Year: 1867

A colored preacher of Drew county
thus communicates his view to his breth
rem through the columns of the Mont
cello Guardian


MONTICELLO, ARK, May l6, 1867.


My CoLoRrD FRIENDS: We are abou
to enter on a new era BY the change re
Gently effected in our condition, we ar,
elevated to the high and responsible po
sition of frcemen As such we will bt
allowed to take part with the different
political organizations Of the day.
have frequently addressed you from tn.
stand on the subject Of religion. The
time has come for us to express oul
opinions on political matters, and | ash
of you your attention, and candid con
sideration Of the words Of caution ant
advice, | am about to administer to my
brctheren First, let us consider the OBJ
legations our freedom imposes, and when
we consider that it was the result of the
war, a war which was waged for the pre-
servation ofthe union, no party can just
ly claim our allegiance and support But
in order that You may not be misled,
am free to tell you that you should not
be driven or persuaded into the wrong
use of your privilege by wicked and de.
signing men. While it will be your indi.
vidual right as freemen to act in accord
ance with your own inclination and de-
sires, uninauenced by party considera-
tons, let me urge upon you the great i'm.
portance of consulting your future inter.
est, and the interest of your children, and
in doing this be sure that you make q
judiciouS use of your ballot, SO rs not in
future to prejudice those interests. AS
for myself, viewing the question Of slave
ry as being definitely settled for all time
to come, and entertaining as | do, only
good will towards the whites, our former
owners, who could not be blamed for
owning slaves, because the government
of the United States protected them in it,
| will cast my lot with them in the rcor-
ganization of the country, believing that
our interests are one and the same with
theirs, and whatever of influence | may
have, shall be cxcrtcd in cementing the
bond of union between the white and the
black man, that peace, harmony and pros
perity may prevail.


There is another matter to which wish
to call your attention, and to which the
general has directed you in an order,
which has been published in this paper,
We are all poor and must rely upon q
faithful Observance Of our contracts, for
that support in the future which will
MAKE Us comparatively independent. AZ
is all important that the present crop be
closely tended. BE not drawn off from
your employment by the excitement of
politics bide your time like honest and
true men, and when the proper time comes
use your privilege like honest freemcn for
the best interest Of the country and the
people. If we act in the manner | have
suggested, avoiding as far as possible
political discussions, we will remove
from the minds Of the whites any preju-
dice existing against our race, and when
the time for registra ton and voting
comes, there will be no disagreement be-
tween whites and blacks.


My dear colored friends, / cannot close
this appeal to you as citizens Of com
mon country without adding few words
in behalf of your moral, mental and rcli-
gious training. Stepped in Ignorance as
our race is, tits a question Of serious con
cern, should not something be done to
improve the condition Of the rising gen
Grafton? Our white friends have shown
a disposition to aid us in this matter by
lending us their churches, and making
proffers Of assistance in securing teach
ers and books for the instruction of our
children. We should receive these evi
dences of friendly feeling and sympathy
with proper feelings of gratitude, and as
soon as a harvest will furnish us with
means, fund should be at once raised
to build us churches and school houses
which we can call our own. Until tha,
time we should avail ourselves Of every
opportunity Of improving our condition
and by perseverance, industry and energy
make characters which will challenge re
spect and esteem. May God in His wis
dom and mercy guide and direct you in
the right path is the constant prayer ol
your brother, BLACKWELL SHELTON.


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