The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-08
THE EREEDMEN.
The GNat1onal Warsas's at aho Natiomn,
Capital. NJ

The Washington correspondent OF the
Springfield Republican writes: iNia
The NEGRO. ct q casual glance, does not seem
to pc solving his problem of freedmanship very
rapidly. Every third person ono meets il,
Washingtonis either black or speckied, and is
generally hallooing at the top Of his or her
vidual to come and have i rood time sae OF % is
having 1T alone. Ths black boot ahlner curls
up on his little box, and winks at the sun.
boots. The servants who sleep.ly open the
doors OF houses where one calls, always respond
to the demand il such person is in, sDeed I
don no, sab, . and leave one to mount the stairs
In the House and Senate galleries hundreds
Of able bodied negroes, who ought to be at
work for themselves and the good future. sit
idiy i listening to the debates. Every corner Of
Ethiope, who, ragged and lazy, is still auerying
whether or not to accept the energetic duties as
well as the privileges of freedom. The sauoy
the only comparison. But do not think me
prejndlced or complaining. The bright day for
Sambo and his family is coming. Little by lit
tie the unskilled hands learn how TO build the
negro To- in the city, he nolonger cringes; but
asserts his equality. often, Of conrse. too OBJ
'fHg.sG.y. M ssnce,,. ,.,.s -, ~. v;~c,,,, s,ao
the river have not encouraged me SO much aa
could wish, concerning the negrO's progress.
From Washington to Arlington, and for tifteen
or twenty mIles around, African cOler holds
sway and 4 walk affords o desoate panorama.
In o little trip Of ave miles, the other AFTER
noon, saw only two white faces. met hun
d eas cx zearoes, bnt they were inevtably
desperately d:s ragged. dirty, and not preposses-
the Virginia end OF the Long Bridge, Q Connec-
ticut MAN has set up o little saloon, aud IN his
vcrnacuiar the negro inhabitants round about
we're wsss ~ ~ weak Lot. Lys mostly BY plundslin'.
Don't seem to understand how TO get good
living anv other way" Yet directly Opposite
his door, heats of donations from tho sfreed-
mems aid societies North were being unladen
from the cars. Patent machines OF all kinds
wore piled in wagons. Those must have their
affect sooner or later. S5
The commissioners have just condemned the
parallel with and uaar 10 the famous ssiongH
one, for pedestrianss, and passengers from
Richmond and further South have 10 bo oar-
rieH around by Alexnndria. The track in some
places WIS piled with brushw0od, which Indus
trious freedm0n and women had chopped and
were eb0ut to 0arry away has@san sca.ssS. An
arm OF the muddy Potomac runs up nearly to
the road, about half q mule from the bridge,
| and there some negro boys were getting water
tn and carrying IL TO the shanties In the
distance. Conversation with them, and with
tho majority, ontside OF the ffeedmen'e villages
at Arlington, had no regular occupation. and
one little fellow. on bespg asked his occupation,
answered. Reckon doesn't do muffin, most
~" When he tires OF that genial employment,
he will doubtless ioin the lazy bOotbIaoks in
tho city, who drawl out, Give yer patent shine,
sab, in two shakes IS l,lS .' n