Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 1.djvu/363

Rh orders is the only reliable basis of the civilization as well as of the prosperity of a people.

The consequence of the prejudice prevailing in the Southern States is that colored schools can be established and carried on with safety only under the protection of our military forces, and that where the latter are withdrawn the former have to go with them. There may be a few localities forming exceptions, but their number is certainly very small. Chaplain Joseph Warren, superintendent of education under the Freedmen's Bureau in Mississippi, after describing the general spirit of opposition to the education of the negroes exhibited in Mississippi and enumerating the reasons assigned for it, says:

In view of these things I have no doubt but that, if our protection be withdrawn, negro education will be hindered in every possible way, including obstructions by fraud and violence. I have not the smallest expectation that, with the State authorities in full power, a Northern citizen would be protected in the exercise of his Constitutional right to teach and preach to the colored people, and shall look for a renewal of the fearful scenes in which Northerners were whipped, tarred and feathered, warned off and murdered, before the war.

In the letter of General Kilby Smith occurs the following statement referring to the condition of things in Mobile, Alabama:

Threats were made to destroy all school-houses in which colored children were taught, and in two instances they were fired. The same threats were made against all churches in which colored people assembled to worship, and one of them burned. Continued threats of assassination were made against the colored preachers, and one of them is now under special guard by order of Major-General Woods.

While I was in Louisiana General Canby received a petition, signed by a number of prominent citizens of