American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-05-18


EyA little plain talk with The
freedmen, in reference to the duties
and responsibilities imposed upor
them by the late change effected il
their relations towards the white
race-thosc among whom they were
born and raised-will not be out OF
place at this time.
Congress, for political purposes,
not from any particular regard for
their future welfare, has clothed the
negroes With al TIE rights and priv
legeS of citizenship, and at the same
time deprived many whites Of those
rights and privileges. 1t nowremains
to be seen whether the long enter
tanned fears that a sudden emancipa-
ton would prove curse to the col
ored race, will be realized.
Those recently enfranchised, should
bear in mind, that the mere right Or
privilege ofvoting and holding Office
will not organize and sustain a COY
eminent, nor make people prosper
GUS and happy. To secure these
ends, requires virtue and intelligence,
energy and enterprise.
The colorcd people should not lis
ten tc those who are cndeavoring to
create bad feeling between them and
the whites among whom they were
reared. There is no cause for such a
feeling. Those who were slaves have
no better friends than those who We,
formerly their masters. The people
OF the North are just as much re-
sponsiblc for the existence of slavery
III this country as are those of the
South. Then Why should those who
we're slaves look now with diStrust
'',ur i'll feeling upon those who honestly
1,licycd that slavery was the best
rtG.nditiUn for the colorcd race? They
were prejudiced in favor of the in
e. e ,ttY gdi, b. Interest rs well as aSsn-
by the late disastrous war, and they
hbaTe yet to see the first man who
We1id revive it.
True, the Northern States. in which |
slavery existed in the earlier DAYS of
the government, abolished the insti
tuition, by the consent of the people,
but 1t was only after the discovery
that 1t d't not pay. And when its
abolition was declared, there were
hut few slaves to be benefited there
10y, as they had been spirited away
pcrhapS sent South and sold. Then
it was the discovery was made, that
slavery was great moral and social
evil-a stain upon the character of
the government. There are too many
who delight to indulge in philan,
thropy at other peoples expense.
But the fact Of the matter is, the
New England States became envious
and jealous Of the slave States be.
cause Of their prosperity and happi-
ness. The climate and products of
the South were adapted to slave
labor, and these products not only
found ready and remuneratiyc
market in every civilized country,
but welded controlling influence
~ the commercial world. Hence the ,,
effort to destroy slavery, the main !
tourec of this prosperity, by those q.
who desired to make the manufactur.
ing interest the controlling power of =.
The country. by the aid and support !,
of the government IL was in behalf \
of that interest the late war was in f
Cured and prolonged 1t was in '
behalf of that interest that large :
national debt was created. 1t was r
IN bIh2i: Of that interest that nation
al banking system has been fastened p,
upon the country. twas in bchall Il
VI tIidJ lnitIfSO that tue IpcOnStflr- III
ton bill has been forced upon tie n
South as a means ofobtaining politi- f.
cal power in the Southern States, so "
as to enable the designers to make f..
permanent and lasting their schemes r.,
of Capitalization through constitu 50
tional enactmcnts. And it is in be q,
half of that same interest that men, p,
money and newspapers are being If
sent South to influence the negroes
10 vote atHi'st these among whom
hey welc br.. ard raised. Ii they y
allow thclH-cIl,- 10 be thus dcluded CO
md mislcd 10y pretended friends, G.
hey will realize the fears entertain pc
ID as to the result Of emancipation. an
They should remember that they are of
as well as the whites, A
md that the interests of the two of
aces are inseparable. ce
- ----- ~
UGeneral Joe Johnston is said
o be a heavy loser by the Parkman "A
He had deposited all no