A Hampton Institute teacher in later days remarked: "When the combat was over and the Yankee school-ma'am followed in the train of the northern armies, the business of educating the Negroes was a continuation of hostilities against the vanquished and was so regarded to a considerable extent on both sides." The Southern churches, through their bishops and clergy, the newspapers, and prominent individuals such as J.L.

M.Curry, John B.Gordon, J.
L.Orr, Governors Brown, Moore, and Patton, came out in favor of Negro education.

Of this movement General Swayne said: "Quite early....

the several religious denominations took strong ground in favor of the education of the freedmen.

The principal argument was an appeal to sectional and sectarian prejudice, lest, the work being inevitable, the influence which must come from it be realized by others; but it is believed that this was but the shield and weapon which men of unselfish principle found necessary at first." The newspapers took the attitude that the Southern whites should teach the Negroes because it was their duty, because it was good policy, and because if they did not do so some one else would.