"I came to talk to you in plain words so as you can understand how to open the gates of oppresion and let the captive free. In this state there are 200 thousand able intelligent, honorable negroes, not an inferior race,, mind you, who are ready to protect their liberty. The matter is in your own hands.
"Yes, I will fight them and take them man by man. I want to tell you one thing, do you know that if it was not for the black man this war never would have been brought to a close with success to the Union, and the liberty of your race if it had not been for the negro? I want you to understand. Do you know it, do you know it, do you know it? (NOTE: cries of 'yes, yes, yes, yes'). They can't get along without you.
M. Delany
"You Yankees from the North who come down here to drive you as much as ever it was before the war. It's slavery over again, northern universal U.S. slavery. But they must keep their clamps off. If I were a slave I would be the most worthless one on the plantation. I would not do anything.
"They(i.e. before the war) have told you, Sam, you lazy nigger, you don't earn your salt. If you don't do better I'll sell you to the first trader that comes along at the same time they were making their thousands annually on every one of you.
"And so it is with these Yankees from the North. They don't pay you enough. I see too many of you dressed in rags, and shoeless. These Yankees talk smooth to you, O yes. Their tongue rolls just like the drum (NOTE: Audience laughter) but its slavery over again as much as ever it was. I expect Gen. Saxton back vey soon. He is working with me, when this matter will be settled. I mean about lands when you can plant and work your own farms. Don't be anxious for large places. Forty acres is enough.
"Cotton will bring 30 cents for two years to come tht is putting it at a low estimate. (NOTE: Here he explained a mathematical calculation showing that they could make $900 per year on this staple) "and then your little cabins will be floored, your barns built, and carpet will tke the place of bare floors.
"But you must only deal with the government accredited agents, recognize none but authorized cotton agents. I know that cotton has been raised by you, these fellows have told you they would send it north and sell it for you; months pass and when you ask for money they will tell you the cotton is not yet sold.
There are good Yankees and when you come across a good Yankee he is smart: the figure in yellow trousers and claw hammer coat, dealing in wooden hams and nutmegs (and calculated to impress the negro with feelings of indignation towards the white people from the north now residing here, engaged in the products of this climate. But what I don't like, and what won't have is these fellows from the north, who were nothing at home, and ape the southerners with a big brim hat, he has his overseer too, a chuckle headed slave driver on the fence or in the crotch of a tree, and say, 'Sam! Do this! Or Jim! Do that! Light my pipe!' as lazy as any southerner or overseer was. They promise you 30 cents. You are to get one third crop and will see that you get it. You must not think you are Yankees. You are negroes the same as I am." (NOTE: He gave the idea that the real Yankee is smart, but those here were not conscientious.)
MRD speaking to a gathering of South Carolina blacks at Brick Church, St. Helena Island, South Carolina, Sunday, July 23, 1865, from the notes of 2nd Lt. Alex Whyte, Jr. 128th N.S.C. Troops when MRD was beginning his brief tenure working with the Freedmen's Bureau."NOTE:" precedes note by Lt. Whyte
