Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-06-01
NJ aryland Correspondence.

Il
markably slow in this Land so long
blighted with the curse Of American
| Slavery, and now writing under al
Unborn prejudice, fatal alike to the
interests of Church and State PREF,
udice against color, among high bred
Southerners, is, apparently, as strong
as death s. and yettbe proponderanoe
of yellow-skins, among the colored
population of Maryland, indicates
the absence of that exclusiyeness so
highly creditable 10 the Anglo~Saxon
race. Talk about Northern equality
and fraternization-white men mar
rying Triggers The thing is abso-
lutely preposterons with Northern
and Western people but the South
gives the clearest evidence, ii the
mixed color of the native born" of
a corruption of the races, forbidden
by the law Of nature, and disgusting
/ to the nobler instincts Of mainly.
Good may result to the black race
by the violation OF the laws Of honor
and propriery, for those SO highly
seasoned with white blood are the
more intelligent and refined among
the colored people, and so far, have
become leaders in all the social and
moral reforms inangurated among
| this new class of American citizens
Our Southern friends are evidently
surprised at the great change every
where apparent among the blacks
of our commonwealth as industry
and thrift begin to manifest them
selves among this unfortunate peo-
pie, and not . few are giving evil
dence Of wonderful adaptation to
by mysterious providence, they
have been brought. All over Mary
land our labor is mostly done by this
class Of persons. Many succeed in
cultivating the farms Of their former
masters, and IL procuring few acres
of land with log cabin, upon which
they devote their leisure hours, and
thus provide excellent homes for the
comfort of themselves and their nu-
merous progeny. In q few instances,
we know where colored men have
shown as much tact in the manage
ment Of business, in various depart.
ments Of life, as white men and
where they are industrious and eco
nomical, they often make headway,
financially that is truly surprising.
They have shown q commendable
zeal, more especially, for the mental
and moral Improvement Of their race
and now have numerous schools con-
Quoted by persons Of their own color,
and churches supplied by their own
preachers, some Of whom are men Of.
great native talent, and remarkably
eloquent in the pulpit. Many of their
clergy are original thinkers, and nan
ifest great fervor in their pulpit min-
istrations, after creating such a fu-
roro as to make Westerner think of
the Mississippi river as high water
mark, TO attends an Annual Confer
enee or Convention Of blacks, is both
amusing and instructive, as they do
business like no other people, often
caricaturing each others faults in
public debate, and generally showing
as little regard to Parliamentary
rules, as untutorod savages manifest
for the refnements Of civilized life.
Anti~slavory Churches have done
great work in the South, in Keep
ing alive friendly spirit toward our
black brethren often in shaping pub
lie opinion 50 as TO favor the educa
ton and elevation Of this people;
contrary to the very genius of human
servitude How God could bless this
land, while our rulers held the rod of
oppression over the poor slave, has
been mystery that wise men, even,
have rot been able to solve His
blessings were few, and comparative
| " small, as is evidenced by the phys
ical, as well as moral absolution ev-
erywhere apparent. The very soil
will require years Of rest and recu-
peration, for it is worn threadbare
with inindicious management and
cursed with the sweat and ,oil OF a
people denied all civil and social
rights, aud slaves to the cupidity and
passions OF men.
! In most cases, marriage was de-
MED this unfortunate race and in our
best churches it was thought proper
/ and right for blacks to mingle pro-
miscuously, and if any marriage GER.
emony was performed, white minis
tiers ought not to let themselves down
so low as to marry blacks. In most
eases, deaconsand class leaders could
say over few words, on a marriage
occasion, as valid as making couple
i Jump over broom stick, which sat-
isGed tho parties, who, in their igno-
rance, supposed that the ceremony
was binding so long as they could
agree to live together, and no longer.
Is it any wonder that Gods curse
should rest heavily on such people,
guilty of such high banded immoral
/ ity? The War was "a God send, .
/ for nothing short of military power
could clean out Southern society, and
bring the people under an elevating
and softening Influence. But for.tho
political status of Mary land, she
would have been one of the most
thriving and prosperous Southern
States. But, alas, an embargo is laid
upon the tide of emigration, and the
tendency Of our Northern, as well as
foreign emigration, is westward rath-
| er than southwark. A free people
do not like to locate where pFoscrip-
ton is the rule, rather than the ex-
beption and until there is a change
in the politics of our State, which,
by the by, will soon occur, we MUS
snail like move along, waiting and
hoping for better days, If the peo-
pie of the South don't see and i'm
prove upon their day Of merciful Wis.
itation, God will take from them
their three talents and bestow then
upon q people having but one. Nor
anon. CLERIcUs.
4 Montgomery Co, Nd, May is, 1869.
4 Food for cattle in the northern
I