Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-07-26

ject it, as the only management
it deserves; we would pass but
few laws relating to the late
slaves, that would not apply
to whites; and as for fair treat
ment, the best and the only friend
the poor negro has on earth is the
old master this the poor deluded
creatures are fast discovering, and
many thousands are returning to
their former homes tired Of the
freedom thu ust upon them, which
they never sought.
@. How would you better the
matter? Would the people return
the negro to slavery?
A. There is no such intent or
disposition anywhere to re-en-
slave the negro. They regard
that as entirely a settled question,
and impossible if they desired it.
1t would be presumption on my
part to submit plan extempora-
neously upon which our people
would work. give you only the
views of a private citizen, who has
never been in, or aspired to politi-
cal position. l would suggest (and
believe it would find favor with
your people, such legislation as
would compel all men to comply
with their cont acts for service, in
kind, at least for one year, under
penalty of working on public works
without wages. All men nearly
would bargain with and treat them
justly, and most men even kind
ly. The reported antagonism
which fills the Northern Radical
papers is not merely exaggerated,
it is manufactured out Of the whole
cloth-it is false. No such anita
gonism exists; and collisions have
occurred, only, within my own
knowledge, where negroes have
been stimulated to impudence and
hostility by opinions Of soldiers or
agents of the Freedmen's Bureau.
This will never be tolerated.
@. Have the freedmen gone to
work in Texas, and on what terms?
A. / am informed that they have
generally since the first of January.
Up to that time they had vague ex-
pectation of something more than
a freedom which had only depriv-
ed them of homes. Finding that
nothing but work would get bread,
they have hired; generally at good
wages; men at Sc to SIS, and wo-
men at S. to Sl2 per month, they
clothing themselves. Some plan
ters have hired by giving a share
of the crop, one-fourth to one-third.
@. Is there disposition to edu-
cate and Christianize them? A.
We would first endeavor to find
bread and clothing for them. |
think no one would oppose their
getting an education for them
selves, like other poor people. 1t
would, doubtless, be well if they
could read the Bible, which has
hitherto been taught them gratuit-
ously. 1t will be well if the ne
gro 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 nor capacity to
ameliorate the condition of his
race. He has no history, no ira
dition, nothing without or within,
to stimulate pride; no aspiration
above the service of the mas
terrace. Heretofore, his master
i has furnished him religiousin
ton, to the extent that one single
denomination-the Meth odist
Church, South-reports a mem
bership Of hundreds of thousands.
This is at an end now. They
will have to pay for their own re-
ligious teachings, like other free
people.
Q. Have they capacity to learn
A. To some extent they have
The little children learn rapidly
to read and write; but their capac-
lity is limited, l think. They are
initiative, but without ambition
they will learn, but cannot apply
their learning.
| @. Has not this been caused by
their long degradation in slavery
Will they not now have sufficient
stimulus to produce different
result? A.. We believe not. In
fact we view the whole mattel
from a stand point SO different