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@he Toyel Georgian |
AUGUSTA GA, MARCH 3 1866.
FREEDOM, NOT A BOON, BUT
A CURSE,
It is so that we fiad the change which
has recently been wrought in the “con
ditinn of the black man spoken of by the
Rec. Dr. Fichener®in a speceb before the
Alabama Association (13aptist.) The.se'
are his words: It would scem that the
curse o. God following them, through all
the bygeue centuries, had now fallen upou
the negroes of these Bouthern States with
a weight of woe which thre teus, if it
does not insure, their exticctien, Already
they have tarted in the path that lead
to destrue ion - luform tion, in no wise
to be dis'rusted, assures -us that in the
single mouth of August, five handred of
"them were buried in this city avd irs im~
mediate v.cinity. What is true of M out
gomery is also tru» of Selwa, of Mobile,
of Columbus, aud of all those places
where iucl natiorr has led large numbers
of them to ¢n ‘regate.” Further on i his
_spe-ch, the Doctor remarks, “parad. xital
as way seci the as ertion, it is neverthe
less true, that the nearest approach any
part of the race has ever made to the
blessings of freedom has b-en as slaves
in this Southern land. The mas'er 1«
the only true frie-d the slave has cver
had. IThe pevple of the N~ th, under
the infl venc o w mistaken ph lunh-opy,
huve been, “n rea'thy, Ihe worst eremy of
his 7race.” 'The italics are ours. We
cau h.rdly believe a wan t) be w earuest
who talks in this straiu; (paradoxical
with a witness ;) aud who follows it np
with the utterance : ** £ have bereved, I
now lLelieve, that sliwery s moratly.
soiallv, polit culy and relig ous'y
right” We do not know bow to argue
with one who takes such grouud as tuis.
There are axioms in morals as w Il as
in mathematies; and these mu-t be as
sumcl, (they caunot be proved) in ail
Ee e A wnew e e e
place the often quuted - statement whicu
stauds at the begivuing of the Declara
tion oi lludependence; and which our
fathers viudicated not only with the pen
but with the sword ; a statement, which,
if it du not iuclade the black as weil as
the white mau, we would ass tue author
of this speect to show why and how.
Withour attempting to argue his para
doxical pcsition - for we do not know how
to' besiu such aun argumeut with oue who
devies first priucicles of natural right
and morality — but sctting stitewent
against statement, angd opinion agaiust
opiuion, and sober couviction agaiust
what seens mere specisl pleaaing—we
would ouly refer the author of these as
gertious to the deliberately-formed and
solemnly uttered counvictious of those
Southern wen and slave hol ers to. whow
both South and Norta reuder a eommon
hovor. If fr-«dom to the slave be the
evil which be represen s it to be if slavery
be Lis normal condition, moraliy, sue al.
ly and politicaliy right, why, theu, did
George Mason say, speaking of slavery :
“ The laws of impartidl Providence may
avenge our injustice upudl our posterity;’
and Pa ric Henry: “ A serious view of
this subject gives a gloomy prospeet to
future times;” and Thomas Jefferson:
« All men are created cqual, with an v
alie:able right to liberty ? Aud why—it
freedom be the boun wlieh this writer
asserts it to be —did George Washiugton
mauumit his slaves 2 Que thing is cer
tain, that light or wroug, these men took
a view of this subject entirely the op o
gite of his; aud although we do nut a.
low that great quesiions are iutallibly
settled by the authority of great names,
yet when the moral judgweuts of the
wisest and best coneur on any sukbjeet it
is simply-an impotent attempt tu leverse
their decisions. A man may say that
black-is white, or that darkuess is light ;
but he will not make mwany econverts to
his self contradictory statements, be they
proclaimed never so coufidently
One word more. When the gentles
men, 88 in the wards quoted, cites the
loss of life which has tuken place amoung
the people of color, since ewsucipation,
does he reaily inteud—supposing bis
statistics accurate—to put this mortality
ymong the leditimate and inevitable, and
permaneut results of freedom? 1f be
Jdoes not, then of what force or value is
the fact—if a faet,—as an argument
acnst freedom, But if he does, then,
why do=s be not argue that a child should
never be freed from bis leading striogs,
or l.ave his purse’s arms, lest trying to
0 alone, he fall inro the well or the fire,
or, peradventure, break his neck.
~ br. T. knows, surcly, that all great
revolutions in the coudition of communis
ties aud peoples come pirough suffering
aud sacrifice ; that the blood of the mar- 1
tyrs is the seed ahike of the church, and
of the state. He knows that sucha
revolution as that from slavery to freed
om could not have been accomplished at
a less cost. The question is, if the re~
sult be worth the cost, the cost not only
of the black, but if the white blood, by.
the spilling of which it has been effected.
Aud, we can assure him, that though
i twice five-hundred had been buried in a
‘single m nth,’ and ‘hough as many more
had gnni-,‘unhoused, unfed, and uncloth
ed,’ the boon secured would‘ be well worth
the price paid.
We must wait for the agitated clements
to get settled ; for the colored man to
adjnst himself to his new and strange
Icircum.-tauces; for the education which
he is recerving to do its work.
_ Meantime we will quote to the gentle
mau h's own words; ‘I appeal to you
who know this race, who know *heir want
of capacity for freedom,—have they done
worse tian you had every rcason to ex~
peet? Nay, have thep not done better
than you could possibly have belicved,
had you foreseen the mode in which they
have been made free? Had we been iu
boudage as they have been, and like them,
bsen liberated from our slavery, would
we the white people of the South, with
our superior culture, iutelligence, and
Christianity, bave conducted vurselves
better than they.’
This covers the whole ground; it is am
ple toundation on which w 0 build the
wholc _uper structure of frcedom, with
all its coucomitaut blessings to the black
man, For ‘if such things be done in the
green tree,) what may we not expect ‘in
the dry’—especially if his good counscl be
followed, where he says—‘We must aid
in the mental aud moral improvement of
this race. QOur interest as well as our
duty to them requires that we should
belp them'in every laudable ffirt to ele
vute themselves both morally and in
tellectually.’ : .
We are glad that Dr. T. is ready to
render the justice to the North which we
see in the remark, ‘There may ecome
sowe men,—to teach the colored man—
moved by the mnoblest impulses of the
human heart. The spitit that moves
some ‘to go far hence to the Geutiles,’
mav lead others to the Southern land, to
reach a race they have b en led to believe
tas been 8o lorg dowu-trodden and op-~
pressed. Howcver mistuken the judg
went we canuot but houor the motive
which actuates such men.’
Yes, and though it be true, which he
says in the -same eonuexion; that' ‘the
majority who come o this errand will be
moved by self interest, and will be men
and womeu whose culture, and social
positi n, offar them no bigher reward than
the compensation receivid for teaching
the negroes of the Seuth — even in this
case, as Paul rjoiced lecause *Chris’
was preached,’ tho .gh only ‘in pretence.’
why shoild wuot he rejoice that in
structio is given where it is 8o much
needed, tl ough imperfecty, and by com
parativcly unworthy instruments ; whil-,:
as for them, the class of whom he speaks,
is 1t any rcasou that they should wnot do
a good woirk at the South, that they can
get uothwg to do at the North? Nay,
let us lejoice uther— at least till better
cau be ‘vund to take their places.
There will be a pubiic meeting of
Kqual Right Associations of Richmond
Ceunty No., 3,at Trinny Church —color
ed—on Monday eveuving vext, commeuc
ing at 7 p. m.
vMr. Kuverbart, Superintendant of
Freedmau’s Schools, and other distiu<
guished speukers, will address the weet.
ing This is the regular ' m nthly meet
mli of No 3, and it is hoped that there
will be & large attgpdance.
TO OUR COLORED,6 SUBSCRI- !
ol BELS, & |
* We bave been told fhat complaint has }
been made by some of you that our pa~
per is not more intewesting, and that it
does not contain more of the news of the
day.
Just attend fora: moment, and hear
our reasons for this. .. In the first place,
we do not set out to make the paper a
mere newspaper. Our sheet is so small
that if we did this, there would be scar
cely room for any thing more. Mores
over the four daylies published in the
city make this work superfluous.
* The end which wepropose to ourselves
in ecnductinz this sheet, looks to the ir
structiqp rather than to the entertainment
of its rezders. We have no space to
give to their mere a musement; they must
find that elsewhere. What we want, and
intend to try to do,is to put before them
‘reading ‘matter which is adapted to en
lighten and do them good in the new
situation in which Providence has placed
t them. We wish to give them such
knowledge as may q:alify them for their
new duties and trusts. We waot them
t» know what is being said and done in
their bebalf; what laws are enacted by
Congress and the State Legislatures, what
is the state of public opinion, North and
South, with special refrence to the ques~
tions whrch concere their welfare. These
questions, at the present {ime, are 80
many »ud various, and withal so impor~
tant, that to shut them out from a paper
published in the interests of the Freed
men would be impossible. It would be
like excluding articles on temperance
from a tcwperance paper; or on slavery
from an auti slavery paper. And if we
attempt to answer this demand with any
thivg like thoroughness, it muct.,be to the
exclusion of other and lizhiter matter.
We desire our subscribers not only to
acquie~ce in this plan, but to approve of
it. It will do them more good to read
such thoughts as are given in H. W.
Beacher’s lecture contained in this week’s
issue than to read any amonnt of mere
news items however iuteresting, or any
number of trumpery stories which ecd in
merely amusing.
Let us fiud somethiog better than this
for our little sheet. Let it be made a
means of education a source of enlighten
went. So, better than in any other way,
can it reuder am equivalent for what it
costs. If diversion is wanted, there are
places enough and ways cnough to find
it. As much of this asis practicable
within our limits, we willgive. We can
promise no more, -°
Another thing for our colored friends
to cousider is that they are not our only,
though our largest class of :eaders. We
must cater for the others, and both write
and seleet for their ed:fication. This we
prop se to do accurding to the best of
or ability; —and our readers must agree
to our plan, and coufide in our judgmeut,
aud not discorage us by uufavorable eritix
cisms. ‘“A long pull, a strong pull, and
a pull all together,” that is the way.
ADDRESS OF HON. A H.
. STEPHENS. -
This address was given Keb. 22d, be
fore the General Asscmbly of the State
of Georgia. Amidst the multitnde of
excited, prejudiced and inflammatory ap
peals which are constantly issued from the
Press, and dttered in the deliberative
assembly, this calm, wise, statesmanlike
spee:h is perfectly refresbing. It would
be this coming fiom whom it might. Its
well-considered and judicious councils
¢)mmend themselves by their intrinsic
force avd authority. _As coming from
Mr Stepbens, it ought to carry with it
toe addi ioual influence derived from his
name, and experience, -and position, as a
public min, aud fr.m the re:ations, which,
as euch, he has sustaived to the people
of the South, :
We dp not “know how fitter words,
words better adapted to allay the mad~
uess ** which rules the bour "’ could have
heen :poken. It may be that we are the
more impressed by them because of their
eoincidence-in gome points; with what we
il our poor way, bave said, particularly
in our issue of February 10th, and uoder
the caption, “ Give the experiment fair
play.” : 4 ' h - &)
'Wefs‘houldfilike to transfer the whole ‘
of this admirable address to our columns;
this, however, is rendered unnccessary
by the fact that it has been printed in the
daylies of the city. We would commend
its careful perusal to all our readers.
Would that the lesson of ¢ patience, for
bearance and charity ” which it so ad
mirably impresses might reach all hearts,
and dispose to the practise of these g 0
much needed virtues, never more needed
than now. We cannot forbear giving a
single extract.
« My ouly hope is in the peaceful re~
establishment of good governmeat, aond
its peaceiul mainteuance afterwards. And
farther, the most hopetal prospect to this
end now, is the res'oration of the old
Union, aud with it, the speedy returu of
fraternal feeling throughout its length
and breadth. These results depend upon
the people themselves—upon the people
oi the North, quitg as I.uch as the pcople
of the South--upow their virtue, iutelli
gence and patriotism, I repeat, I have
faith in the American people, in their
virtue, intelligence and patriotism. But
for this I should long since have despair
ed. Dark and gloomy as.the preseut
hour is, I do not despair of free iustitu
tions. Let but the virtue, intelligeuce
aud patriotism of the people throughout
the whole country be properly appealed
to, aroused, aud brought into action and
all may yet be well. The masses, every
where, arealike equally interested in the
great object. Let oid issues, old questions,
oid differences and old feuds be regarded
as fossils of another epoch. They belong
to what may hereafter be considered the
Silurian period of our history. = Great
new questions are before us. Let it not
be said in this day, not yet passed, of ou
eountry’s greatest trial and agony, that
‘ there was a party for Cesar, a party for
Pompey, and a party for Brutus, but no
party for Rome.” ‘
CONGRESS. :
The last few weeks have been spent
hy Congress, in discussing questions that
uterest every citizen in this country,
This was to be expected. For political
reasons, the greatest war of modern times
was fought. Tt having ended, it was
natural to suppose that the questions,
about which we fought, should still agi
tate the public mind. Most of the
Southern States, having lost their ‘prae
tical relations’ with the General Govern
meut, it is necessary to decide what their
status now is. This question has been
discussed for weeks, nearly every mem
ber having his own theory. At last, on
the 19th, day of February, “the House
by a large majority passed a resolution
declaring tbat the rebellion deprived the
people of the South of all eivil rights,
and it becomes the duty of Congress to
enable them to organize their State Gov
erument, and that the President is fully
justified in mai.taining the suspeusion of
tLe writof babeas corpus, and in keep;
ing troops for the. protection of Union
citizens and freedmen.’ . _
Ou the 22d, day of February, “Stevens’
resolution to deprivethe Southern States
of representation until declared fit by
Congress, passed the House by a vote of
109 to 40.”
This virtually decides that the South
ern States shall not be represented this
year.
A bill to enlarge the powers of the
Freedman’s Burcau passed the House of
Kepresentatives and Scoate, but wus ve
toed by the Presid nt. We regret very
wuch ttis a‘tion of the President, and
we predict that the Southern people wilt
yet regret it. ‘l'he Freedman’s Buieau
now exercises as much autbority as this
bill couferred. ‘l'rue it is now based upon
military becessity, and is euforced by
military authority. This, in our opinion,
is more objectionable than the proposed
law, for all parties must then understand
their leg:/rights and remedies.
But the veto of this bill by the Presi
dent is of greater sign ficance that at first
appears. It has been known for several
weeks that a maj rity in Congress differ
ed from the Presideut as to the best plan
of reconstruction. The President de
sires to sce the Southern representatives
admitted to Coungress immediately. A
majority of his party friends are opposed
to adwmitting them at present. It was
hoped that the President and Congress
woaid act together, and, by so doing,
settle the grave questions now under dis~
cussion satistictorily to good meun North
and South. But now this scttlement is
postponed. 'The future looks daik, and
we predict, that we are eutering wpon
the greatest political coutest that has
ever agitated the people of the country—
a contest, in which, we ot the South
must be for the most part spéctators;
not iudiffereut spectators, for it is about
us that the political battle is fought. The
issue is fairly juinved. The President de
mauds that the Southern represeutatives
shall be admitted to Coungress, and Con
gress replies by itsacte, ‘l'hey sball not
be admitted at present,”
The President rejoins: “ I appeal to
the people.” Coogress accepts the issue
joined and also appeals 4to the .
Jl‘lew;‘“lfiarti&. are forming for the 3?&:
God help theright! Y
We deeply rcgret this contesg The
Northern people »oto iqpand that h,
freedmen shall bave all the rights of
citizens, except the right to vote and 4,
sit in ,th.g?ury box. If the Sonthey,
people would yicld this, we beljey, "
the difficulty m:ght be m..ttled, the South,
ern Representatives admitted to g, i
and the South once more PrOSper, yoy 5
f yore, but as it never before dreag .
of prospering. If the Presidey had
lsigrfed this Bgreau bill, we beliey |,
would have brought about this regyy;
| ation; now he cannot. Itis too late; thea
is no settlement but in an appes] 1o the
people. How will they decide > 7y ;,
of course, impossible to say ay thig e
or even to give an intelligent opinion, )
Nearly all the Southern paper -
joice that the issue is joined. g, they
| did at the commencement of the latg yy,
The is-ue then was: Shall slavery be
extended into the new Territories, The
North said, No; the South, Yeg The
South appealed to arms. The North,
simply to prevent the dissolution of ghe
Union, accepted the challenge, Weknow
the result. Slavery has been abolisheqg,
Now we commence again. The Nopp
will be satisfied now, if the freedmey
receive their eivil*rights; but if the party
opposed to the President is successfy]
they will receive all the rights of citizens,
including the right of suffrage. Kriends
of Equal Rights in Georgia, ?he contest
bas began ; form your Associations auq
and discuss these questions. If you hope
to see your principles prevail, now isth
time to work. "
REST IN THE LORD.
God sometimes darkens the brightest
morn ;—
Would we know why ?
It is that noblest virtues may be born
In agony. ‘
Only upon the cross of pain and woe
: Could God’s Son die;
‘And souls redeemed by bim from sio,
must know
Their Calvary.
If ours then be the lot of joy or grief,
God chooseth best;
If sick, be knoweth when to give relief,
If weary, rest:. -
Far more than troubled hearts can ever
pine
, For happiness,
He, in his love,—a love tender, divine,~
Yearoeth to bless.
We taste no joy which is not sent in love;
Still less a pain;
Though oft, to win our hearts to God,
~ they prove
Alike in vain.
Still, safe within his care we travel on
Through dust or mire,
To guide, defend, uphold us, there is Oue
Who will not tire.
Or, should we fall, and bruised and woun
ded lie,
Our lips in dust;
His arm to raise and heal us still is nigh,
While him we trust.
For neither life nor death, nor aught below
: Nor aught above,
From him can take us; that we ever g,
From his great love.
CO C. 8‘
In the journey of life, always keep to
the right.
We should let our likings ripen before
we love.
Continual praise keeps us in the wil
of God, by which will we-are sanctified
Let a man but stand upright, and be
is sure to have the whole world at bis.
feet.
Unrighteous gain has destroyed il
lions, but has never made one wan P
manently prosperous and happy.
Carefully avoid praising or disparagiog
yourself; the one is part of a fool, the
other is that of a coxcomb. -
A miser is very generally and nok “:i’:
justly regarded as odious god eontemd.
ble. {mt is really less so than the sp%
thrift. |
To find error is easy; 0 dlsfl)":
truth is difficalt.. Error is on the ;&e
face but truth dwells on the bottom %%
well. : |
There is many a slip between the T¥
and lip, but there are maby more P 8
?fter the cup has been drained by tho
ips. ;
The perscns who live on the failivg?
of their neighbors will never die of ta™”
tion.
"MARRIED. e
T Springfield Ciurch, on Wednesdd .
A niog, Fevruary 28th, By Rev wh B‘"""“'
Mr E Booclair and Miss L Moody-
INFORMATION W ANTED
(), 9 EORaE FLOURNOY, who wssi? Al
when last heard of Any informsti®® : s
whereabouts will be thankfully received v
office. ! .ELIZA MA s
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