The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-28
pETERsBURG, August q, 1868.


In the present relations IF the races one
of the greatest burdens imposed on the
cities, and to some extent Oh the counties,
is the education of negro children and the
support of negro paupers. 1t is worse on
the cities, for thther the negroes flock from
the country, as if they had rather starve
in company with others than live and work
by themselves in seclusion. A large pro-
portion Of them have little thought beyond
the present moment. Hence they crowd to-
gether without any Interior views about
making provision for themselves and faml-
lies. Decentralization and pauperism are
the result; and such frequent liberties are
taken with the property of others that 1t
may truly be said one-half of the people
work to support the other half in ldleness.
In anticipation of the pressure of this
burden, and of the probability that our
local Bureau will cease TO issue rat,ons IN
future, or issue them very sparingly, our
vigilant Mayor has effected an arrangement
with General O. Brown by which the latter
agrees to support all colored persons here
after when removed to the poor-house. All
outside aid is to be withheld. The effect of
this will be to escape imposition, as few or
none besides those in suffering and help
less condition will seek shelter at the poor
house, while half the negroes in the city
are capable of raising some pretence for
drawing provisions from the Government If
no restraint is put upon them.
In like manner it is believed the Bureau
will afford substantial aid in the education
of colored children-otherwise the city Of
Petersburg has undertaken more in their
behalf than it can accomplish for not one
negro in ten will ever pay an education tax,
or any other, except on compulsion. Our
municipal experience goes to prove this +;
for they seem to act on the presumption
that society owes them a living, and they
must have it one way or another.
Possibly in the course of time-say in
the next generation-with the advantages
of such education as the race is capable of
acquiring, they may exhibit some improve
ment. In the four years experience, how
ever, since the war, We have no evidence at
home to show that anything more than a
primary education can be engrafted on them.
The Radical belief that the negro is equal
to the white man in intellectual endow-
ments has no substantial basis to rest upon.
All history goes to dlsprove 1t. The highest
civilization he is capable Of reaching was
under the mild form of slavery as it ex-
listed in some of the southern States. Re-
leased from this, and coming under the in
tuence of adventures from other places,
the repulsive features Of his character get
the predominance. He cuts loose from
his former associations, and enters on
a career of idleness and dissipation. This
rupture is greatly to be regretted on every
account. Had a good understanding con-
tinued to exist between the blacks and their
former masters, they would have been
treated with a tenderness and consideration
which it is believed no subordinate race
ever received at the hands of their supe
riors. While it is difficult matter to re-
store lost confidence, it may be hoped that
Christian charity and forbearance on the
part of the whites will yet have its proper
effect Of recalling them to sense of the
error they have committed. S.