and faithful exertion, there is nothing else
under heaven that will