The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1866-12-20

4 HAaGAGAA0ht
Major General Wood, U. S. A., Assistau
Commissioner Bureau Refugees, etc, the di
tinguished commander Of this district. r,
Gently issued Order No a. dated Novembe
Sd, offering certain facilities and funds In al
of the schooling of colored children, whic
brings the matter directly 10 the attentiO
of the citizens and people of this State q
large. A communication addressed TO m
from an eminent citizen OF New York col
nected with an association organized for th
purpose Of carrying out the same object, O
fers funds in aid Of the same peculiar worl
And besides. the idea which has suddenl
seized upon the great mass of our forme
slaves, that, in some way their children are {
be educated, and the anxiety many Of ther
feel ON the subject united with many othe
considerations, lead me 10 answer all iuqu
ries addressed to me in this formal, and.
hope, excusable manner
The education of the freedmens childre
in the common branches of learning laugh
in our schools, is unquestiOnably a duty W
owe alike to ourselves and TO them. | an
deeply and painfully impressed with the dis
abilities under which thousands of the poo
white children of our commonwealth suite
for the want of schooling Neither elias
should be overlooked. True PHILANTHROPY,
must clear its path of every obstacle in tn,
way of its proper work. and move steadily
forward in its accomplishment till all elasse
rejoice in the blessings of its mission.
| As citizens, and as Christians oul
relations are entirely amicable towards
the freedmen. We understand them
if any people do, All they are to
day above their savage ancestors, they
have been made by the white people of the
| South. 1t is due TO you, therefore, in calling
your attention TO the new form of domestic
care you are expected to bestow upon them
| to recognize the great and matchless advan
tages they have derived heretofore from
| your guardianship. You are entitled TO the
commentator of the civilized and chris
tian nationalities of the world for
the share of services you have rem
dered to the millions of Africans who
have inhabited this land. They were forced
upon your sires by England and by New
England, against their solemn and repeated
protests They were then benighted hea-
thens. They did not know the proper use of
clothing, nor the correct methods of prepa-
ring and eating their food; nor did they like
living in houses, or know the necessity for
the free use of water They were, in numer-
GUS instances, cannibals, and, until recently,
have been practicing their old ancestral hae-
its, while of the marriage duties and obliga-
lions they had scarcely heard. Their minds
were full of the grossest superstitions; they
were idol worshippers, and were ruled and
held in awe by their cOnjurOrs, trick men,
and fortune tellers. Their manners were re-
pulsive; their habits filthy, disgusting, intol-
cradle. OF God and the worlds Redeenrer
they knew nothing-they were literally
without God and without hope in tho
world" Physically they were weak, and
generally diminutive in stature being I'M
trained to systematic labor, the essential
muscles for profitable toll were undeveloped.
Their intelleCts were as dark as the rayless
night that brooded, and still broods, over
their native land. As general truth
they cared nothing for each other,
were bound by none Of the common
ties of civilized men, were by nature,
tradition and habits idle, thriftless and
improvident. They knew nothing of COM
ing morrow, and cared less They spoke in
numeraDie dIaIecJs, JaDDereu IN the unin-
telligible gibberish of the hundred tribes,
whose chiefs had rescued them from their
shambles of sacrifice and death, to sell TO the
English or American traders for glass beads
jewsharps, bogus jewelry, and New England
rum.
| now look upon these people, whom pa
triarchal slavery has so educated, so eleva-
ted, so christianized in your hands, with
amazement and gratitude to God and con-
them the greatest work of benevOlence ed
ucational development, moral improvement,
and religious culture, ever achieved on so
grand scale since men needed civilization.
All the boosted missionary enterprises con-
Quoted by the united powers Of chrstendom
in two hundred years past pale and sink
from comparison with the vast and I'M
paralleled blessings your labor has accom-
plished for them.
Despite the ill-advised and passionate en-
actments of Legislative bodies, stung almost
to fury by the fanatical attempts of abolition
lists to excite themIto rebellion instruction,
arson and murder, thousands of them every
where learned to read and write And but
for those insane inteIferences with your do |
mestic affairs, they might long ago have had |
multitudes of schools established among |
them, and probably newspapers adapted TO |
their capacities circulated on nearly all the |
plantations. Slow to learn and dull Of COM
prehensiOn generally, they were nevertheless |
rising gradually in the scale of improvement |
as fast as their natures were capable Of adj |
Christianity had won her converts among
them by hundreds OF thousands and their
of the Bible, the catechism, and
the obligations of religion, however imper-
feet, would shame the millions of Anglo-Sax-
Dns who struggle with vice and ignorance
under the very shadow Of monumental
churches and world-renowned halls, where
the profuse outlay of millions of dollars an
lually on schemes Of foreign relief, sadly
Illustrate the mock benevolence which has
little or no charity for the Greeks at the
loor."
The African slaves in the hands Of masters
have made greater improvement physiology
ally, mentally and morally, and been raised
higher above the level where the two races
TODD two hundred years ago, than has the
Caucasian.
Mere mechanical improvement is the most
ignifcant form Of the white mans progress
lie barns gas, rides on steam cars, and steams
,ver all the waters Of the world in sailless
hips, while he belts the mountains, and
ridges the oceans with lines IF electric com
nunication. He fights naval battles with
ronclad monsters, and land battles with
reach leaders, needle guns and multiform
hooters
But after ALL we enjoy life no more, nor as
luch as our ancestors did two hundred years
60. Physically doubt IL we have gained
{ all. Intellectually but little and il we
ave improved in religion, il is only in the ]
umbers Of converts, not the depth or saline {
ualities Of our piety.
The present race, just emancipated from |
avery, possess degree Of physical develop :
lent demOnstrative upon scientific principles I
lost indisputable, Of the excellent care, dis {
ipline, preservation Of health, abundant j
)Od, suitable clothing, and general prOtec- G
IN x-ou have haafovred IN II Whirh dqfea II