New-York tribune., 1867-06-21
1 pEEnrN oN rIcE.

Whrn Hlop Coleu.o attempted to coax
th- i.1ch-vuu-lippiug natives of south
em Africa Into the Episcopal Church,
hc found himself obliged 10 choose be
tween tWo criis-yi.hcr 90 entirely aban-
don tc work OF regeneration or to toie-
rate polygamy. Believing that half loaf
was LcitcI tlau uo bread, the Bishop laid
Lf. mouoslmi-tic scrIplcs aside aud rc-
c.itcd L., black sheep. together with their
ycly peculiar Institution, into the Christian fold.
Now, IL Mr. Frances D. Gage is 10 be-
,leducd-.ud wc see uo reason for doubt
mr the statements oi so clear-hcudcd
and ,ou.cien.iur, wuuun-a difficulty dis
tuIy akin to tlat which Bishop Co'cuso over
camel +. likely 90 be- encountered 10y Christian
teachci. amoag tlr Freedmen OF America. Our
difficulty consist, in the cnlcavor 10 regulate
marriage according to law. illcgilima,C i'm ITSELF
Slavery Lutw chat legitimacy in amy form
va, 20 be- dreaded, and hence brought all
iis immoral strength to- bear against au
institution that was wei enough for white
folks but not at all necessary for "niggcIr
The latter did not go into society: therefore,
why defer to the prciudi,cs of Ms. Gwndy
Now, however, we have changed all that.
"Nigccr" have been tmnsigurcd 10y the wu
into colorcd people, are even considered rs men
and brothers. and i'm course Of time viii bee
allowed to vote for their former kind and iudul-
gent masters. Society being in some little danger
of coming i'm contact with the former chat
tel, Mis- Grundy is becoming Interested
in the question of marriage. and throws mp
her hand. In holy horror when told by Mrs.
Gage that the black women OF the Sea Islands
q. t..N ,.-.tlf va f.l.f4.
the men are strongly in favor of them. is It
because the women arc more dcpWvcd than
the mcnP Not at all Are they more ticlle in
their affections, and are they opposed to mar
riagc because of It's imposing the clcayiug
unto one man for liiel No again. Thousands
OF black couples IN the South have known no
other marriage ceremony than the acbnoWl-
edgcment made in their own hearts before God,
and vet have lived rs faithfully as though law
had made the compact.
Why, then, this objection on the part of the
women, who ought TO desire beyond all else,
that their children should be honored in the
ewes of the worldl Let them speak for them
selves. "Wc don't want to be married in the
Church said one woman to Mrs Gage
"bccauSe, Il lrc are married in the church, our
I" husbands hare right 10 all OW rages, and cdR
"do inst ,rhdt they please riH as" The qucs-
ton is not one of morality TO the frcedwomcn.
According to the reasoning Of their un-
tutored minds, nothing but mischief can
accrue from the performance of ceremony
to which they have never been accustomed.
OF what avail to send teachers down SOuth
for the purpose of preaching the holi-
ness of marriage when the taught can prove
that it entails the most outrageous injustice
Men advocate it for the very reason that 1t
gives them tremendous power, which, having
been reared under the benign influences OF
Slavery they will be likely to exert with unex-
ampled tyranny. Nancy is a likely hand, and
" ought TO be working in the field instead OF
nursing her own child,' was the gumblmg
complaint made by colOred man to Mrs. Gage
because she insisted that Nancy should remain
at home and perform the duties OF mother
rather than be converted into a money making
beast Of burden is it matter OF surprise il
Nancy sets her face against law that places
her mt the mercy of n stronger party
At present, then, so far rs the ircedwomcn
are concerned, there is premium upon vice.
Ii the marriage law, which IL alike tQg b0iA