The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-04
THE SOUTHERN SITUATION.
rEsTIMONY FROM a MAN VINO WAS
MALE A CENTURY 4 SLAVE.

The following communication IS from an
elderly coored who passed tho most Of his
life In slavery. Born in Virginia, where he was
taught to read and write by a humane MISTRESS
no has lived for forty years In Mississippi where
he has evidently watched carefully tho wonder
full political changes which have 30 seriously
affected the welfare OF his race. The views
which he expresses. and which are here given In
hts own language, without any alteration OF his
pbre,soIosy, are those which are finding accept
nnoo with the most intelligent colored voters
not only In Mississippi, but likewise in South
Carolina, Louisiana, ana other Southern states
TO THE EDITOR or THE SUs-Sir: Know
ipc that your valuable paper has a large crcula-
tion, and being published in the very bosom OF
scctiopalism, I ask OF you tho favor OF giving
spaoe for the following lines
lam colored man and citizen Of Mississippi,
and while have never lad the opportunity OF
receiving classical education, have been
blessed with q Sufficient degree OF education 10
enable me to read and write. Yes. In my youth
ful DAYS, 10 nv old Virginia home, was taught to
read and write 10y my dear old mistress. For forty
years have been a resident fthis State, and the
few years that / noy be permitted to onjoy the
blessings Of life will be spent In Mississippi. for
she Is my home to-day by choice, and her good
people my friends and ncigbbors.
During the late civil war the success OF tho
Northern army demanded our freedom. The
declaration was delivered and the great boon
accepted By all. he war ended. The loud
thunderines OF artillery and the clash OF arms
ceased. and all nations icjoiccd at the welcome
news our brave and WORKOUT people Of the
South felt happy at the termination Of the war
although their cherished hopes were gone.
Homcward they sped to greet the loved ones long
separated from each other by the cruel fate Of
war. Oppressed and disheartened as they were
Mt the result Of The war, in their loss on battle
Geld and prison. ty death OF their brave men.
and billions Of property, they were resigned
accepted the stua uu IN good farm, aud cheer
fully went 10 wUrk to rebuild their once happy
homes. They were cheered In the fond BELIEF
thHt the Government that crushed and over
powered them, that had reduced them to the
most extreme poverty would he generous ana
mrgnanimous toward them; that they would
Of least carry out the pledge made at the time
Lee and Johnston sur endered, wherein they
were told to 20 home aud thcy would he re-
stored TO oil OF their political ana constitutional
rights but alas thai promise to the people mas
never teen realized. mt expected libcrality
and magnanimity was but a dream.
All patriotic people Of Mississippi and the
South VIII ever feel grateful to the people OF the
North Tor the p,iriotc sand they took IN 1874
for our constitutional rights. The proud and
glorious liberty hat the people Of Mississippi
to-day enjoy Is your giit to y considel able de-
gree. Yes. the Grand T lly made hv the Demo-
Gratis and lt-puuiic. ms North IN 1874 for reform
ana constitutional liter.y not ONLY checked cor
Tuption and mierule tn the national Govern
ment, but completely domora1ed the enemy Of
free government In the South, aud brought
ABOUT peaVc. Law, aud good feelings In Missis-
tipp between the two races. To day We have a
good government in this state and all Il quiet
anu harmonious. In no State ia the Union
can II be said that the laws are more strictly.
more IiRidl,, aud more impartiay administer.
ed than Ia Mss- sppi In one session Of our
legally elected Legislature our State exl enses
thousand dollars. Crime OF N grades has been
very materially essened. and labor much I'M
proved. And with continuation of good gov
eInment aud good feelings with the two rices.
mississippi viii soon &c numbered among the
most PROSPEROUS states Of this gre Govern
lnout. HUI N tnls good government ia a set
aside and II military one to be set up again. for
no other purpose than a political one, and our
offices nllcd asain With such men as those re-
Gently removed W the will aud vote OF the peo
nle, We WI .Gsin nave uiscnrd' eorruitlon.
state, and II SO. who will Toe the suGsrersi Ine
1snatlcs OF the North who are tanning the flames
OF dtscoru. or the poor colored people OF Missis-
sippif lhe cologed people every time.
he coiored people of Nils. issipp to-day enjoy
oil OF The iihertv, rights. privileges, and prolec-
tion grant ed 10 them by the Constitution. hey
are permitted 90 engage In all tue III suits OF
mankind. In Nicksburg you can nnd them
gagged In every pursuit You can see the colored
lawyer pleading AT the bar. where the great aud
eloquent Prentiss. Guyun, ana Nergcr plead.
You can see numbers OF them as merchants.
doctors, MS hotel keepers. sch lol teachers, aud
be- them as legislators for the Stale. anu 80
Congressman aut all Of this In State that
come to TIE country, you VIII them renting
from the white people ther land aud engaged
ship with the white men. You seldom see "A
coOred man nifed in tnls STATE, or IN the Sou:h
work 10 partners. Large plant tions are very
often LETT entirely TO tue man irement aud con-
cannot do without the co!oreI man.
the colored man cannot do without the
desire 70 i've IN peace win the wnits
people. The white people never mad any other
desire thau to i've IN yea with the colored
people. let us alone. ana We Will work out our
own destiny peacefully with our people. IL Is
Mi peace and conlentment with US IN Ailssissippi
t0-uAN except ~ith aver iv" disippoiutcd u
yonturer5 VINO are nisrepresenting our people,
Tor no other purpose than puhtic.l. IL Il TINS
rlass OF men mat have brought al Of the trouble
upon the people South. lney We eugeudered
all Of the bad feelings between tue white and
,olored people, and their wicked teachings
f4s,tnu upon them forever tue blood ofmy people.
The people Of The Sou POSSESS TOO muon
manhood too mucn honor to wilfuliy mlstreat
roiorcd people. they have not forgotten that
The! once lett TO our care ana protection the
ives 81 thtlr ueiT wives ana chndren. les,
when they were thousands Of mules away en-
gagged IN that cruel war that caused the deatn
South. when We were left on tue pautati ms TO
support ma protect them, were We everrecreant
t. mt uustf Never We nave bad men IN
Mississippi 10 dan, aud so have YOU In New YORK
State and AL other states yot nrny believe
That there Is not man In Mississippi TOO y
that desires or ever expects 10 sse slavery IN
any form r,estiblisned.
loo cOlOfed race like the white have very many
ignorant people, and many Of them have been
nade 10 believe inc foolish slavery story that
began to die away when the bloody shrt Vas
laSen w aud turUwn 90 the Uretze 10 The North
by Senators ana Representatives in Congress.
tinding that could not check the return OF
good feelings between the races South they
baNe resorted 70 tner last resort. Having
kbindohei the color Issue and the bloody snirt
lasue' nc RAISE me cry u united South against
united Nor.h, well, the people pretty
Ecl united ~ the south, but not against tue
NOIth, not az iluat the Constitution nor the
Jaws Of the Land. We have united to unite our
pc YES with tue good people OF tue Moth, IN
peace, ia goou viii, ana m prosperity. Yes, ~
tbls Centenuil j year We have united to unite
with the peulle OF the North IN putting down
lll sectional stIife and feelings. We nave united
10 unite ourseh e5 with you o. assist IN bringing
pack 10 our pOsteflty HE purity Of the Govern
peut as given TO us by our iOTefathers. We
have united 10 unite with you as one u ton aud
one people IN oeieUce Of our Constitution aud
pur az at home and aIioad We have united
- unite with you IN everything pertaining 10
Sho greatness Of our nation. ana removing
from hign positions a. well as low, every man,
lei nun be Democrat or RCpuUllcAD, who op.
poses reform IN our Government.
The evidence OF man or pdltS's actual acts OF
reform SHOULD DC regarded az higher evidence
bf reform than "a simple promise, and tue past
ects and votes on all questions pertaining 70 re-
IOrm should DO closet, scrutluiz d by the peO-
pic. la tue state Of Mississippi the people OF
both races have united. Tue ex Federal soldier
tnd the Confederate soldier have united, and
To-day where YOU will ind one Northern white
man acting with the so-caed Republican p .rty
pi Mississippi, you Will ind one hundred acting
WIN tht Opp sitiun. ms unlteG acton OF all