_March 1._ The sale of lands, which was arrested by General Hunter's
order, has recommenced by authority obtained from Washington. The
generals commanding--Hunter and Saxton--are both interested in terms
and regulations which will favor the negroes. I hear they are both
added as, in some way, joint commissioners to those who have been
acting in that capacity, with full powers to retain all lands in
Government possession which may be wanted for military or educational
purposes.[116] What plan they may adopt is not yet known; but we have
already been called on for a complete census of the population, with a
view to a land allotment of some kind. I pray it may not be by _gift_.
I used to dread the effects of immediate emancipation and think it
was the duty of a Christian nation to ease the passage from slavery to
freedom with all kinds of assistance; but I am nearly satisfied that
the best thing our Government can do, for the good of these people
themselves, is simply to offer and enforce their acceptance of the
advantages of civil law and education. I should hope that for a time
the relations of employer and employed might be also watched and
determined by law,--but more than this, anything in the form of
_gifts_ and _charity_ will, I'm pretty sure, only relieve momentary
distress at the expense of their development in manliness and
independence. Very few will take a responsibility which they can in
any way avoid, and not one in a thousand will refuse charity if
offered, even when there is no slightest need of it. At the same time,
they perfectly understand the rights of property, almost
superstitiously appreciate the advantages of education, and will
eagerly seize any opportunity they may have of acquiring the one or
the other. As to these island people I feel no doubt that at least
three out of five of the present children will be able to read and
write when men and women, and that of the present generation of grown
people, half a plantation at least would own land in their own right
before four years had past,--if they were permitted to buy. Then how
much better to throw them on themselves, to leave them to their own
ambition and intelligence, when they have so much of both. Their
inveterate suspicion of white kindness, too, joined to their
ignorance, so clog the wheels of any system of charity like this of
superintendence that for this reason alone I think it should cease.
But they only too thoroughly comprehend the idea of _law_,--and are
therefore well able to understand and be grateful for beneficent law,
which at once protects and leaves them to themselves. "Let us
alone"--the cry of their masters--really belongs to them and is their
wisest demand.
I am anxiously hoping to be freed from this place by the sales and to
return to my old neighborhood, and there to be able to accomplish
something. This is but a stand-still experience, compared to our
wishes. The people advance in spite of it. I believe almost the only
real good I've done was to partially protect these people for three
days from the soldiers.