Freestone County, Texas
Schools in the News
1870



[This article is about Reconstruction era schooling of African Americans.]

The Houston Daily Union  
published in Houston, Texas
August 2, 1870
Page: 2

Letter from Freestone Co. 

    Cotton Gin, July 22, 1870

Editors Union

  At one freedmen's Sunday School celebration there were about seven hundred
in attendance.  The examination commenced on the 21st and closed on the night
of the 22 inst.  Everything went off in good order.  The second day they 
commenced with spelling and reading by classes.  Then by speeches and addresses
by Mr. A. H. Roberts, white; then by Mr. Jackson, colored.  He talked splendidly
to the scholars.  He told them how this Sunday school had progressed in only 
seven months; that some of them who scarcely knew anything, could now get up 
before the school and read in the third and fourth readers, or make a good 
address or speech to them; that they must push forward and obey their teachers
and trustees, and trust in God and build upon the Bible, and they would be sure
to win the prize when they all came to die.  They were in then placed in charge 
of the marshal, formed in position, and marched to the dinner table.  All the
white men present were invited to take a seat at the table.
  After dinner they marched back to the stand.  Next in order were speeches 
from the scholars. After many noble speeches had been made one Judge Lynn, 
white, asked permission to speak, which was granted.  He gave them good advice
concerning education and politeness.  He said that if they were persevering and
diligent they would be able to do better by this time next year; that they had
a good start now, and the way to become great in this world was to improve 
their time in something useful, and not be going to any secret organization.  
He was striking at what I call the Chartered Loyal Council, which the scholars
did not thank him for.  They think that is their business as free men.  Next was
a speech by Mr. Lockhart, colored, which was very good, and even better than 
those of the two white men, because he was in earnest about their welfare, 
while they were just feeling around for the next election, which the colored
men were aware of.  Then followed speeches from the scholars.  Then by 
dialogues, music and singing, which was done with much pride and joy, both 
interesting to themselves and all present. The scholars then gave great thanks
to God, and praise to their teachers for what they had done and for the great
blessings that God had bestowed upon them.  This bringing their examination to
a close, I was requested to deliver an address to the school before the 
exercises were closed, being a friend of the school and a Republican.  I then
addressed them as to their duties as scholars and as a people.  You are a free
people and the law makes citizens of you all, the same as it does to myself and
others; gives you all the rights and privileges of the law; guarantees to you the
same protection, and it is as binding upon you as it is upon me, to obey the
laws of our country; we must all be law-abiding men and then we shall receive 
the same protection.  God has also given us laws to obey, and the way to learn
these things we must first be educated, so that we can read the laws and then
we will know how to obey them, and when it comes to elections, we then may know
how to vote and who to vote for, and not be cheated out of your votes; and then
if some of you were to be elected to some great office you would then know how
to contend for your rights as citizens of the United States.  You have started
in the right way to get that education that we all so much need, and I am truly
proud to see the great interest that is taken in the cause of education at this
place.  I can say this much for your school, that you have done better than I 
have seen done before anywhere else, considering your chances and the length of
time you have been engaged, black or white.  The school has ow been in progress
only about seven months and many of you can read a newspaper and the Bible, can
get up and make a good and very sensible speech.  Both the large and small 
scholars have done extremely well.
  Parents when you send your children here to Sunday School, on the Lord's day,
they are learning something good, and not out playing marvels [marbles] or 
fishing which God forbids on the Sabbath.  If you bring them up in the right way
"when they get old they will not depart from it."  I think that your teachers
are taking a great interest in advancing their scholars, and I think that if you
will all push forward, that by this time next year that you will both astonish
yourselves and the rebels in this county more than you did this time; they have 
said that the colored people could not be educated, show them that you can
educate yourselves.
   Respectfully yours,
                 M. G. Smith