Year: 1866




A rumor having obtained currency pre-


judicial to society formed BY the freedmen


of Atlanta, one of their number in good


standing with the citizens Of that city, has


made publication explaining the objects of


the society, from which we extract the fol-


lowing The closing paragraph IS worthy Of
| special commendatiOn


/ Another object of our society is to find
| homes for the homeless. Thousands of the
| colored population are wandering about


without homes, having no visible means of
support many Of them having false ideas Of
| freedom We endeavor to find such good
homes, teaching them that freedom does not
mean idlefiess, but that il means to labor
hard and work honestly and faithfully for
living. We teach them to stand by ali their
contracts with the white people, and to serve
them honestly and faithfully in every par
ticular.


We not only endeavor to teach them to be
honest and faithful and fill all contracts but
we teach them to be moral, sober and polite
to all parties, and to speak the truth always.
We endeavor to be practical, and we desire
rather to deal with the suiierings and short
eomings OF our colored brethren who are
among us, than to meddle in the. affairs OF
those who aye far distant.


These are the principles of our little soci-
ETY. just started in Atlanta, and l appeal 10
all fair minded men If we are not trying TO
do right. l have resided great many years
in Atlanta, and am known personally tomOst
Of the old citizens. | have practiced my
profession IN many gentlemen's families, and
Iappeai to all such II have not always
endeavoret to eondnc; myself property. I
have alwavs endeavored to make an honest
living, to t,eat every gentleman politely and
TO conduct myself 50 as TO win the esteem of
all.


1t cannot be that any one who knows me
would believe that would connect myself
with any association, which has for its object
evil designs or trouble. would cus off my
right hand before | would do such thing
And if i knew Of such a thing being on foot,
would expose il to the proper authorities
IN moment. IL there is any coloret inan
80 foolish as to do any act which i cllcaiet
to make mischief between the white and
colored race, hope he will be found out
and be made to suffer the extreme penalty
of the law


few words to my coIored brethren and
will close. We are all poor and just starting
anew in the world. Our future character
and prosperity in this life depends upon our
selves. Our misery or our happiness is in
our own hands. As we SOW so shall we reap;
if we plant thistles and thorns, we cannot
expect to gather crop of figs and olives
In the first place we must labor. We must
work harder than we ever did before and
then we can enjoy the fruits of our labor.
This is freedom. We must be honest and
fulfill all contracts faithfully; we must be
polite to all. IL won't do to be proud
and supercillious. Pride goeth before a fall.
We must try to be temperate in all things,
and cultivate virtue and morality Do not
lie and steal, but act honestly and tell the
truth. If you know of a colored man who
intends doing any thing wrong, try and dis
suadc him from it, and If he still per-
sists in doing it. report him at once
to the proper officers. Ii Is vour
duty to do this, for every wrong act
committed by colOred person we ell have
20 bear portion of the blame. Help one
another in distress, and try and get homes,
and do not wander about the streets to be
picked up by the guards. You who have
no homes don't wait until after the New
Year TO make contracts. Make your con-
tracts now, that is your surest and best way
to find and secure home. Don't think that
the white people are your enemies. IL is to
their interest to employ you, and they will
do so if you are only honest and faithful.
Those of the white people who sti1l have
prejudices against you, will look favorably
on you if you will only try to do right
All these prejudices will die away in a Iis-
tie time. Nothing great or good can be az
eomplished in a moment. IL takes time 10
any thing Nothing is more
certain than that the interests of the white
and colored races of the South are identified
Their welfare must go hand in hand. Preju-
dices must give way before progress, and
the colored men must move forward with
this age of progress in industry, honesty,
virtue and morality.


Very respectfully, your ob't serv't


Y N psprru