American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-12-30
To the Public.

u ari Oh SuIJcFNleOlS 81 MastISo
county. Mississippi, was caile,
upon shy the culOred people 1T IN,
neighLo,hMsd To make u spe. ch "a
"a picnic given to their school Child
rem, and never having attempted
such thing before, 1 ri. Il to se1
trxcused tram making the eff' t. bu
alter being prevailed upon | arot,
sfawn few remarks AMI cad II L.
them, and the result 1T il WAS, il
was reported Thar l was making
Radical stump s,.-echrs. Vow. foi
tiis. manliness Of nv friends i,u
havs. stood up 10. aud defended me
against mii sorts 81 r,.psrtS D, those
whO wished TO iujure m-. deem It
my duty to then, tn lay the few re-:
marks iieiOre the public,and 10 those
who have res"rtetl to the mel liUd
of annoy ing me ',y insulting letters
without amy signature, 10 take care
that their house Ia hot made of
glass. They ought at least give
me u chsnce to vindicate my self, as
hat is the word he uses In l,ia cow
ar.tIy attack. J. NJ. RICHARDS.
FeltoD Cit.zeas:-Inc coming b. FIRE
you 10 LAY it Is not Tor the purpose
ut advocating. airy s'oiiticaI or ss.c-
sarsaI, principles, but IA \ citizen OF
Madison county Not as. = white
or cs,l0red man ; not AZ = Southern
or MOI tliern man; but xs u mediator
between the ex,r6mes. thank God
that can say with = clear Can
science thar 1 have no prejudice
against any one on account of his
nativity, color or previous condition.,
and would that every one was
so. You we're once slaves,
.sili tn day are ~ free 10 pie. am
glad it is 40, and believe it Was
ao.l-send. Let us praise God for il,
and meet in union aud harmony aud
l.s,k ul'tti one anOt her ~ citizens Of
he land aud brother cOQntryn1en.
Aud fellow -citisens. lot men aud
women be esteemed and promoted
for merit and general usefulness
aud that alone. Add whenever this
sort OF dOctril'e aud principles pre-
vail in the land theu. We mag look |
iur peace. prosperity aud happiness.
and not ii3torB. In the language Of |
The great George Washing, on, uni
.esi We stMnd, divided We tall" i
will not urge upon y3a the imp0r-
lance OF ciucatiOn-A su,ject- fh I
which above all others you should |
feel the grsxteet interest. You fell
Ow -cil izens have been denied the |
which are necessary |
70 obtain an education. Raj , il |
slavery as yOu have been aud as y
necessary consequcnce kept in ig- !
sOraace because slavery cannot |
exist Smong the educated and learn
,sf, for their minds are 90 powerful
hat they cannot DO overcome or
but on the other hand
the ignorant are easily overcome BY /
those. letter informed. Let me here
o-tiay entrs'ht ydh to be aDtirIng IN
he Interest Ut the education Of your
for Id them rests your
future deatinJ aud the promotion
VI your isuo. and rs there Is Now mo-
b,tween race, co,0r or
previous c6ndliion, you and your
children have as much right to d
Any position in this Government as
auyb"dy, and let me- urge it upon
you to prepare them first: for
although you nav be INT in author.
ity or position, in your present con-
ditiou you cannot accoshu;lish anv
hing. f;,r The h. Ir,,ell aud ihfaIi,.
veut xiiI c,trry their p.Srs In the
sud. sooner or later. 40 let nae EN- /
treat you to 90 on aud prepare you.
children for positions aud let them
YOU III all your m. tters
they can lie of great help to you,
can read to you, calculate for yor,
and it would more than pay Won for
yoar trouble, aud be some protec.
liOn against those who might be 90
disposed to take advantage Of your
ignorance. would advise you to
put your trust'in th0ss whom you
know to be true to you. The b. atp
of Mississippi has in it lava enacted
for the education Of .your children.
but L ain 1sbrry to say. thus far. it
has been almost a failure in Madi.
sou county, on account of misman-
ON The part of those CON-
Trolling it. But 1 hope by different
management. on more economical
plan, The school system will turn out
different. / shall endeayor, q, far
IA is In nv uower. to take be, ter
care of the finances of Madison
<Lon r.. l.....,, .,o y,.r,,o