Outrages on The Freedmen.
A teacher writes to the Am. Missionary from Wilmington, N. C., Feb. 2, 1867, as follows:—177 Reports are constantly brought from the country, showing the terrible abuses that are practiced there. The whites seem to wax more and more lawless. After the laborer’s “contract time,” for work has expired, they are driven off or “run off” the lands, as they call it, in which case they flee for their lives, for if they refuse to go they are shot. Robbing is carried on constantly, and has become in some places, quite an organized thing. Formed into companies, robbers come disguised, and sweep off the hard earned stores, and the few effects of many a colored family. To-day I saw a woman who fled to this place to save her children from being torn from her by her former master, and “bound out,” as it is called, which is nothing more or less than slavery. In another case, the mother having reported to the Bureau, the seizure of one of her children, her eldest, grown up son, who was the messenger, was killed soon after his return home. For such reasons, a great many are seeking refuge in this town, and no one can tell where they can find a place. The same causes, that for the last year and a half, have been operating to make it difficult to get along, with the increase of such tyrannies, and the “hard times,” cause a direful struggle, for this poor people in almost every direction. No land, no work, no wages, but outrageous rents. It seems strange that more do not perish. Amid such circumstances, it is surprising that so many keep up such a right good will for exertion. I lately met a woman, whose faith in the efficacy of prayer much interested me. She was speaking of her experience shortly before the fall of the place. At that time her master hurried off a number of the people into the country some one hundred miles distant. The idea of going was dreadful to them. Before starting, they fasted and prayed much, and after they reached their destination, they held special meetings for prayer, accompanied by fasting, for their return. Some of them fully believed that their deliverance would be soon realized. It was not, however, in the way that they thought, through the Yankees, but through the inability of their master to obtain supplies for them, he was obliged to send them back just two weeks from the time they left; soon after, came their complete deliverance, through the fall of the place. This woman inquired with most intelligent interest of the prospects for the country, hoping that the legislation will help them out of their severe struggle. I cannot but offer them encouragement to hope that the coming year is to afford them help that no past one has done.