The Republican journal., 1869-11-04
A LEADING ABoLITIoNIsT AsToNlsHEp
rial Correspondence N. Y. "Revolution.nl
CHARLESTON, S. c.. Oct. 1869.

CHARLESTON, S. c. Oct. 1869.
You ask me to write a letter to The Revo-
luton. The thing seems scarcely possible
from this locality. Not that material is want
ing, but because it is too abundant Slavery,
you know, way my theme for thirty years,
now ii is Suffrage. For the former, | am too
near it, or its relics and ruins to see and
speak Of them to advantage. Some objects
are so huge as to be seen best at distance
And as to Suffrage, 1 begin by saying that
though it is the right now, and will one day
be the duty of every colored woman in the
nation, the present is not the time to agitate
it here in the South Push it at the North
against all obstacles and opposition; sparing
nothing, sacred or protane, that hes in your
way. But meantime we may rest the Suf-
frage question here, for q period at least, un-
til some much more elementary culture and
elevation are secured. He surely must have
low estimate of the solemn responsibilities
OF government involving the liberty, the
person, the property and life of every ind-
vldual in that government, who would force
the ballot on thousands and thousands to be
seen all over the South. And forced it was
on many men, wherever the slaves have vot-
ed ; as much as were ever their tasks in the
cotton field They knew no more and cared
no more for what they did in voting, than as
if they We're as infantle in years as they are
in citizenship and in political experience.
That they are thus lost, is what | was en-
deayoring to show. In moral culture, and
domestic and social position, their case is
more deplorable than in the merely intellec-
tual. The white people here pirate continual
ly of their Ignorance and inierority. But
they should remember that they themselves
have had the teaching and the training of
them through ten Of their generations, and
this, of which they now complain, is the me-
lancholy result. Intemperance here is fright
fully prevalent, and the colorcd people share
almost universally in the evil The whisky
here is almst diabolical and yet they appear
to love it more than anything else women
as we'll as men. They drink it red hot from
the barrel, clean and pure, and have seen
mothers pour it thus down the throats of their
six months old babies. And what is worse
there are very few white men who employ
them to any extent, that do not keep a barrel
on tap, and furnish it to them whenever a
better bargain, or more work can he had
thereby. Thereare no traces of a temperance
association among them. so far as have seen
or heard.
The marriage tie is not even a beau knot
among them. There is no tie about it rs Il
general fact On the plantations, vcrv te "
common, it is said, but marriage is rare, un-
less forced upon the parties, and that il not
frequent. In the towns it is somewhat better
than in the country, but everywhere, appar-
emily, among these poor beings, the legal re
strictions of marriage are but little regarded
As to any idea Of comfortable housekeeping
in the rural districts, and they comprise al
most the whole South, it is all a mystery vet
to be revealed, even to its first principles
There arc generally no stated times for meals
No family meal seems ever to be provided
TLe men cook their own hominy or rice whel
they get ready, and 50 do the women. 1t is
eaten clear to this day, as in slavery times
or with a little unsavory and attempting ba
con, but Ottener clear than any other Among
hundreds Of these poor beings, | have no
seen one SINGLE knife or fork; or any spoon
| but tin ones that were never worn thin b'
securing. Thousands of slavequarters hav,
no floors. none of them Il glass window, ant
very few, where | have been, Il decent chair
still less table or bed | saw infants ant
very young children naked from morning til
night and boys, Of at least Il dozen years
with only single garment, and that but ;
scanty apology. Many women, young an'
old, had little on above the waist, and moth
ing below the knees, and were doing day
works that not u white lAau in New Englant
or New York could perform, AT !, ralIroa'
depot, last week, /! was detained an hour fo
q train. Several colorci women were alst
waiting, some with child or two, whose
heads they were diligently exploring, and
AS | saw, not without the most loathsom,
success. One Old woman laid her head il
the lap of a younger one, and then Il rcgula
ku KluN klan search was instituted through
it, with results, too, of which need not nov
speak.
The ballot may be tie one thing nccdtu
there; but it seems to me, soap, sand, fine
tooth combs, pots, kettles, chairs, tables
knives, forks, spoons, decent food, cookin!
and clothing, glass windows, and even look
ing glasses, should at least 60 side by side
if they may not preeodc the rights of suffrage
and Of sovereignty.