Year: 1866




spices of the Georgia Equal Rights As
soeiation, tie first number Of the loyal
GEORGIAN paper established to advo-
cate the cause Of ampartaal justice for
every citizen without regard to race,
descent or color. Our motto is peace
and good will to all


We are living in the most important
era in the history of the world. Old
ideas give place to new ones with such
rapidity, that we can scarce keep pace
with the change. But few months ago
nearly half of the inhabitants OF this
State were slaves-now they are free
Will this change be benefit, or an IN
jury to the State?


Time alone can decide: 1t is not only
certain that the institution of slavery Is
among the things that were, but, that 1T
can never be established again In this
country. We accept this fact without
argument We do not propose to dlsc
the question Of slavery; we shall, SO far
as our influence extends, strive to bind
up the bleeding wounds, which it has
left. The labor system of the State has
been ovel turned, and a new system is to
be established. 1t is for the interest of
the State that this system shall prove
successful; if SO, the fields will again be
fruitful, the mineral wealth Of the State
will be developed, manufactures will
spTiSr. - Ia dIms4ehs @ sscssons, - : .,ss''
people will again enjoy the advantages Of
wealth and prosperity, tut if the free>
labor system prove failure, our State
will become yet poorer, until poverty
will curse alike the employer and en-
ployed.


tt is evident that the success of the
free-labor system is alike for the interest
Of both parties, and We shall use our in
Auence, whatever it may be, to this end.


We shall strive to induce those la
borers who receive fair compensation
and kind traatment to be industrious and
faithful, and we shall labor to secure for
all good wages and kind treatment. TO
make free labor successful it is necessary
that the laborer shall be fairly treated.
We DO not believe it is possible to ac>
complish the object in any other way.
Give to the freedman justice, impartial
Justice, and, we believe, he will work bet
ter an freeman than he diu as slave.
IF you do not do this, you ought not to
eg9eet him to be faithful. If the en-
ployer does not deal justly With the ems
ployed, can he expect good work N0
man loves work naturally. lntrest or
nocessity induces him to labor. 1T the
laborer has no inducement to be faithful,
he should not be censured for neglect.
Formerly he could be compelled TO work
It was not necessary to offer an induce
ment,. for the reason that he knew punish
nent to be the penalty Of neglect--now'
all is changed and it is necessary 70 en-
ploy different means to obtain laOOr'
We frequently hear men say tine nigget
will not work.. unless by compulslon.
We do not believe this. There are
manv law white men, and, also, many
,azv colored men, but we believe that hu"
man nature is the same in both cases.
Why does the qo1tite man labor? That
he may acquire property and the means
of purchasing the comforts and luxurleS
of life. The colored man will labor Tor
The same reason, Therefore if the en-
nloyer would have good labor, let him
make it for the interest of the employed
to do good work, if he does this and
treats the laborer justly, he will, We be-
l;eve in most cases have faithful work.
men, if not, he need not expect it.