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(Kulovcb fbitroi. Augusta, ga., January 6, iss6. MR. THOMAS P. BEARD Will be general agent and editor of the “Colored American,” during my ab sence from the city. He is fully author ized to transact all business connected with the paper. J. T. Shuften. EQUALITY. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL. This is the great bugbear of the South ern white man. He cannot sleep for dreaming of it; he cannot eat for think* ing of it; and it would seem almost an im possibility for him to do business for arguing and speechifying against it. But for all bis dreaming and thinking on, and speechifying against such a frightful mon ster as it appears in his eyes to be, the brute remains as hyura-headed as ever. He has by no means question, and one thing is certain, he never will settle it the way he wants it settled. God forbid that he ever should, for if he could, the Negro would not be the only one that would have to bow' beneath his inflexible rule. The Northern man and the Foreigner, yea, any one that was not of Southern birth, would have to leave the field for the rapid development of bis comprehensive and freedom loving genius. It is a very common thing for him to declare, in thunder tones, that’‘the Negro can never attain unto Social and Political Equality,’ yet, he is straining every nerve, aud not leaving a single stone unturned in order to prevent him from attaining unto that giddy distinc tion. Such conduct, in our eyes, betrays a jear on his part that the colored man has a right to, and ultimately will reach, that forbidden fruit. But there is a question which we would wish him very much to study carefully, and endeavor to answer honestly, before he prosecutes further his determined opposition, and that is : ‘ls the colored man as anxious to have Social and Political Equality as the white man is not to let him have it V We think the answer to this will be a negative, at least in the case of Social Equality. ZZc has enough of that with out his consent, God knows. But there is still another question which we would present for his consideration and calm, dispassionate judgement, and that is: ‘ Has the white man really good reasons for refusing that position to the colored man 7 We shall endeavor to present a few facts in answer to this question by considering in what Social and Political Equality consists. — And First; What is Social Equality ? Man in bis nature — whither bridled by civilization, or wallowing in the un luxurious freedom of savagedom—is a social animal, congregating into cities and villages, or into tribes and castes, and governing, or being governed, by law's and regulations for the general good of the society. But even in these social congregations, whether they be made up of untutored savages or polished humans, there are unsocial differences. For in stance, what is known as the ‘ upper ton’ of white society has no direct social deal ings with the poorer classes, or the toil ers for daily bread.’ The ‘ upper ton ’ hedges themselves around with haughty airs, and pompous appearances, which, in the eyes of any sensible man, appears as apeish foolery, bnt which effectually prevents the poorer classes from socializ ing with them. But when votes are in demand, the ‘ upper ton ’ office-seeker very condescendingly lays aside his purse proud dignity, and humbly solicits the poor man’s support; that gained, or the time being over when it was needed, he passes him by with the same disdain and contempt that he would bestow upon a beggar, and this is called Social Equali ty. It may be so in name, but certain ly not in nature or practice. ’Tis true, a poor man can marry a rich man’s daughter, but it is a remarkable incident in the history of match making, and be comes a nine day s wonder for the time. But the boundary line of Social Equali ty among races, especially the white race, is the bank book and the money chest, and before a poor man of the same race can crofs that boundary line, he must produce the like qualifications of which it is composed, or forever remain out* side. No wonder then, that the cry is loud and long when there is a prospect, through the agency of new born freedom, of a man with a dark skin leading to the altar a woman with a white skin. But is the cry reasonable 1 Y e think not. Who ever was heard to lift their voice in just condemnation and denounciatioii, when a man with a white skin, made, to all intents and purposes, a of a woman with a black skin. In the eyes of the public he did not do it; but in the unwearied eye of the Almighty belief do it. Children was the result of that union, and in thousands of faces to day we can trace the union of these respective colors borne by their parents. Yet no voice of condemnation was ever raised against it, or if there was, it was soon hushed into silence by the jingling of the dollars produced by that highly rcniune rative union. The patent practice be came the grave o public sentiment and remonstrance on the subject, until the whole system of sociality became thorough ly impregnated with its potent virus. Is not this Social Equality? We think it is, with a vengeance 1 Where can there be a closer, or a firmer bond of equality than the marriage relation, especially when that relation is made doubly secure by living pledges. It is not the utter ances of a few cabalistic words by a par son or a magistrate in the presence of witnesses that makes the marriage vow binding; that may be necessary in the eyes of man to make the vow valid and binding between the parties; bat it is viewed by the Almighty, ‘ who seeth as no man seeth,’ in somewhat of a different light. When a man gratifies his lustful passions outside his own appointed laws, he is held by the Judge of all the earth as responsible for his action—especially when that lust was productive of bis like —as though all the ceremonies ever in vented were performed over him. Let any man turn his eyes and view the faces of three-fourths of the colored race and what does he see reflected there ? 77/e shadow of some white fit her. Is not this Social Equality ? We honestly think it is, and it is something outside of the boundary lines of bank books and money chests also ; something antagon istic to the well established rules of society. But who is to blame for this boundary line being broken ? Is it the colored man ? Certainly not; for many a time it was more than his life was worth to attempt to resist the dishonor of his own flesh and blaod. Was the colored woman to blame ? By no means, for she could not help herself. The law said she was a chattel, and as a chattel she had no voice in the matter. It is evident, then, that the white man is to blame for forcing Social Equality upon the unwil ling colored man. And since he is to blame for having done this ,why does he make such a howl about what he first started himself ? We think it not only unreasonable, but highly unjust. By his loud out cry against the dreadful thing, he seems to Le afraid that some of his daughters may do what a good many of bis sons and himself has done time and again, and therefore he wants laws made to prevent them doing so. But if their own good sense will not bind them in this matter, liw is utterly unable to do so. Giving birth to laws on any subject, gives also birth to ways and means to evade the penalties of those laws. We have laws on the statute books of this State to day to prevent concubinage among whites and blacks, but what did they amount to; merely in giving a fresh impetus to the spread of concubinage, until every third man is the offspring of the horrid system. The only law that caa bind any human being in this matter is the ‘ Law of Mind,’ or, more properly speaking, 4 common sense.’ Sensuality, however, has entered so largely into the veins of society, that this law is by far too often laid aside, but, being ‘ never too late to mend,’ we hope that it will once more resume its rightful sway. It is very foolish for the white n.ai to get alarmed at the bugbear now, since n) has so extensively lent his energies to it’ production. The only way tor him to do in the premises, is to inculcate the requi site morals in his family circle, as much on the feurtilc as on the male side, but espe cially tnc miale y and leave the rest to judgement or common sense. Social Equality is not the goal of the ambition of the colored man by any means, for it has always been the ‘ skeleton of his household, and now that he has the right to rule his household according to his own notion, he has determined that that ‘ skeleton ’ shall be removed, and the one that dares try to replace it, shaL do so at his peril. He holds his domestic relations as sacred and inviolable as the white man does, and expects him to do the earner but he cannot see the leuson abteness nor the right of the white man to socialize himself with his color for the gratification of his lusts and passion , and refuse the same prerogative to him. We observe that me recent € onvention held in Alabama, has ordained that the children of Fr.edmen and Freedwomen, whose parents have not been living to gether as man and wife, shall be suppoi t ed by those parents. How far this is a Solomon’s judgement, we shall not say; but if the workings of the act extended to the children of ichite fathers and bias.k mothers (which, in so far as the wording of the act is concerned may do) it would be a judgement slightly more in accord ance with that illustrated personage’s wLdom. As it is, they have declared that tho father shall support the children of possibly a dozen mothers, which, by being sold and transferred from one one plantation to another, through tne laws of commerce, he was brought in con tact wilh. He was regularly told, that if he was sold away, it would make no difference to him, he would find a ic[fc upon every plantation, and now they com pel him to support the offspring of this system of Mormon polygamy. This looks very much like a Solomon’s judgement; wo must confess. There would be some shadow of an excuse for them, however, if they had been somewhat more compre .hensive in the extent of their act, and em braced the children of white fathers as well as those of black. We think it but leasonable and just that the father should support his children ; but because the father is a white man and the mother a black woman, the father should be ex empt from supporting his offspring, we think is both unjust and unnatural, to say the least of it. We know that un pleasant associations would arise from such an acknowledgement; but an honest repentant is not ashamed to acknowledge that ho has done wrong, and the best re pentence —and we have every reason to believe, the most acceptable to High Heaven —would be an open hearted, honest acknowledgement by the father, and the proper support tendered to his offspring The question; ‘ Will they do this ? ’ remains with them and their God. But until such is done, it is very far from being becoming in them to cry so loud about Social Equality. TOJ BE CONTINUED. Considerable excitement was created in un audinence, in which were many Federal officers, at the theatre in JSavan nah, recently, during the performance of • the drama ‘Smiles and Tears.’ A song in which the following words occurred was introduced in the piece, and sung by Miss M E Gordon,‘l despise the North. 1 Give me the sunny, sunny South? The emphasis with which the words were reu> dered, created loud applause from the Southern and hisses from the Northern spectators. The Empress of the French has pre- ■ sented Mdle Patti with a superb diamond necklace, in return for an album with ‘24 portraits of that eminent actress in char* acters and positions. Patti’s* arrival at !• lorence produced a great sensation. The night before her arrival the choral socie* ties assembled before the hotel windows and executed a serenade in her honor. A widow’ named Bailey, sued the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for dam ages for the boss of her husband, alleging carelessness on the part of the railroad employees. The trial tame on a few days ago, and the jury gave the plantiff 81J TOO damages. GEN. TILLSON. We find the following paragraph in the columns cf tho New Yolk Times of a late date. We are surprised that com ■ rlaints and answers should have been • made and passed upon this distinguished . officer, for, in so far as we l.ave been ; cognizant iiis conduct towards both races, has been of the most impartial nature. But were he, ‘pure as snow and chaste as ice,’ he would not escape from the tangs of the malicious and the grumbling. There is a class of humans, who seem to have derived their natures from an am malgamation with the ‘daughters o* Solomon’s ‘horse leech’ whose constant cry is ‘give ! give!’ No matter how you may make the bal'ance of justice weave in their favor, their grumbling disconten ted natures are never satisfied, and our own State seems to have its full share of that ‘genus homo. 1 V e arc proud to see that such a stalwart organ as the New York Tinies has come to the aid of the General, but our opinion is, lie needs no better defence than the simple knowledge that he has done right in all his transac tions with the tvyo races. We are satis fied that the blush of a reproving con ' science will never discolor his war worn ! and weather-beaten cheek for acts cf in justice and wrong, done by him iu his services towards helpless humanity : GEN. TILLSON EXONERATED —OUTRAGES ; ON FREEDMEN. Some complaints, and we believe un- | iust censure, have been made of the con- j duct of Gon. Tillson as to his manages ; meet in regard to the freeumen and his ' treatment of citizens of AV ilkes County, ; Georgia, Official and other reHable in formation has been received by Gen. . Howard, of the Bureau of Freedmen, ; which exonerates Gen. Tillson. This in j formation is to the efficet that the most outrageous conduct has followed the with drawal of the military forces from the country above named, and in other parts of Georgia. The acts* complained of ware committed by the sons of wealthy • and influential families. These go in I gangs, and openly declare that no negro ■ shall live upon land owned or rented by ; himself, but shall live with some white ; man, or leave the country Good men ■ of the State denounce these acts, but arc : powerless t° tiivui. inc) aoK. < that the military force may be kept in ! the State, and say that if it be removed I there is no protection for life or property. i In consequence of representations made : to him by good citizens, Gen. Steedman has ordered a military force to be station- i cd in Wilkes County. A letter from ; Hon. N. M. Reeve, Judge of the Dis- j trict Court of Georg'a, dated Washing" ton, Wilkes County, Nov. 27, states that at th 3 request of the colored people and in behalf of respectable citizens, he asks the intervention of the military in be half, of the freedmen. Several bands, calling themselves bushwhackers, jay haw kers, and regulators, are perpetrating the most shameful outrages —shooting, burn-* ing and beating negroes, to get money and for revenge. Their barbarous acts cannot be made known for legal effect except through negro testimony, and therefore capnot be punished. He asks i that officers may be sent to take affidavits, , and carry the offenders to Augusta tor | punishment, if any can be awarded them. | —Times, A phrenologist furnishes his conclu ! Bions from what he found on battle-fields ! in the following letter to the Phrenologi -1 cal Journal: ‘I lately took a ramble through the battle Gelds near Spottsylvania Court House, where Generals Grant and Lee and their vast armies had the memora ble engagement in May, 1864; and knowing that you highly value facts that may benefit the science of which you are one of the leaders, I will give you the I substance of tome observations 1 made on skulls of Northern and Southern soL diets who were killed in battle. ‘The skulls of Southern soldiers have 1 a greater development of the organs of Comparison, Destructiveness, Benevo lence, spirituality, Self Esteem, Friend" ship, and Parental Love than those of Northern soldiers; while the skull of the men of the North have more of the faculties of Individuality, Causality, Hu man Nature, Constructiveness, Conscien tiousness, Firmness, Approbativeness, and Combativeness than those of the South. Now these are facts y and held good in the case of a majority ot skulls i which I examined; but whether they I will bear the test of standing side by I side with examinations made heretofore ! by others I am unable to say.’ A Swede, has invented a new sort of needle-gun, which fires ten shots in a minute, and does not get foul after a hun dred shots. It has been accepted by the j Swedish Government and is to be intro • dueed into the army. FREEDMEN. This is a new term in the pGiitj...,, nomenclature of the United States, (D Rome had her ‘ Libert'ini. or those who had been manumitted fo, Bta e of involuntary servitude, q ? they had been considered as proper? new they wtre persons, though note, titled to the full rights of citizens. t, liberty to come and go at pleasu rt .. b i buy and sell, to practice any trade <, r profession, they were esteemed ignoth. and did notrank in the same < ial and political as one who by birtii, i v purchase, or by some spiral service f 0 ;he state, attained to the high di-nit, (1 being called 'at. Roman Citizen.’' The, ‘freedmen’ of Rome were white people ' The slavery to which we have been > long accustomed very naturally causes f to associate that condition with a colored ! tkia or belonging to persons of African • descent. But with the exception of th American system the ‘institution’ | l3s been confined to no particular race nop ! color. Men of all nations and cc-Lrs have preyed upon each other like the ; ocasts of the field or the f’.sh of tie sea. t Toe strong has always ruied the weak and might has disregarded th„ c’;nu,> ;of right. Tne Romans, the Saxon*. the v Danes, and the Normans, have in turn • invaded and subjugated ‘merrie EuglanJ Hwarm.s o' marauders from Northern • Europe have overrun the fair hills aim vallies of the South. The’moors ? j the South long held dominion in Spain ; The Saracen has laid waste the land ! Palestine and his mosques still descent j the city of David, and his flag still flea*, j from its walls. Polard has long felt th | iron heel of the Muscovite. The tr’L I of Asia plunder and-enslave each utg and Africa’s a continent of masters at. slaves. Even God’s peculiar people eb dared a severe bondage in the land c tne Pharaoh’s and suffered Laid cruelly at the hands ot the Babylonians and Romane. Man cannot’estimate the woes wing men have inflected on each other; bu’ it bettor day is coming. The world feels the swell of a mighty moral earthquake which is destined to unsettle the founda tions of every form of slavery, when every one cun sit under his own vine and figtree, and eat his own bread in peacy with no fear of a proud and exacting | master to disturb his happiness. But this great end must be reached by the employment of extiaordinary means, and the Freedmen of America have doubtless a great work to do in helping to drive the car of progress. Let us then he energetic, patient, sub missive to the authorities, industrious, Vdl3j COLICIVI VI Uivlci futvi nal peace and we will be exalted in due time. Negro Mortality.— The New York f Tribune reports 19,000 blacks in the I District of Columbia and’ great personal! distress. Here is a picture of the suffer f ings of these people: “The most fright | ful mortality exists, as many as 80 coffins | per week being furnished by the Quarter-1 master’s Department, most of which are! for children. It is the opinion of phy I i ficians practicing among them,* and oil i other close observers, that tbree-fourtli | : of these children die from neglect and I 1 want. In the family of a soldier who! J lost his life iu battle, five out of the ten ! i children Lave died since March, IS-i'.l i from the above causes. In another, three | I out of seven children of a soldier drafl i ted in December last have starved !?j 1 death in the last three weeks.’ In the meeting of the American Mi* I ! sionary Association, last week, the dis I tressed state of the Freedmen was db’l cussed, in the course of which it stated that in the section of the Ogechd • river, Georgia, from io owl I sixth of the entire negro peopulatiou had’ I died during the past summer. This is truly a lamentable state of ah fairs, and o ught to arouse all our energies in behalf of our suffering brethern. Let | us do all that lies iu our power to amelior i ate their condition, and the blessings o? the helpless and suffering will float Lb i holy incense around our heads. The! ■ icey fingers of winter are being ahw! felt around our firesides and the cold j ing winds reminds us of houses and wsrff clothing. But what is to become of , who are blessed with neither the on* 1 - 1 the other, with nothing but the pitik* ■ charities of a heart frozen world to | the hungry appetite, and the led curtains of ice-bound nature to <W r them. When we feel the cheerful wai’’- * 1 of the crackling fire, and sitarounD I well furnished table, and seem enraj^ :Ii enjoyment’s ‘easy chair’ let us not i our brethren who have neither tJ warm, nor bread to eat. •! A resolution looking towards '.4 ment of polygamy in Utah is being about. * t Pjri’ ! In a new play now performing a ;; | the constumes' of the tour P female characters cost nearly $l v u ‘