The Western Democrat

The Negro In Tennessee—Here is what the Greenville (East Tennessee) New Era says about the negro population of that section. Greenville is the home of Andrew Johnson, and the New Era is, we suppose, as thorough a Union paper as any in Tennessee or out of it:

"It may be as well for the white citizens of our country to subserve, in some degree, their own interest as to incur unnecessary inconvenience and expense in supporting the vagabond negro population that remain in our midst. A few months of experience have clearly demonstrated the fact that the negro freed is very different from the negro slave, and we are sorry to add that experience does not prove that he is in any degree benefitted; nor do we believe that his freedom, so dearly bought, will or can ever benefit him while he remains in our midst. While we, in common with the country, rejoice that he is no longer in bondage, and exult that our free country is rid of the great curse and disgrace of human bondage, yet we think that neither the negro nor the white man can be benefitted by the abolition of slavery while the negro is permitted to remain in our country. If they were disposed to be industrious and faithful, they would be employed and amply remunerated; but the experience of a short period has fully proved that he is unthrifty, lazy, and wholly unreliable. And we think it due to ourselves to ignore them in toto and not employ them in any way, but procure in their stead white laborers and servants, which would necessarily drive this indolent people out of the country. We have done enough for the negro, and if, protecting our own self-interest, Cuffy should suffer, it will be attributable to his own idleness and unfaithfulness."