The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-28
Words of soberness and Truth.
A sENs1BLE co1oRED MANS ADVICE TO H1f
BRETHREN.


Nh. J. A. Wood, of Screven County, Georgia,
sends to the Savannah News and Herald let
ter which he has received from an old family
servant now living in this State. The letter,
which might be read to good purpose by every
colored man in the State who is not too blind
to know the difference between Southern
white man and Northern saddle-bagger, is
as follows:
BAaNwELL DISTRICT, S. c., July S, 1868.
NM Beioued Brethren:
The Lord has shown to me the folly of voting
for the Radicals, and the glory Of supporting
our Southern friends-the Democrats. ! sim
cerely hope He has opened your eyes, that you
NAV see and think as do. fyou wish to meet
me with smiling countenance, you must turn
from the lying Radicals: Their road leads 70
the ruin and everlasting destruction Of the poor
colored man. My beloved brethren, you may
be Democrats-I hope to God you are-but it
makes my heart ache to think, perhaps, you
have been persuaded by the demoniac Radicals
to believe that they freed you, and are your
friends. Trust them not; believe them not.
God freed us, and think it is our duty, as fol-
lowers of Jesus Christ, to show to Him, by
keeping his commandments, that We are thank
ful for beng moved from under the heavy
weight of bondage by HIS gentle hand. Besides,
the black people seem to mistrust and doubt
Gods ability, by joining the mean and worth
less Radicals, to finish the great work he has
commenced. This is wrong. Rest assured
God is able to complete what he starts with
out the help Of man; and if you wish to do
we'll, make friends of the Democrats, and leave
the money-hearted Radicals alone. You may
say the Democrats are our enemies. Doesn't
God tell US to love our enemies-pray Tor them
who curse and spitefully use us? More than
that If the Southern people are our enemies,
where must we 90 to find our friends? We
cannot 20 to the Radicals-they live in the
votes, go back home, and never think OF the
nigger till they get out Of Office and want
another one.
Itell you, brethren, money is at the root Of
all their roguish talk and rascally acts. We
have heard OF land that would be given to the
black man, but We have never seen it yet, and
never will see It. I don't believe the just God
would suffer the york of such injustice to go
on: and these sheep-headed Radicals can see
too far into the future not to know what the
i'll consequences would be If they attempted to
take away the Southern lands. was Radical
once; III tell you what changed me-: When l
came to this place in January, had not bread
for my family to eat. There l was with my
dear little tender ones suffering for something
10 eat. On, DIeuueu, Sou w Ao' hho" ~"
| my brain burned, how my heart was MADE 10
| bleed, by the cries Of nay starving children.
went to my Radical friends. They would not
lend me one bushel Of corn; but the gracious
Lord, in his infinite wisdom, directed me tc
the Democrats-tbose whom once called my
enemies. I found food for the hungry, drlnl
for the thirsty, and am now happy, because
what want, but we can't gel anything fron
the Radicals unless We get the Democratic maj
to stand our security. Which Of the two ac1
like our friends tell you now, il you are moi
working to support your Southern friends, yor
had better, ere you learn to do so to your sorl oW
Go to the Bible. It will tell you that when Chris
was on earth, He told the people to beware O
nor do as they did. You know, brethren, ]
the Saviour spoke Of them in that way, the
must be grand rascals. We are poor, pitifu
creatures-got no home, no money. Let u
work, then, to make friends. How ID the Worl
can We live but in and through the Democrats
You nnoJ think they oan'b do without our lnboi
but they can; they can get white Iaborers. Dea
brethren, take my advice. love you, and
YOU do not wish to wound my feelings, stick t
the Southern man. He is your friend.
II you will join me, want you to com
over and live with me next year. II yo'
don't, bid you farewell, brethren; yes, a Ions
farewell. I'll have nothing more to do wit
|
leave YOU to starve. Then will l give yol
bread-the Democrats bread-to keep ycr
alive.
May God move from your eyes the scale !
ignorance, that You may see the path which l
leading you to your own damnation.
have fine crop Of cotton, corn and pota
toes. I hope we'n all have good luck, IN
make money enough to buy us piece OF Ian
from our Southern friends. Answer this lette
as soon as on get it. Tell me oil about m
friends. Your affectionate brother:
AARON WOOD.
Mr. j. A. Wood Scar6oro, Ga.
DEAR SIR: Please seud for all my brethren
Read and explain this letter to them. sen
il to you because I feel that you'll take an Il
terest in putting them in the right path.
am, sir, your humble servant.
AARON WOOD.
PSI would like to have it published, sl
so that all my colored friends can see which
the right way ior them to vote.