I don't mean to disrespect the ex-slave at all, but I believe, as a student of history, certain contexts should be highlighted here.
1. The man isn't speaking. As he could not (hopefully: YET) read or write, he dictated the letter to a professional writer. Professional writers at the time often made their money writing and sending letters for the illiterate, one of their offered services was cleaning up grammar and dialect.
Because of this, the letter is no indication of the speaker's linguistic abilities.
2. Even if we could know exactly how he would have worded the letter, the ex-slave's language would have seemed impressive to us (most likely in vocabulary) because respect in language is so often given to "traditional" speech. His speech was, by definition, traditional because he is a speaker from an earlier period. Language, by our nature, evolves and adapts. People, by their nature, revere and respect what is old and established.
What gets me about the Ex-Slaves story is the incredible boldness and scathing rebuke he made public, even though it is hidden in sarcastic politeness. He all but openly accuses the old master of raping the ex-slave's oldest daughters, which from the context of the day we can safety assume to be horrifyingly accurate. The es-slave outs the man as a Rebel collaborator,and mocks the indignity of his request by pointing out the many years of unpaid labor he enjoyed from the ex-slave and his wife. Furthermore, to point out that the old master would not have anyone to write to unless a third party had kept the man from shooting the ex-slave as he escaped the hell that was his past life is righteousness in words.
The ex slave deserves our respect. Hell, this letter should be mailed to a few confederate apologists I can think of.
"Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor's visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to. Please send the money by Adams's Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq., Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future."
Witty repartee. But no. You are confusing hypothesis with proof. One may develop a *hypothesis* (e.g., that a letter was co-authored) in one’s mind; however, *proof* of that hypothesis (such as documents or other evidence supporting that hypothesis) would not be found there. Proof consists of outside evidence – not conjecture.
Also, way to be civil and add something intelligent to the discussion. I fail to see what provoked the ad hominem attack – must be something else I’m lacking between the ears.
You make it sound as if there's a large calling for individual reparations and handouts. Can you actually name a prominent politician asking for these things today? Or are you just digging up things from the past, just years after African Americans had things like the legal right to go to school, work, own property, etc...
I'm going to keep this article, and hopefully get a chance to utilize this brave mans words in MY correspondence with the assorted bankers, employers, and other soul sucking monsters I am forced to deal with in my life.
I salute the originator of his letter - little did he know he's be one of the LAST free men in the United States.
jerroldsJan 31, 2012Buried
Even uneducated - this man speaks better than a good percentage of the population today.
talen75Jan 31, 2012Buried
Wish we could have seen the Colonel's face as he read the letter. Priceless.
jarysmJan 31, 2012Buried
I don't mean to disrespect the ex-slave at all, but I believe, as a student of history, certain contexts should be highlighted here.
1. The man isn't speaking. As he could not (hopefully: YET) read or write, he dictated the letter to a professional writer. Professional writers at the time often made their money writing and sending letters for the illiterate, one of their offered services was cleaning up grammar and dialect.
Because of this, the letter is no indication of the speaker's linguistic abilities.
2. Even if we could know exactly how he would have worded the letter, the ex-slave's language would have seemed impressive to us (most likely in vocabulary) because respect in language is so often given to "traditional" speech. His speech was, by definition, traditional because he is a speaker from an earlier period. Language, by our nature, evolves and adapts. People, by their nature, revere and respect what is old and established.
What gets me about the Ex-Slaves story is the incredible boldness and scathing rebuke he made public, even though it is hidden in sarcastic politeness. He all but openly accuses the old master of raping the ex-slave's oldest daughters, which from the context of the day we can safety assume to be horrifyingly accurate. The es-slave outs the man as a Rebel collaborator,and mocks the indignity of his request by pointing out the many years of unpaid labor he enjoyed from the ex-slave and his wife. Furthermore, to point out that the old master would not have anyone to write to unless a third party had kept the man from shooting the ex-slave as he escaped the hell that was his past life is righteousness in words.
The ex slave deserves our respect. Hell, this letter should be mailed to a few confederate apologists I can think of.
anomaly100Jan 30, 2012Buried
I love this part:
"Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor's visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to. Please send the money by Adams's Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq., Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future."
smpaisnutrientsJan 31, 2012Buried
Dictated
usarugulaJan 31, 2012Buried
Not only are you unnecessarily politicizing this, you also are an idiot.
Psychology 101: if you both beat and starve a man, he will be happier when you only starve him. That does not mean he is receiving fair treatment.
maz2331Jan 30, 2012Buried
Factoring in inflation, the sum of $11,680 in 1865 would be equivilant to $164,391 in current dollars.
mjcs77Jan 31, 2012Buried
Favuquad:
Witty repartee. But no. You are confusing hypothesis with proof. One may develop a *hypothesis* (e.g., that a letter was co-authored) in one’s mind; however, *proof* of that hypothesis (such as documents or other evidence supporting that hypothesis) would not be found there. Proof consists of outside evidence – not conjecture.
Also, way to be civil and add something intelligent to the discussion. I fail to see what provoked the ad hominem attack – must be something else I’m lacking between the ears.
particleman420Jan 31, 2012Buried
i guess you stopped reading in the first paragraph and didnt continue to read the part where he asked for his and his wife's due back pay?
karlhJan 31, 2012Buried
I would totally understand if he just said "F*** you, Colonel!" and let the writer embellish it a little.
encognitoJan 31, 2012Buried
Simply amazing. He put the former slave owner in his place with dignity and grace.
smurfzJan 30, 2012Buried
That was beyond awesome!
mredofcourseJan 31, 2012Buried
You make it sound as if there's a large calling for individual reparations and handouts. Can you actually name a prominent politician asking for these things today? Or are you just digging up things from the past, just years after African Americans had things like the legal right to go to school, work, own property, etc...
ghostrunner1Jan 31, 2012Buried
Since this piece isn't FROM a newspaper, it would be difficult for it to be a northern newspapers anecdotal "gotcha South!" fiction.
It's from a book of collected writings called "The Freedmans Book" compiled by L. Maria Child in 1865.
suzillaJan 31, 2012Buried
Ever hear of Frederick Douglas?
mjcs77Jan 31, 2012Buried
I don't know why anyone would digg you down for this comment. I'm retaliatory-digging you back up. ;)
toxicwaffleJan 31, 2012Buried
So he earned $350 a month (in todays dollars) at his new job
lookatme9Jan 31, 2012Buried
Slavery at its worst. However, I like the letter, and the courtesy, he showed while writing it, even to the one who actually shot him.
classydaveJan 31, 2012Buried
I'm going to keep this article, and hopefully get a chance to utilize this brave mans words in MY correspondence with the assorted bankers, employers, and other soul sucking monsters I am forced to deal with in my life.
I salute the originator of his letter - little did he know he's be one of the LAST free men in the United States.
anomaly100Jan 30, 2012Buried
What a find!