The Continental Monthly, Vol 6, No 5, November 1864: Devoted To Literature And National PolicyVarious
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol 6, No 5, November 1864: Devoted To Literature And National Policy
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
'Such are the colored freedmen, the innocent victims of the war,
the slaves whom it has marvellously enfranchised; such are the
dusky clouds that flit o'er the continent of America and settle
down on strange lands--the harbingers of a social revolution in the
great republic of the West. More than fifty thousand are formed
into camps in the Mississippi Valley, and not fewer in Middle and
East Tennessee and North Alabama. It is a vast responsibility which
is cast upon the Government and the people of the North, a sore and
mighty burden; and proportionate are the efforts which have been
made to meet the trying emergency. The Government finds rations for
the negro camps, provides free carriage for the contributions of
the humane, appoints surgeons and superintendents, enlists in the
army the men who are suitable, and, as far as possible, gives
employment to all. Clothing and other necessaries are forwarded to
the camps by the ton by benevolent hands, and books for the schools
by tens of thousands. All along the banks of the Mississippi, from
Cairo to New Orleans, and in Arkansas and Tennessee, the aged and
infirm fugitives, the women and children, are collected into
colored colonies, and tended and taught with a care that is worthy
of a great and Christian people. All that can work are more than
willing to do so; they labor gladly; and among old and young there
is an eager desire for education. Books are coveted as badges of
freedom; and the negro soldier carries them with him wherever he
goes, and studies them whenever he can. It is a great work which is
in progress across the Atlantic. Providence, in a manner which man
foresaw not, is solving a dark problem of the past, and we may well
look on with awe and wonder. There were thousands of minds which
apprehended the downfall of the 'peculiar institution.' There were
a prophetic few, who clearly perceived that it would be purged away
by no milder scourge than that of war. But there were none who
dreamed that the slaveholder would be the Samson to bring down the
atrocious system of human slavery by madly taking arms in its
defence! Yet so it was; and the Divine penalty is before us. The
wrath of man has worked out the retributive justice of God. The
crime which a country would not put away from it has ended in war,
and slavery is a ruin.'
* * * * *
LITERARY NOTICES unavoidably postponed until the ensuing issue of THE
CONTINENTAL.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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