Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-07-19
Morals OF the Colored People,

That the moral condition of the cOlored
people is not improving under their new
teachers is not so much to be wondered at
as deplored. Certainly none more than
we regret to see the rapid decentralization
which has taken hold of them-a demon
alization we know fully recognized by the
more intelligent and considerate of their
own race. We are certain that the increase
of crime, both great and small, does not
originate in spirit of i'll will or retaliation,
much less do they pariake of political
character. In most instances they proceed
from desire to plunder-excused,i if not
justified to their own conciences, from ne
cessity-want, brought about by idleness,
OF attention to political leagues and vague
ideas of confscation, with which bad men
have filled their minds
The increase of crime among this popu-
lation is a matter of great and serious re-
Election, and causes those who really have
the interest of these people at heart who
desire the prosperity OF the South-for
they are inseparable-to have serious mis-
givings in regard to.their future Upon
this subject we desire to call attention TO
the following very sensible remarks of that
sterling paper, the New York Journal OF
Commerce.
s'The horrible account of the butchery of an
entire family In Jones county, N. c., just received,
reminds us that atrocities of this description per-
petrated by negroes, are coming from the South
ern States with alarming frequency. We can re-
member nothing like it i'll former years. In every
instance, so far as have observed, the crime ls
instgated by desire for plumber or the gratitica-
ton of beastly passions. Nowhere do these out
RACES partake of political character. They do
not proceed from spirit of retaliation revenge,
and can only be attributed to a growing demorali-
cation among the negro population, consisting IN
a large degree, of those who lately were slaves,
but now are released from almost every form of
restraint. Not only this, but the negroes are
often the dupes OF Observation-Disclosures itinerant lee
turers and political orators, who fill their weak
minds with crude notions concerning their per-
sonal rights, the laws of property, &c.
The influences thus eXerted are Incidental to
the change suddenly brought about in their social
condition, and are inevitable. As all must have
foreseen, the transition state, while the simple
freedmen being qualified for the duties of citl
zenship is fraught with peril, not only to them
selves but to the entire social fabric in which they
move. None can predict the end Those VINO an
ticipated simultaneous revolt of the whole slave
population as inseparable from the war with the
South, found themselves widely at fault, and we
may trust that all similar predictions of wholesale
massacres or other atrocities growing out OF the
new-found liberty of the race will be as completely
falsified by time Still, the signs of increasing
Clal dlsorganiZation manifested in the prevalence
of the worst forms of atrocity-lust murder and
rapine-cannot be regarded with entire compos-
IRE. The final destiny of the black race now in
America presents problem of which, at this early
day, no definite solution is offered"