The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-31

HOI4k Nllsl4i.ilt t'sNaA ~ - r.
who are almost as ignorant of these mat
tiers as are the people abroad. What
kind Of negroes did we sell? DO you sup
pose that We sold well-behaVed. respect
able negroes? The negroes. who, by
their walk i'm life and their affection for
us made themselves as dear 10 us almost
as were the children Of our households?
No, ] answer. 4 thousand times no. But
We sold those mcorrigible rascals. who.
i'm spite Of an We could DO. would steal
and attempt murder. and whose pres
ence was a constant source of annoyance
TO their owners and corrupting to the
morals OF the young. We had not IN
those days jans ami penitentiaries for
the negroes. so We disposed of them ON
the block Sometimes "a family would DE
unfortunate. and through speculation or
had Investment. become involved i'm debit
and good negroes had TO be sold. But
they rarely ever left the ncignb0rhood,
or got separated from their loved ones.
Some rich nciehbor. in response 10 the
tears and plcalnigs of their mistress
would buy them in and hold them 90 Dee
redeemed AT some future time, and. BE-
never redeemed. tasse neenes simply
exchanged one good home fer another.
No king ever welded @ sceptre temperd
with so much love az did the old p!anta-
ton-owner. in ruling his negroes. and
no people ever loved a ruler as the Old
plantation-necrO loved his old matsr
He thought his Old master was the great
est man that ever lived. General Lee.
Genral Grant. nor Stonewau Jackson
were as great IN his estimation as his old
master
BUSHELS GOLD MARS JOHN"
Il will here give You a little poem. by
Irving Russell 90 show YOU the negro's
estimate Of his old master:
4 hears a heap Of people talkin' every
where I goes
Bout Washington and Franklin and SIGH
seni0uses as Dose
An ] spose deys mighty fine, but here's
de- pint Is hctn on:
Dere ain't nary wun of um can come
up 10 my ola Mars John.
Wei. de government has sot de niegors
free,
And now poor old Mars John amt wuf
as much as me.
lie had 10 pay his debts, and his Ian
is mostly gone
An. l declare does feel sorry for my
poor old Mars john.
But when / hear am talkin' bout some
celebrated man.
] listens 10 um quiet 'tii dey done say'd
all dcy can
An den j lows dat in dem days I re-
members on,
Dat gentleman Amt q patch.n' 90 my ole
Mars John
What better evidence DO we want %
bis love for his old master than the
fact that. although he knew that the
success cf the Federal troops meant free
dom for him. and that during Tho last
two years OF The war DE could have
marched MO tire clc.n,fs country NJ
any time. had he fc't Inclined he did
not DO SO. lie felt no desire TO exchange
the love ths confidence, and the respect
OF his white people for a freedom that
wouid bring upon him responsibilities TO
which be had AN his lie been stranger.
FAI1UI1I.NEsS OF THE NEGRO.
Whcn every white man in tae South
between the ages OF IS and d. and latsr
on. from Is 90 90. was IN lie army 0ar
farms were iu charge W Do. ucsi0r,
and 10y their good managcm ut, oar fofccs
were supplied with food.
These faithful and loving slaves looked
after the comforts OF our wives and
daughters during the whole 'Olr years
of war. and there is nor ON record orc
Nngie art OF msubordination or r,s-
behavior OF any kind on the part OF the
negro, On the whole South. from irginia
90 Texas. My heart beats with love and
gratitude for them. and as long as there
Is left an old Confedorlte soldier. 10 tel;
ot his loyalty and fidelity to his mas,er.
the negro Will find n him star en-
friend and adviser.
The South o. tie natural home OF the
negro. and whatever 20 'iicians may say
- The contrary, the southern whites ere