Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-30
How a southern negro rarss I'm shs
North.

How q southern Negro rarss in ths
North.
The following letter from negro man
Of Macan, Ga, to the Macon Telegraph,
tells its own story;
wAsHISorox. October .. 1858.
As you see by this communication, /
.am at the headquarters Of Radicalism In
America. You know started on invita-
ton to visit the State Of Maine, but since
arriving here, and seeing what chance
colored man has in the North, l have
concluded 10 return home. Aud now i
want TO show my colored friends what
they may expect on their travels in the
Radical States.
1 arrived at Atlenta jast before day.
Ii was cold, damp morning. and l was
a stranger in q strange place, asked
some one where could find a, place to
stay until light, and was pointed TO the
National Hotel, the headquarters Of Gov.
Bullock and the Radical party in At
lanta. ,t
Amer all the passengers we're through
registering, / went up to the clerk,
pulled of my hat and asked him could
stand by his stove till daylight. He looked
at me, saw that / was colored, and re-
piled: mo, no, this is no niger hotel.
we have no negroes here but few
walters, and IL we could do any better
would soon get rid of them l. told
him / did not ask to stop at his hotel,
but was stranger and only wanted to
stand Inv the stove in the Office till It was
light. He said: Ego out and stand by
the door, aud when the porter gets
through with bis baggage be will show
You niger hotel.
left Immediately and was pointed to |
the limited States Hotel, which they told |
me was the Democratic headquarters,
and was kept by a Southern man: l
asked the clerk there could l stand by
his stove till it was light2 and he said:
=" oh, YES, my good fellow, and take them
aud trunks and make you up
a bed. You can get right good nap
before daylight" And here you see the
difference between Southern man, as
has been used to us all his life, and the
Northern man who is not used TO us and
does not like us.
/ left Atlanta on the nine o'clock
train for this place, and all the
way along / met with the same differ
ence; whenever spoke to Southern
white man, he gave me kind answer,
but could tell Northern man not more
from his looks than the way be treated
The colored people. -
When got to Washington / was hired
mt and wanted dram. So went to a
Dar-room, as / would do in Macon, and
asked for one. The barkeeper looked at
ne. raised his eyes and says he, No
nippers are allowed to drink at this bar"
Saws LII axes your pardon; am a
stranger, travelling about and wants a
rink nightly, and would you please
ell how l can get one 7? Says he,
Thar's perliceman at the door, and
{ yeu give him the money he will buy
me foryou." Then | went to the door,
md pulled of my hat and stated what |
yauted. Says be, Give me fifty cents"
which / did. Then" says he, you
tand here" Then he went in and soon I
,rought out little whisky in tumbler. {
md / drank it in the street Then l
topped awhile to see if there was any
bapge coming, and he says, What is
ou waiting forT Says /, A little t
bange, if you please" Says he, &
Change. hell; we don't wait on niggers
Or nothing up here" Il
Then next encountered gentleman
a high place. holding an office of both
rust and honor under the United States
and assure you he talked t
ery plain. Says he, we Northern peo- !
lie have no use for negroes We are
filing you should be free and have freed
on. but as for your equality notions, e
new are all stuff and nonsense. Do you ]
ackon would take you inside my houseY !
N Won reckon you could sit at my table
70. Won could not come inside my gate.
ON negroes must learn to keep your
lace. The South is the best place tor
GU to live in. If you come North you !
i'll starve, for We bave no place for you 2
ere.
These few anecdotes will tell you, my
olored friends, what the Northern sym {
atby for us means. 1t is Gil q political t
obby and there's nothing in it. 1t a
ont give you a place by the white \
ANS ire-or a morsel at his table-or q &
il of whisky in his bsr-room, or a kind u
ord, except he wants to use you.
here's more kindness for the negro b
mong OR old masters in the South, IN a e
az, than there is in year among the Il
eople up this way. il
The Southern white men are your best s.
lends. Stand by them and don't mind /,
ais Northern talk. remain, your a
umble servant, WILLIAM SMITH. ii