The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-10-02
From the Raleigh Index.
THE FREEDMEN.

Passing, yesterday, through certain portion
of the city, 10 which freedmen most do congrc-
gate, We beheld what must have produced the
most gloomy forebodings in the mind of any
one who feels an interest in the future welfare
of either the white or the black race. We
passed shed 10 which big, stout fellow has
| "opened a store" with a stock, the entire pro-
| ceeds of which would not feed him two days.
He was quietly laid back, doubtless awaiting
customers and dreaming of wealth and distinc-
| tion to be acquired through the splendid busi-
ness in which he has embarked. Near by were
three children, the largest holding the youngest
on his lap, and both the younger bawling as if
they would split their throats. The door of the
hut was standing open, and through it, on
pallet of rags, lay woman, the mother of the
children, apparently half asleep, aud as indif-
ferent to the cries of her children if they we're
SO many pigs. Near by under tree we're some
four or five men and women, stretched in vari-
GUS postures of the most abandoned Incidence,
and exchanging with each .other ribald and OBJ
scene remarks. Others were scattered about in
the ncighboorbood, some leaning on fence,
others sitting on door steps, but not one sppar-
emily engaged in any employment whatever.
We spoke to the mother of the children, and
asked her why she did not give them something
to eat. She replied that she did not have any
thing to give them. We then asked her if she
could not borrow something from some of her
neighbors, when she answered that she "didn't
reckon they had any thing either"
This is but specimen of what may be con-
stantly witnessed ali over the city, and in almost
every town and city in the State, aud, We pre-
sumo, in every State in which the colored race
has recently been emancipated. It becomes
question of vital Importance, what is to become
of them And more important still, what is to
become of the whites and the industrious blacks
in the communities where these thoughtless i'm
provident, vagabond drones abound Talk
about equal rights and equal suffrage! If they
were allowed all the rights they can ask, (aud
they are,) aud were to vote every day of their
lives, it would never benefit them a straw's
worth, but rather conduce to their more utter
decentralization, if that were possible. Some
thing else must be done in regard to them
their own welfare and the welfare Of all other
classes demand that steps be taken 20 persuade
or force them to provide honestly for their own
subsistence.
The winter is approaching, and death by cold
and starvation will be witnessed all over the
country, among the class of which we are speak
ing, unless some extraordinary course be adopted
to make them go to work and provide for their
own wants. 1t is a public matter, and we think
those who have the administration of the law,
and the care of the public veal in their hands,
ought to take into serious consideration the pro-
per course to be pursued to rid the community
of this incubus that hangs upon it. If there
are already laws on the statute books fitting the
case, let them be enforced if other laws are
necessary, the matter ought to be brought to the
attention Of the next General Assembly, that the
defect may be remedied.
We hope that, by this time, the freedmen
have learned that they cannot live comfortably
without farming or working for farmers.