The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-08-01

twenty years, and will indorse nv character and
ner uttered bis emphatic "No." that is so familiar
to persons attending the Senate; and MIR. Ran
dolph, with hoavy heart and considerable be-
ner refusing to say even that he sympathized
with any project for the education and elevation
Of the freedmen. and accelerating Mr.. Randolph's
departure by sending after him the consoling re-
mark: II don't want anything to do with YOU"
Mr.. Randolph then repaired to the White
House and sent in his card to the President, de-
termined to take his chances in that quarter. He
soon secured an interview, which is described as
follows:
In about half an hour Mr.. Randolph was po-
litey shown, not into tho ordinary reception
room, but into the Presidents library, where he
met the President, who kindly opened the inter
view by inquiring, "What is your grievance 2"
naturally supposing that MIR: Randolph had come
Dir. President, our oolored schools in Louisiana
since the suspension OF the military tax and the
return OF property hold by the Freedmen's Bu-
reau to its owners, have gone down, and day we
have not one-tenth of the pupils, teachers or
schools we had year ago. My mission is to en-
desvor to raise public sentiment at the North in
behalf Of the freedmen OF Louisiana, and to pro-
cure voluntary assistance to establish school Of
high grade in New Orleans, where colored chill
dren may be taught and colored men and women
may be prepared to become teachers Of our
people
Mr. johnson. That sir, is a laudable object, and
ono which I entirely and heartily approve Of; for
tho more man knows the better are his chances
Of being q good and useful member Of society.
The colored man, like the white, needs education
for all concerned. II the professed friends of the
colored people would devote moro attention to
the work OF education, and less to politics, it
would be greatly to tho benefit of your race.
have been accused Of being inimcal to the true
interests Of the colored people; but this is not
true. am one of their best friends; and time,
which tries and tests all, will demonstrate the
fact 1 have owned slaves (but never sold one),
and never ill-treated them. II 1 had they would
not regard me with the affection and respect they
do to this day. .-
Mr. Randolph. have just seen man who
was once one of your slaves, aud ne tells me Of
your kind treatment to him and his fellows. l
was glad to hear that from such testimony for
had been led to believe, from some whom now
begin to think use the negro gu stion po-
itIcal one, that you we're not friend OF the
Mr.. johnson. You will find, sir, that those
who Try to ride the negro into political power and
use him as hobby, are not the men to stand by
him when he wants useful friends. once said
would be the Moses of your people and lead them
on to hberty-liberty they now have and the re-
sponsibility in large degree is now placed upon
acquired position. How must you do that2 Not
by sitting down in idleness; no, sir. Liberty
means the manly assumption Of all the RESPONSE
Dllties devolving upon good citizens, the necessity
OF labor and the enjoyment of the fruits of labor
to foster education, morality, virtue selfrespect
self-reiance, and every other quality which goes
Mr.. Randolph. I heartily agree with you, MIR.
| President, and come here to-day to ask your in
huence and the use fyour name to assist mo in
my desire to do what can to elevate my people.
MIR. Johnson. Of course; certainly. Let me see
your paper. The President took It, read it, and
appended his signature, and then continued: I am
aware that great abuses have existed in the South
ern States since the close Of the war, and that in
some Instances violence has been used toward the
recently emancipated slaves. l earnestly regret
aud deprecate this state OF things, but the abuses
alluded to follow in the wake OF all great civil COM
motions and revolutions. 1t cannot be expected
that men who have for four years been MAZE
| familiar with the, blood and carnage Of war,
and in 30 many instances reduced from afluence
to poverty, can at onco assume the calm demeanor
and action Of those citizens OF the country whose
worldly possessions have not been destroyed, and
whose political hopes have not been blasted; and
the worst view of this subject affords parallel
in violence to similar outrages that have followed
all civil commotions, always less in magnitude
than ours. But do not believe that this-to. be-
regretted state of things will last long. Why 2
| Because capital aud labor are mutually dependent
upon each other; they arc controlling powers in
| the State, and must act harmoniously together
else chaos reigns. Now, the freedmen from the
labor part of tho South-they are at perfect
liberty to 20 where they please on the wide
domain Of the United States; if they leave the
South, what then ? Why their places will be sup.
piled By immigration, or the land will lie idle and
capital must find new channels elsewhere than
the South Meanwhile, constant loss to both
parties is going 1t is therefore the policy and
interest or both capital and labor to make the
beat possible terms with each other for 1t is the
interest of the freedman to stay at home, and get
the best possible pay for his services and for the
planter or capitalist to treat him 30 that he will
have no inducemont to emigrate, but remain and
become useful as laborer; and, believe me, the
freedmen, who are better understood South than
they can be at the North will eventually have but
little cause Of complaint on account Of the treat
ment by their former masters, provided their
educational interests are properly secured.