Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-07-31

mortal boinSs entrusted to one's
keeping, and to take from thom the,
power Of reading Tho law of God.
themselves! Wo ldid;this, and thus
imposed upon oursclv cs Tho burden OF
instructing them wholly or not ut all.
What is Our chief difficulty now but
tho ignorance Of tho ncgro7 And
who is TO blamo but ourselves? My
dear Sir, God apprcnticcd these pco.
pie, Gas l verify bclieve,) to tho
Southern planter, and allowed us to
uso their bodies for our comfort in
supplying us with food ana raimcnt
and luxurcs of all llinds-and that
they on their part riight bo recovered
from the bondage Of the devil and bo
trained for immortality. Wo used
the cotton and corn and wheat and
other fruits Of their labor. Did we
give them their wages in daily in
struction in the way of life? Oh!
no, my dear sir, clse they would not
now be SO utterly Ignorant and such
dupes OF designing and wicked men.
l cannot feel that VIC have donc our
duty. Servants and children are en-
trusted by its tccalo.uc, to the father
aud master and they aro responsible
fJr them. Remember that thou
keep hol:,' the Sabbath day." and see
that others, "your sons and your
daughters, your servants" do tho
same T.! 1 believe, my dear Sir, that
any man who vas striving to do his
duty to his reop!e as q patriarch,
lawbouud and restricted as ho was
by want Of legislation on Tho part of
the Church., and Of too much lcgis!a-
ton on the part Of the State, Gin not
allowing the slaves to rrad,) would
have been entirely rcconcllcd TO their
freedom and thanked God that his
load of responsibility sras Eyhtcnca r.!
l say lightencd, because feel that wo
Southern people have committed an
error in this respect. Many felt tho
responsibility of these pooplo and
cvadcd it, and when freedom was
proclaimed they said, "Wcll, thank
God, We arc free from this now," and
":!en quoted their conscienccs. Many
who had Instructed them before now
ceased it altogether. Now, we South
crn people have to deal with tho nc.
gro aud might as well recognize it at
once. These pooplc must be elevated
by as, or they must continue to be
,horns in our sides and q torment
forever. Designing men may attempt
TO cstrange them and persuade then,
that we arc their enemies. Docs this
remove our responsibility Or lesson
our danger? BY no means. Man
cannot alter The decreos of God, ard
because he has decided that these peo
pic have worked long enough for us
rs slaves, DO they snot still need ou'
help and guidance, and arc wo moi
forced still to.live with them, and arc
we not in his sigb. their natura
guardians and protectors Assured
ly VIC arc!! They have been dupcd
and are still being deceived, and VIZ
must bear with them in their ignor
ancc, but awake TO our rcsponGibili-
tics and not try 10 cast them off. Ant
now, what is our duty? What course
can Christian mon pcrsuc to save ou,
country from civil war and dcstruc
ton First, lot us all humb!y invok'
the blessing of God daily, constantly
for our poor country and 60 to worl
to do what wo can. The ono cheer
ing thing-the oasis in tho desert o
political existence with us has bccl
that tho Chief Magistrate Of tho ia
tian has consistently proclaimed t.
tho world that having accepted tn
terms of surrender, we were in til
Union and were entitled to all tn
rights Of citizens. We were boun
to take the oath of allegiance 10 tn
United States-it was q bitter ri
but honest men took it honestly an
were de'etmined 10 keep it faithfully an
J we have done SO. How have we bee
: treated? I need not say, dear sir, it
known TO the country. Anal now oul
3 press upon all Christian men that tht
have taken Mis cole and are they. n
, sworn to oppose the party winch is up
turning the government and violating H.
Constitution we arc sworn TO protect ? a
suredly man! When we were first I,
formed that we must pray for the Presi
dent of the United States Cor is require
Ivy the custom Of our Church) it was in
deed a terrible trial; bat how Las Go
blessed US in this thing. 1t las = been
privilege to, usc that prayer for the mi
who has stood forth so noby as tho c!, an
J pion Of Right and the friend Of the. Go,
s!itutiou.. And now what we 10 DO wi,
the negro? Let US prove to them, /
patience, by furbearance, by active chart