The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-10-31

Freedmen
Decline = Limited Capacity of the Coiorcd
Race-Tcndcncy 10 Fetish Worship A Rituni
the best Safeguard against IT.
PETERSBURG, October so, 1867.
Whether it is that the freedmen's schools
are less literally endowed by the northern
philanthrop;Sts, or that they have lost some
Of their novelty 70 those for whose benefit
they were established, the interest taken
in them would seem to be on the wanc.
For time after the war-that is, for the
first two ScarS-one could not walk along
the streets without encountcring squads
of colored children with arms full Of.
books; but now the sight is much
more rare. Formerly, too, there were
school houses in various parts OF the city,
not the most retired, in front OF which, al
certain hours, any number of these juve-
nile seekers after knowledge were enjoy
ing their pastimc. All these things have
certainly undergone a change. We no
longer see the pupils on the streets, except
in small numbers. 1t may be, in part, that
the schools have been withdrawn more
from public view. Ii is understood that
several female teachers arrived in the
early part Of the month, and one or two
others more recently. Perhaps, also, the
opening of the schools has not yet been
fully inauguratcd. But, after all allow
anccs are made, it would appear that the
school room is by no means 50 attractive a
place as it used TO be.
1t will soon he found that the negro is
not such a devotee at the shrine Of know
ledge as his admirers have represented
him to be. 1t may we'll be doubted
whether the genuine blacks have any ca
pacity for Improvement beyond primary
education. 1t is believed that all those Of
the coloIcd race who have made any
figure within the last two or three years
have greater or less mixture of white
blood in their veins. The amclioration
produced by this mixture is conclusive
proof Of the superiority of the one race and
the infcriority OF the other. Science also
leads TO the same conclusion and II there
was not contemporary proof enough 1"
establish it, the whole history Of the black
races is amply sufficient to settle the point
In view OF these marked differences and
antagunismS, which are engravcn IN the
very constitutions Of the respective classes,
il cannot be long before the present at
tempt TO oblterate distinctions will be re-
oardcd as the greatest outrage that was
ever perpetratcd on civil liberty and I'M
less some PREPARATION is made by counter
legislation, the greater portion OF the
southern States must be eventually given
W TO the reign olviolence and harbarism.
When Bishop Bcckwith was on visit 70
this CITY few weeks ago he made the
statement that within two hundred yards
Of his church in New Orleans the negroes
had heather temple, in which the rites
of African worship We're regularly per-
formed. The same state OF things Will
doubtless exist in other places where they
nav be withdrawn from chriStianiZing in
fucnccs; and it is no violent assumption
to say that from the moment Of their eman-
cipation this retrograde movement began
10 take place.
The most intclligcn. gentleman in this
CITY who has interested himself IL the i'm
urovcment and education Of the blacks IS
Mr.. A. ". Waddell. He is native Of the
place, and his course has been dictated by
feelings of pure philanthropy. He has
been active in this work since the first
wear after the war, and his experience Is
consequently Of much value. His opinion IS
that there is 10 other way 10 keep these
people from running into the widest
auaticism but to cOniine them IN their
religious instructions strictly 10 the ritual
of the Church, and diScountenance the
use Of all forms and prayers OF their own.
If left TO themselves. they soon fall into ali
sorts Of cXtravaganCeS.