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ey now despised as being a part of their servitude。 But in spite of all the relief that could be given there was much want。 In fact； to restore former conditions the relief agencies frequently cut off supplies in order to force the Negroes back to work and to prevent others from leaving the country for the towns。 But the hungry freedmen turned to the nearest food supply； and 〃spilin de gypshuns〃 （despoiling the Egyptians； as the Negroes called stealing from the whites） became an approved means of support。 Thefts of hogs； cattle； poultry； field crops； and vegetables drove almost to desperation those whites who lived in the vicinity of the Negro camps。 When the ex…slave felt obliged to go to town； he was likely to take with him a team and wagon and his master's clothes if he could get them。
The former good manners of the Negro were now replaced by impudence and distrust。 There were advisers among the Negro troops and other agitators who assured them that politeness to whites was a mark of servitude。 Pushing and crowding in public places； on street cars and on the sidewalks； and impudent speeches everywhere marked generally the limit of rudeness。 And the Negroes were； in this respect； perhaps no worse than those European immigrants who act upon the principle that bad manners are a proof of independence。
The year following emancipation was one of religious excitement for large numbers of the blacks。 Before 1865； the Negro church members were attached to white congregations or were organized into missions； with nearly always a white minister in charge and a black assistant。 With the coming of freedom the races very soon separated in religious matters。 For this there were two principal reasons： the Negro preachers could exercise more influence in independent churches； and new church organizations from the North were seeking Negro membership。 Sometimes Negro members were urged to insist on the right 〃to sit together〃 with the whites。 In a Richmond church a Negro from the street pushed his way to the communion altar and knelt。 There was a noticeable pause； then General Robert E。 Lee went forward and knelt beside the Negro； and the congregation followed his example。 But this was a solitary instance。 When the race issue was raised by either color； the church membership usually divided。 There was much churchgoing by the Negroes； day and night； and church festivities and baptisms were common。 The blacks preferred immersion and； wanted a new baptism each time they changed to a new church。 Baptizings in ponds； creeks； or rivers were great occasions and were largely attended。 〃Shouting〃 the candidates went into the water and 〃shouting〃 they came out。 One old woman came up screaming； 〃Freed from slavery！ freed from sin！ Bless God and General Grant！〃
In the effort to realize their new…found freedom； the Negroes were heavily handicapped by their extreme poverty and their ignorance。 The total value of free Negro property ran up into the millions in 1860； but the majority of the Negroes had nothing。 There were a few educated Negroes in the South； and more in the North and in Canada； but the mass of the race was too densely ignorant to furnish its own leadership。 The case； however； was not hopeless； the Negro was able to work and in large territories had little competition； wages were high； even though paid in shares of the crop； the cost of living was low； and land was cheap。 Thousands seemed thirsty for an education and crowded the schools which were available。 It was too much； however； to expect the Negro to take immediate advantage of his opportunities。 What he wanted was a long holiday； a gun and a dog； and plenty of hunting and fishing。 He must have Saturday at least for a trip to town or to a picnic or a circus； he did not wish to be a servant。 When he had any money； swindlers reaped a harvest。 They sold him worthless finery； cheap guns； preparations to bleach the skin or straighten the hair； and striped pegs which； when set up on the master's plantation； would entitle the purchaser to 〃40 acres and a mule。〃
The attitude of the Negroes' employers not infrequently complicated the situation which they sought to better。 The old masters were； as a rule； skeptical of the value of free Negro labor。 Carl Schurz thought this attitude boded ill for the future： 〃A belief； conviction； or prejudice； or whatever you may call it；〃 he said； 〃so widely spread and apparently deeply rooted as this； that the Negro will not work without physical compulsion； is certainly calculated to have a very serious influence upon the conduct of the people entertaining it。 It naturally produced a desire to preserve slavery in its original form as much and as long as possible 。 。 。 or to introduce into the new system that element of physical compulsion which would make the Negro work。〃 The Negro wished to be free to leave his job when he pleased； but； as Benjamin C。 Truman stated in his report to President Johnson； a 〃result of the settled belief in the Negro's inferiority； and in the necessity that he should not be left to himself without a guardian； is that in some sections he is discouraged from leaving his old master。 I have known of planters who considered it an offence against neighborhood courtesy for another to hire their old hands； and in two instances that were reported the disputants came to blows over the breach of etiquette。〃 The new Freedmen's Bureau insisted upon written contracts； except for day laborers； and this undoubtedly kept many Negroes from working regularly； for they were suspicious of contracts。 Besides； the agitators and the Negro troops led them to hope for an eventual distribution of property。 An Alabama planter thus described the situation in December 1865：
〃They will not work for anything but wages； and few are able to pay wages。 They are penniless but resolute in their demands。 They expect to see all the land divided out equally between them and their old masters in time to make the next crop。 One of the most intelligent black men I know told me that in a neighboring village； where several hundred blacks were congregated； he does not think that as many as three made contracts； although planters are urgent in their solicitations and offering highest prices for labor they can possibly afford to pay。 The same man informed me that the impression widely prevails that Congress is about to divide out the lands； and that this impression is given out by Federal soldiers at the nearest military station。 It cannot be disguised that in spite of the most earnest efforts of their old master to conciliate and satisfy them； the estrangement between races increases in its extent and bitterness。 Nearly all the Negro men are armed with repeaters； and many of them carry them openly； day and night。〃
The relations between the races were better； however； than conditions seemed to indicate。 The whites of the Black Belt were better disposed toward the Negroes than were those of the white districts。 It was in the towns and villages that most of the race conflicts occurred。 All whites agreed that the Negro was inferior； but there were many who were grateful for his conduct during the war and who wished him well。 But others； the policemen of the towns； the