The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-09-02
THE ADDRESS OF AN "OLD
MASTER" TO EX-SLAVES
Text of Major Henry A. London's Speech Delivered On
Occasion of Reunion of old Issue Darkeys" Held
at Rockingham, Richmond County, August Ia.
Tells Them Who and What Freed Them.

slaves free in any part OF the Cnlted
States
ION the 22d Of September, 1862.
Mr.. Lincoln issued a proclamation,
stating hat on the lst OF January
1863, all the slaves would be declared
free in the States in rebellion" ex-
| cepting certain ones which | will tell
you of in a moment. He stated IN
| his proclamation that this issue and
this act was done as a war measure
| for the purpose Of suppressing a re
bellion." and that it was an absolute
necessity, which was issued not
through any owe Of you my colored
friends, but in order to impede a sur
render.
LincOln's Proclamation.
And SO on the first Of January,
1868, the proclamation was issued,
and in that proclamation he did not
attempt to free all the slaves of the
South. He omitted the Slave States
Of North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky,
and Tennessee, and also expressly ex-
copied from it certain counties in the
State Of Virginia, and certain parishes
in the State of Louisiana. Now, if he
wanted us people in the South TO free
the slaves, why in the name Of COM
mon sense and justice did he not say
SO. and free them all.
"They got Congress to propose an
amendment to the constitution Of the
United States, known as the thirteenth
amendment, prohibiting slavery in the
United States. In order for that
amendment to become a part Of the
constitution, it had to be ratified by
three-fourths of the States, just as
any amendment is required to be rati-
fed. And bless your soul the ten
Southern States that had been fighting
them to keep you in slavery. were
the ones to vote for a amendment
--l -. >s-AA
, Northern States never did vote for it.
South Not Responsible for Slavery.
, Again, the Southern people are no
' responsible for your having been
! slaves, and ! wan Q to remember
that they never brought your ances-
: tors to this country. Mr.. Lincoln
declared that the people Of the South
e are no more responsible for the intro.
n duction OF slavery into this country
; than are the people Of the North, anl
O he told the ruth.
when the constitution Of thu
h United states was adopted, and tn.
it Union formed every State in it ha(
h slavery. All those New England
1t States, Massachusetts. and New York
and Maryland emancipated or set FREE
e their slaves. Why: Because it dit
n not pay.
$50 you were brought here not b
Id the Southern people. but by the Yam
he kee Slave Ships. These ships wen
s. of Africa, and brought them her
ir and sold them, got the money, wen
I'd back home and raised a great how
about this cruel treatment.
Mr.. Lincoln also said in the sam
in message, FROM which l have quotet
e that the people of the North are ais
responsible for the c
"a slavery. they helped to cor
sumo the cotton, sugar, and Tobacco,
" 1.-The Southern nrO0nctS raised nv SO
OF labor.
as $50 that the people Of the Sout
ed were not responsible for your comm
here, but when you were brought hel
by our Yankee brother, and sold
or US, we did the best we could for yo
IT, and say this without fear OF contr;
les diction. that no other people in ar
we other country in the world emerge
SO quickly from barbarism to civil
cation. as did the colored peopl
DR.. brought from the ~jungles of Afric
he and made slaves to the South. Al
l am glad today that the coIored pc
of pie Of this country, l mean Of Il
South. of North Carolina, Of Ric
ial mOnd county, | am praising merito
he iously, and | hope morally and mate
lu- tally.
Friendly Southern White People.
The white people in North Car
it'll lima have done what they could
YOU. They nave established an as
lum Tor your insane at GOldshOrO.
on institution that any people. white
i've black. may be proud Of. They Ia
ere established an institution at Ralei
OF for your leaf and dumb. where III
may be cared for. and they have
tablished schools all over North Cal
ut. lima for the education Of the color
as we'll as the white children. Th,
is is no reason in the world why t
all colored people and white people
Tire North Carolina could not dwell
lent Gether in brotherly love, in hoI
l A perfect with one and other.
MY early recollectiOns are OF
good old uncle and colored nam
$50. at my home. How often have I e
eral out to his cabin after supper, q
'uth heard him tell some Of the m
ma amazing yarns, but | liked that.
> in course, and how | took my ola o
and back spelling book and tried TO tel