Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-12-17
For the Spectator
The Present and Future of the Negro.

The relations in which the negro stood to the
whites of the South, upon whose superior IN
telligence, sympathy and interest he could with
confidence rely in former years. have been sud-
denly changed, and new relations are being es-
tablished which will depend, in great measure,
upon the attitude he assumes in his political
affiliations At the same time, in his relations
to society as recognized citizen OF the State
with extensive political rights, he has been met
amorphosed from mere impotent member OF
the community to an active agent, possessing
voice and power, which, for time at least,
will introduce new moral element into our po-
litical struggles. Degraded in intellect, en-
chained to his low condition by his strong pro-
pensions to animal epjoyments, without energy,
forethought, ennobling aspirations, or a proper
appreciation of the dignity of man, or the sub
lime attributes of virtue and religion, the negro
has become waif upon the tempestuous sea OF
politics. subject to the inevitable DEGREES arising
from the logic of events. Laws, which are not
of mans devising, moral, physical and social
laws memorable as fate, must IN the main shape
the destiny of the negro race, without being
modified by the active, moral and intellectual
energy, which is the logical antecedent to the
advancement of the race to a higher position in
the scale of being. In state OF slavery, there
was freedom from care, protection, contentment,
as general rule, and the enjoyment OF as large
a proportion of the necessarles of life as ordina
rily falls to the lot of the same class Of aborers
in other countries. With freedom, there is no
exemption from the harassing cares that are
common to men in their struggles against pow
erty, and the protection and sympathy OF the
whites are being thrown away by reckless dis
regard of all ideas of right and propriety, and
the most preposterous assumptions OF privileges
Although in the nature OF the case, almost IN
surmountable difficulties presented themselves
to the advancement and prosperity ofthe freed
men, yet, By giving ear to the teachings OF base
men, who are so lost to all noble impulses as to
be willing to immediate upon the altar OF selfish
ness the dearest interests of society, they have
estranged themselves from their only real friends
and are fast convincing the rejecting portion OF
the Northern people, that the boon of freedom
which has been granted them, is destined to be
like pearl cast before swine.
We are neither opposed to the freedom nor
welfare of the negro, nor at present are the peo-
pie of the South, but magnanimous and benevo-
lent as they always have been, they would have
given the race more help and encouragement,
than the blatant, hypooritical, pseudo phllan-
thropists who claim to be their especial friends,
have ever dreamed of; but it is not to be ex-
pected that proud Southern men are to assume
a patronizing sir to their former slaves, or to
stoop to base demagogueIsm, lying and decep-
ton, to win back those who have voluntarily
united themselves against their dearest lnte-
rests At the same time, the harsh and exas-
perated feelings that might have been anticipa-
ted under the circumstances, in the case or any
other race, not bound by any ties of sympathy,
have been modified in great degree by old as
sociations, and charitable acknowledgment OF
the ignorance and inoapacity of the negro to
understand the partisan motives brought to
bear upon his actions.
It is well known that they recognize the SIM
pie fact OF emancipation, and being unable to
perceive that it was not demand of the Fede-
raj Government from the first, but only origi-
mated in the hatred engendered by the obstinate
resistance of the South, and the crafty designs
of bad men, they attribute it alone to the disin-
terested love Of the people to whom they know
they owe their freedom 1t is true the people
Of the North, in their utter ignorance OF the
real condition Of the negro in a state of slavery
and his general capacity, often quoted upon
others as you would have them do unto you
but, is any one SO ignorant Of Northern fanati-
cism as not to know that, like the devil quotlng
Scripture, it's prccepts are intended for other
people, outside barbarians. The theory OF New
England religion and morality is like Mrs. Ma
lapr0ps advice to one entering upon the world
''Talz like plus 'un for people goes more by
what you says than what you does"
If it were really for the love Of the principle
involved in the golden rule, why is it that
Northern States refuse the elective franchise to
the few blacks In their midst, and force negro
rule upon the people Of the South. We fear
that the nasal toned cant and hypocrisy Of New
England has had its influence upon the minds
and hearts Of many of the people outside of
WITHDRAWING Massachusetts.
The very fact of the difference between the
political principles Of large portion Of the
Northern people, when they are to find a prac-
teal application in the Southern States, and at
home, shows up their real character and pre-
tensions to saintliness in light truly unenVla-
ble If the destiny of the negro race hangs
upon anything so inconsistent and SO devoid OF
all principle as Northern sentiment, except in
matters Of pecuniary interests and political In
fuence, it will be likely to disappoint most
egregiously the sanguine expectations OF all
those most deeply concerned.
The philosophy and thought-mode OF the
Northern mind is materialistlc in the extreme,
and progress in material we-beng and power,
without regard to means, or justice, or human
ity, is the governing principle. Should the ne
gro race ever fall under the ban Of public senti-
ment at the North, which we confidently anti
cpate in the future, and continue to array itself
against the Southern whites, this cold principle
of progress, without any attributes of humanity,
will bear down upon the poor negro with mo-
raj, if not physical force, of which he has no
conception. To show that the position of the
negro in the Northern States, as to his political
and social privileges, will likely never be con-
ceded to be equal to that Of the white citizen,
it will only be necessary to call attention to the
real spirit which has manifested itself against
him in the past, the indications Of the present,
and the fact that there now exists an opportu-
nifty for the full development of the natural an
tipathy between the races, unrestralned by the
sympathy excited by the twice-told tales Of the
dire punishments, the fettered limbs, and such
like fancied wrongs Of the down trodden slave.
As to the question Of fact, it may be safely as
serted, that the negro, in state Of slavery, even
met with more sympathy, more material aid,
and more kindly treatment In the main, than
the free blacks amongst the people Of the
North. We offer no excuse for the abuse of
the institution, which was as abhorrent to most
Southern people as to Northern negrophillsts.
To recur to facts then as observed by disin-
terested witness, we quote from NJ. De Tocque-
vile, the most illustrIous foreigner, who has
written upon the political and social institutions
of the United States Nor was NJ. De Tocque-
vile an advocate of slavery, but, on the contra
ry, in speaking Of its introduction into the world,
says, 1T was waited like some accursed germ
upon portion of the SOIL But after a So
journ in the United States, long enough to study
carefully the character Of the people, and the