Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-07-30
The Freedmen.


slavery question before the war cannot have
forgotten the direful consequences predicted
as certain to flow from emancit alton. Even
the most sanguinc champions of the abolition
Of slavery were a little doubtful Of the i'm.
mediate effect of freedom upon race
so long oppressed aud imbruted But
facts demonstrate incidentally that the
colorsd people Of the South are giving
evidence of more practical good sense than
their best friends gave them credit for
possessing. While their treatment during
the long years of their euslavemcnt was
well calculated to stupcfy their minds and
blunt their feelings they are nevertheless
showing full apprccialiono of their position,
and acting with a discretion which must
command the respect and secure the conf.
dence Of all Although they are more
numerous than the whites 10 many sections
Of the South, there has been no evidence Of
a disposition on their part in a single in-
stance, so far as has come to the knowledge
of the public, to use their power improper.
ly. They have shown degree Of patience
and forbearance which entities them to TIE
greatest credit. Many supposed and not
without show Of reason, that the colored
people, who had endured the hsrdshirs, de.
privations and cruclties Of slavery, would,
when given their freedom, feel disposed to
retaliate upon their opprcssors, and seek
revenge for past grievances but nothing Of
the kind has occurred. On the contrary,
the colored people have felt disposed to for
give and forget the injustice Of the past.
They know the prejudices that exist against
them, and they have evidently determined
to show themselves worthy Of respect and
Of equal rights.
At recent convention Of colored people
in Brennan, Texas, an address was issued,
the sentiments of which must merit the APP
probation of all, since it breatbes through
out the genuine spirit Of patriotism and
self-sacrifcing devotion to the general wei.
fare Of the country. Hear them:
Notwithstanding all that we, the colored
people of the State, have suffered at the hands
Of our white felow-ctizens, we cherish toward
them no animosities, and will hail with salts
faction any manifestation on their part of
disposition to nbatc their prejudices, and con
cede 10 US willingly all those rights and priv
ileges TO sweeten the enjoyment of civil life
There is no intelligent man in the State who
should not discern at glance that the enemies
OF the colOred men wiliully abuse the public
mind when they. assert that we are aspirants
for social privileges and are DESTROYS Ol pro-
noting legislation Of character that will
effect it. We certainly are not 80 foolish as to
imagine that any law could he framed that
could effect such an object"
Can any one take exception to this state
ment of the position and wishes Of the
coored people2 Do they claim too much,
or state their claims in offensive terms I?
Not at all. They modestly refer to their
grievances in the past declare Il willingness
to forgive it all, and protest that they do
not seek social position through legislative
enactmeuts.
But, upon another point, they say:
4" 1t is misfortune for both races that
Southern white men seem determined b leave
their cOlOred ielow-citizens nothing to he CRATE
fu for Every right we now enjoy has been
forced from their grasp, in the face of stern
opposition, and openly expressed hatred. Had
even part that we now enjoy been vuluntari
ly conceded, the mass of coored people would
have patiently waited until time and education
fitted them for the rest, and many of the evils
OF Legislation to which the South has been ex-
posed could have been avoided
Was ever rebuke more richly deserved,
or better administered? Are there any
white people at the South, or elsewhere
who could have stated great truth better
Much as the colored pOoplo have endured
at the hands Of the whites, now that the
power is measurably transferred to the CO.
lored race, how they long to be treated kind
ly and justly by those who have so bitterly
prosecuted them They show more of the
true spirit Of Christian forgiveness and love
for their enemies than poor human nature
usually manifests under such persecution.
If the whites of the South could only be
induced TO meet their colored neighbors
halfway, there would be no difficulty in
the way of complete and thorough recon-
struction.