Part 3 (1/2)
A great destruction of capital has been the result, but 'victory at last' has rewarded her efforts, and she is now followed by a train of four bipeds, one black, one white, and two octoroons. I have neglected to tell you that the mother hen is black, and struts with pompous pride above her white and octoroon subjects. 'Let us have peace.'”
My record would be incomplete without a brief description of the freedmen's meetings on Sat.u.r.day. We found Citadel square almost impa.s.sable with the dense crowds of negroes, while hundreds of children were marching through the streets singing ”John Brown.” The princ.i.p.al gathering was in Zion's Church, where more than three thousand colored people were crowded together. One of the speakers from the north, William Lloyd Garrison, the veteran abolitionist, was surrounded by the freedmen as he entered the church, and borne on their shoulders amid great enthusiasm to the platform. Then the surging mult.i.tude sang, with thrilling power and effect:
”Roll, Jordan, roll, the year of Jubilee;”
and another song, beginning:
”Blow, blow your trumpet, Gabriel!”
How they all shouted at the first mention of the name of Lincoln!
”Spread it abroad,” said Hon. Henry Wilson, ”all over South Carolina, that the black men of South Carolina know no master now, and that they are slaves no more forever! [Great cheering.] Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States [tremendous cheering and waving of hats and handkerchiefs], with twenty-five millions of freemen by his side, and seven hundred thousand bayonets behind him, has decreed it, and it will stand while the world stands, that the black men of South Carolina can never more be slaves! [Loud cheers.] They have robbed your cradles; they have sold your children; they have separated husband and wife, father and mother and child. [Cries of 'Yes! yes!
yes!'] They shall separate you no more! ['Hallelujah! bress de Lord!']
The long, dreary night of slavery has pa.s.sed away forever. ['Amen!
amen! amen!'] Remember that you are now to be obedient, faithful, true and loyal to your country forevermore!” [Cheers and cries of 'Yes!
yes! yes!']
[Ill.u.s.tration: [_Copyrighted by J.A. & R.A. Reid._]
”OLE Ma.s.sA RUN--HA! HA!
DE DARKEYS STAY--HO! HO!”]
Twenty years have pa.s.sed since the emanc.i.p.ation of this race, and while a great work has been accomplished for their education, aided by the princely gifts of such philanthropists as George Peabody and John F. Slater, of New England, it is also true that much remains to be done. There still appears to exist among the ruling cla.s.s in the south a tendency to put barriers in the way of the poor and ignorant ma.s.ses, and hinder them in the exercise of their personal and political rights. ”This is a white man's government,” exclaims the solid south to-day, as in 1860. And again let the loyal answer go forth, as from the lips of the lamented Lincoln, at Gettysburg, twenty years ago, ”This is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, without distinction of race or color.” The most serious danger which threatens our country to-day, is the ignorance of the ma.s.ses, both white and black, north as well as south. This cla.s.s in many States holds the balance of power, and has become a most dangerous force in the hands of educated but unprincipled leaders. The beneficent influences of Christianity and universal education are necessary to lift the ma.s.ses from their servile position, and enable them to think and vote for themselves. Nor should they be allowed to vote until they can read and write. Education and suffrage should go hand in hand.
CONCLUSION.
On the morning of Sunday, the sixteenth of April, 1865, the good steamer ”Ocea.n.u.s,” gay with crowds of pa.s.sengers, and proudly waving flags and signals, steamed slowly down Charleston harbor homeward bound. As she pa.s.sed the fleet, parting salutations were exchanged with the monitors, men-of-war, and the smaller boats pa.s.sing to and fro. We turned to take a last survey of the city in the distance, the forts, and sh.o.r.es thickly studded with now peaceful batteries. As we pa.s.sed abreast of Fort Sumter, where, as at Lexington a hundred years ago, ”was fired the shot heard 'round the world,” every head was uncovered, while we reverently sang, the band accompanying:
”Praise G.o.d, from whom all blessings flow,”
followed by the sweet strains of:
”My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty.”
Immediately the colors on the fort were dipped, and the sentinels on the walls waved their adieus with caps and bayonets. At length we crossed the bar and took leave of the pilot.
As the sh.o.r.es of South Carolina faded in the distance, and the walls of the storied fort sank below the gray horizon, we bade farewell to scenes which, however changed by the ceaseless march of time, must always possess a charm indescribable. Religious services were held in the cabin at eleven o'clock, and again during the evening. The sound of merriment was hushed, and all seemed to realize that it was the Sabbath. Indeed, it was observed by one of the speakers, that he had not heard a word of profanity or seen any one under the influence of intoxicating beverages during the voyage.
Monday followed without important incident, save that at five o'clock in the afternoon we safely rounded Cape Hatteras with a gentle reminder of the old couplet:
”If the Bermudas let you pa.s.s, You must beware of Hatteras!”
Tuesday morning, when about thirty miles south of Fortress Monroe, and while most of the pa.s.sengers were at breakfast, a steamer was observed in the distance with her flag at half-mast. Various were the conjectures for whom it could be. We had been without news from the north for more than a week; what could have happened?
Presently a pilot-boat, with her colors also at half-mast, appeared within hailing distance.
”What's the news?” was eagerly shouted from the ”Ocea.n.u.s.”