New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-11
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
nrn,vNcrs OF A SCHOOL MARIN"

"a fhs Bdftor Of The Tribune.
S,R. Last October | was assigned to coun-
try school In South Carolina The superintendent had
succeeded in building up church in tho district, and
Hourishng congregation Of tcolorcd) Presbyerans had
Joined hands to carry forward the work. In good
time we came upon the little log temple among the
pncs AMI a variegated throng was gathered TO well
come us. Tho building presented tho most meager
likeness to a habtation seen since tho days when
We went "soldierng." Pine logs, roughly put to-
gothor and not thoroughly trimmed constituted
the severely simple material, while yawnng. irregular
spaces without sash glass, served windows and
door. Tho spaces between the logs were ample, and
from them countless curly heads could be seen peerng
at the new teacher the imposing pre-Mosaic chariot
and stoed stopped before the edifce. At hint
from my venerable protector cloud OF urchins
rushed forward to assist me in alighting Ny school
house did not encourage OH closer inspection The
floor was rough and unplsned the was-barc logs; no
chimney stove door, or windows, and vestige
of a seat But there were plenty OF children grinnRg
lads OF all ages and dusky misses OF from five to twonty
| set to work quito chcery, however My sable pupils
fell into school ways soon, and began to learn with
considerable facility. began In November, and for
month we had stovo. When the days worry cold.
We built large fires out In the pines and udded about
them for warmth BY Christmas had doors and win
dOws "A stove a primitive desk for the teacher ana
seats for third OF the l25 scholars The little ones sat
very comfortably the floor, and did all that Httle
bodies could do master the situation. picture OF
this pney woods academy, faithful in color details, and
character would make the name OF any one vi ho !one
generation OF painters.
NV pupla were the children of men and women who
had been slaves before the order OF things. The
parents working faithfully for their old masters, en-
deayored TO give their offspring the Dement'S OF Yankee
learning" These children earnest eager and trustu,
work and study with wonderful patience and industry
They come to the school in the countless whimsical cos
part tidy frugal and take their noon meal OF roast
POTATOES with perfect satisfaction Each one comes pre-
pared with little store Of sweet potatoes; few MN
utes in the hot Goals sufces TO make bynoneans I'M
satisfactory lunch These little black bodies were run
Of all sorts of perpexD queries and outah tsh antics
The relics of civary are not above taking mean
advantage Of the cOlorcd people IN their new rcla-
tions In the disposition OF labor, the Freedmen
make agreement with the land owners to work for
thirds" is termed The owner finds" the work
mems families that is to say everything used by the
workmen il bought from the planter. or course tho
Freedmen can keep no account and at the eh' OF inc
season find hut little coming to them after the supplies
have been paid for. These lords Of the land hold II per
fecty fair TO manage that the c0lored man has no
surplus earning They still claim that the wages OF
the "nigger" rightfully belong to the master, ana
seem to act upon that idea. As consequence these
poor people in painfully poverty stricken con
dition Meanwhile their Rebel landlords obstruct the
Acknowledgement and kindred hardshps. Last year,
though the crops were remarkably good, many poor
man worked the whole year, and when the cotton
was sold and accounts squared, found he had not
one cent due hm-nothng to buy clothing, or to start
upon the year. But the stranges part OF II ia
that they will go this year after year. though
sspectng that they cheated Instead OF working Tor
settled wages Then too the old habits OF slavery cling
to them II they be without responsibility, and have
the old-tme establishments. they make no effort for
themselves 1t questionable III the drudging spirit en-
gcndercd by many years OF Servude can be eiaced
during this generation. The planters look with no
friendly eve upon the teachers sent from the North
to educate the nigrers and put unseemy motions into
their heads" To this day the name of Yankee Is detes
able and misrepresented. | found 1t dhcnlt To- make
the children Of my host 6eeye that was f a. tt
These people are curonsly inconsstent on me
knows that it Il standing argument against the North
that receive there less liberation than at me
south where they are treated with patriarcha benig
nancy. As evidence Of this begnaicy my chiVafOus
host warned me that he could mol permit coered people
to visit his house and IL wanted to see them must
Nv business however was TO teach my school, and
paid little attention 10 outside developments until the
works of the kKuX began to be bruited about In the
adioninr county fearful Outragcs were perpetrated
and had every reason to apprehend visitation. The
school had become 10 some OF the whites ana
II was limited that | would be bundled ont, and the
modes schOoh0se destroyed The threats Of this kind
floating about disrcgardcd, until one day gang of me
Khan came out in the pine woods IA, began swear
ing loudly threatening all sorts OF horrors 10 INC nlggcr
and gentle consideration OF the 1ahkee schVoi
marin" This, informed, was " a warning, anu. II
were wise, would at close the school and retire
This having effect upon me, my host nnaly informed
that the Khan had sent him coffin notice, when IN
dicated that they were dispeased at him for Keep.
ing "nigger teacher" ON his place Inc llth OF
March Is musterday with the negroes ana upon
this occasion they make merry. The kukluH
sent notifications all over the county tnat no
muster would be allowed but the day passed without
accident events of more than ordinary occurrence IN
the night the houses of the unarmed eoored men were
broken open and the inmates whipped cruelty ven
cradle freedman my chief aid III the school work. was
beaten remorseesy aud left for dead. There were 80
rufians In this work, all painted and masked but ul
questionably citizens OF the neighborbood All the arms
and H in MANI nsoentiy displayed BY the maraners
Beside taking the guns, these ightoned champions OF
found The confusion and noise during the night etned
like battle, and expected to see great slaughter on
No found out the nnrderers, or ever tired TO-
far as could learn There were great many ny
wounded grieyously but no effort made to bring the
authors of the work to justice.
The workers Of this midnight atrocity generally
feGas aRa could hope for no redress The rnans
warned the victims that they were coming again the
R %aHG week to fs H he day after the
tack Sunday had Sunday school, as usual and our
usual He called my host, and asked If he desired to
have me leave, as We did not wish to expose nun 10 any
that there was any danger or tnat ne or ms WIG were
IN HIM and Was not in the least surprised to have him
tell me the very next morning that he thought might
STAYED and that his wife was afraid they would mob
him if be boarded me any longer could moi, how
"The niggers have pushed the wall henceforh in
South Carolina we white men Will rue or dte 80 there
is help for it, must leave and the school be broken
up. il had been possible TO make arrangements 10
STAY independent OF the whites presume they would
have gone still further they had sworn the school
should stop. However, should have tied II II IL ad
been possible But there nothing left but 10 close
the school return home 10 wait for the time whom
the freedom Of our laws shall really be extended to all
and south Carolina shall be again opened 10 tire inhu
eDces Of civilization. At
NeW-YOrk May 8, 1871.
AN INDIGNANT CORRESPONDENT.
To me EditOr Of The Tribune.