The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-06

| and freedmen. TlOSe 1af0lllT WIFI the
| circumstances know that no appropria-
| ton was made, and the power OF the Bu-
| reau was not military power actually lh
possession, but dependence upon mill
fary power, went to work to do what
T could to help solve what have called
This old problem. My first decision was,
Labor must be settled; and if we do not
want TO revert to slavery, 1t must be set
fled without compulsory means, and II
m,,st he done Immediately, else we drlit
;nroanarchy, and confusion, restitution,
starvation, follow. 1t was very tempt
inc TO nut the hand of military power
on the freedman, and regulate all mat,
ters i'm that way! How the letters poured
| in urging upon me this course! Tlve
ma a system! Fix the wages! You don,i
understand the negro; he wont Work
| TI,auphter Gradually these letters di-
n,in,shed and the cry, "Compel him!
Compel him!" was less distinctly heard.
| fAnplause. The officers of the Bureau
endeayored to induce the whites ana
blacks to remain together, to show them
that property holders and laborers have
an identify of interest, to urge the grant
ING of leases and the making of contracts
for wages. and to correct all the false
opinions, as far as possible, That haa
been industriously circulated among the
freedmen by inc0nsiderate people from
all quarters. These efforts, and the other
means adopted, had good effect; ana II
we can hold steady hand now, prevent
extreme and widespread suffering by
timely aid, afford encouragement TO
every laudable enterprise, and exhibit
examples of success in every county Of
every state If possible, my decided I'M
preston is, that before five years, there
will be no more need of an agency OF the
General Government in the southern
states than there is to-day in Ohio.
loud applause. I may be too sanguine
In this matter; there may be reaction;
our public men may not come upto their
duty. But say If we do our duty, hve
wears will place us upon the ROAD, Ger
tainly, to material prosperity. In my
report to Congress claimed that educa-
tjon is absolutely necessary to mt the
freedmen for their new duties and re.
sponsibilities. Applause. am afraid
, hut few people in the South believe in
educating the negro. l shall be glad to
find that am mistaken; but my impress.
, sian is. that a prominent gentleman In
, Mobile gave me, somewhat in anger, al
, expression of the truth when he said, 81
would rather see the building now occu
/ pied by the colored school burned to the
ground than to have it used for such
: purpose as that to which it is now de
e voted" l had met this man at Wash
9 ington when he was seeking his pardon
!. and he was very polite. Laughter.]
i said to him plainly, "Sir, when at Wash
. ington, you seemed to be quite differ
i ent man. Now that you express your
= self so plainly, understand that 20
!, will not lift your finger to help tn
"a freedmen Said he, II think that
g had better be honest. The truth is, W
O don'tmean the negroes shall be educate
d now. you will leave US to ourselves
o in the course of time we may aid them.
g [I.aughter.l The people of the Sout
l. do not believe the negro was ever ir
e tended by nature for education. Fort!
Il nately, a few fanatics and radicals woul
J. try the experiment, and the experimer
a has proved complete success. Al
.e plause. Schools have sprung up as
8, by magic. l report upwards of 7O,O
N children attending regularly organize
m schools in the southern states. Al
1t plause. Mr.. Alvord, my school in
lie spector, says there are many more sci
le sustaining schools, not reported.
c. found elk in the little town of Tallaha
re see, Florida. spoke to the negroes
e. Tallahassee, and the enthusiasm al
ii, delight that was manifested when tol
40 them they were free, and that the Go
C. eminent intended to defend them !
of that freedom, would have astOnisht
nd YOU. TApplause.1 Whole regiments
es grown men have learned to read an
so write during the last two years, and
/ should not be surprised to find tn
~ there was not plantation in the Unite
h. States where q part at least of the Peep
nd were not able to read. Our hope in IL
IN future rests i'm no small degree upon II
] negroes themselves; upon their strul
~ Cling to cooperate with all who fave
of and endeavor to extend education. o.
re hope rests also upon the churches of Il
ma South Already / hear it whispered !
lr- Virginia, cit is no longer a questiO
&c whether the negroes shall be taught, bl
en- who shall teach them )" and some adj
l." "if we don't the Yankees will" Laugh
ee ter. But we should not be Statistic
in until education is placed in the South,
to i'm New England, beyond any spasmod
D. efforts, beyond dependence upo
iy churches or voluntary associations.
es the simple truth could break into tn
o. minds of all classes of the South that IL
he elevation of their common people to
be higher plane of knowledge would be
x positive advantage to the whole, so ths
Y, in each State there should be establishe
ed such system of common schools
ce would bring the privileges of educatio
IN to the children of the humblest, the
,se indeed could we count upon the substal
mt tal growth. 1t may be some time befo
/ this state of public sentiment is reacht
nd there, yet the leaven is working. Evel
is German, every Northern soldier, evei
in shrewd Yankee going South, carri
m, with him the convictions of his yout
yh (You will excuse me for using the woi
DIS yankee" because it has become real
i'll honorable). [Applause]. Education
or vital We must raise them up. New
d should your courage flag until the gre
Tot work of revolution has been accom-
lc- lished; until the cities, villages al
IS, plantations shall have school hous
ng ample enough and teachers braveenous
nd to carry education to every intellige
tut mind. lApplause]. After further de
lat cribing the condition of the South al
DC the desolation and consequent bitterns
ne of foelins eocosioned by tho war, b
ist General said he presented this picture
, it urge upon the audience kindness. sy
le- pathy, liberality, magnanimity towai
ces the whole South, without distinction
na- race or color. Loud applause].
Sc view of the fact that slavery, the cat
zen of the crimes of those who aimed at I
the life of the Republic, was dead, tn
In couldseek courage and strength from
We high, SO as to lay aside all malice,
lie DurDOse of fpaIinu or reypppe and N