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November, 1861.      DOUGLASS' MONTHLY.      559 

AN APPEAL FOR CONTRABANDS.

The Rev. Lewis C. Lockwood, of the American Missionary Association, at present laboring with great acceptance at Fortress Monroe among the runaway slaves, is furnishing the results of his experience and observation in a series of articles, published in the American Missionary.  In a recent communication he says:——'I have received a letter from one of the contrabands, this morning, containing an effecting appeal-many yesterday were kept from meeting by way of proper attire.  I am convinced that $5,000 worth of clothing would be well appropriated.  And I have no doubt that were the matter brought before the public in the right light, and to the requisite extent, the charitable people of the free States would cheerfully contribute to supply all the necessities of the people.  I am sure anti-slavery men and women, especially would delight to respond to such an appeal.'

Sunday and day schools have been opened for these colored refugees by Mr. Lockwood, with the warm approbation of General Wool, the officers, and chaplains.  Nothing can exceed the eagerness of the colored people to learn, and their most influential men are indefatigable in assisting.  Several of them are able and eloquent in public preaching, exhortations and prayer; and all the people join in singing hymns of their own composition, which they have long sang together, to simple melodies.  One young man named Davis is spoken of as displaying abilities, united with a decided Christian character, well worthy of being patronized and well educated, for future service in the new career which is apparently opening for the benefit of the African race.

The first Sunday School was opened on September 15th, in the house of ex-President John Tyler, who deserted it when he openly joined the rebels.  A scene highly indicative of the times was presented when the instruction of Virginia slaves, freed by the rebellion, or by the desertion of their masters, was commenced in his abandoned mansion, under the protection of the flag of the Union, by volunteer 'Yankee' soldiers, as teachers, and with the approbation of a favorite son of New York, Gen. Wool.  One of the teachers, finding a piano standing idle, opened it, and played an accompaniment to the hymns of the poor but devout and grateful negroes.  Mr. Lockwood says:——'I strive, and very successfully too, to point out to them the importance of their standing on character, and presenting a conduct at once pleasing to God and approved of men.  I tell them that they are surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses.——I warn them not to let it be said that they associate liberty with licentiousness, laziness, lounging and intemperance!  They discover a great thirst for knowledge.'

Contributions of money, clothing, &c., are earnestly requested.  They can be sent to Lewis Tappan, Treasurer, 61 John St., New York, or directly to Rev. L. C. Lockwood, care of Capt. Burleigh, Seminary, near Fortress Monroe, Virginia, by Adams' Express, freight prepaid.


HENRY WARD BEECHER ON CONTRABANDS.

A collection for the American Missionary Association, to be employed specifically for the religious and secular instruction of the 1,800 emancipated slaves in and around Fortress Monroe, was recently taken up in Henry Ward Beecher's Church, in Brooklyn.  Prefacing the collection, Mr. Beecher said:

General Butler called them 'contrabands,' and the people seemed relieved, and snapped at the expression as if it was a very felicitous thing.  My friends, it is one of the great disadvantages of the position in which the North are placed that they dare not say Freemen and Liberty in this conflict.  The South have this particular advantage-that they know that they are fighting for slavery, and say so.  They are not complicated in that regard.  Their issue is simple; and, though selfish and monstrous, they have the advantage which comes from simplicity and from manly frankness.  The North are in a position in which they do not dare to sya that they are fighting for liberty.  We are.  We are not fighting directly for emancipation; but we are fighting that Constitution and for those institutions which we believe will inevitably bring liberty in the process of time.
 
I am well aware of the embarrassment in which Government is placed.  I would not say a word, nor exert an influence, to complicate matters, or make their fearful responsibility more onerous.  I would lighten their hands by every just, generous sentiment, and every charitable construction; but I must be allowed, and I think it is proper and right, to say that it is not inconsistent with the soundest policy, and with the truest construction of duty, for the President, for the members of his Cabinet, and for the Generals of the army, to say that they shall give every constitutional advantage in this struggle to liberty, and that the animus with which they go forth is the maintenance of constitutional laws, because they embody essentially the spirit of liberty.  Every attempt to dodge, and equivocate, and get around this question; every attempt to be sensitive in favor of slavery, and to make allowances in that direction, is very bad policy, to say nothing about justice and higher considerations.  And we never shall carry this conflict victoriously thro' until men cease to have the sacred words of liberty stick in their throat, and make long circuits and periphrases when they come to that question; and I thank God that there is one man who dares to speak out upon it.

That man, with whose name the cause of liberty was so intimately associated in the campaign of 1856, seems destined still to be identified with the progress of that sacred cause.  He alone, of all our Generals, seems to have had that far-seeing wisdom which springs from the very spirit and love of liberty.  How simple and clear are his utterances.  He alone dares to call slaves by their own odious name-Slaves-a word which the Constitution would not utter, and which men sensitive of shame do not love to speak.  He alone has declared  that the slaves of men found in arms against the country shall become freemen.  Mark it!  Not with verbal dexterity, 'contrabands;' not men without name, anomalous, nondescript; but, as if inspired from on high with the very spirit of religion, and acting according to its most undoubted inspirations, Fremont has declared that slaves shall become free men.  The heart and conscience of the whole North responded to that touch.  Therefore, Fremont will never be forgiven.


THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE.

NEW VOLUME.

On the 7th of September, The New York Weekly Tribune commenced the twenty-first year of its existence; The Daily Tribune being some months older, and The Semi-Weekly Tribune somewhat younger.  For more than twenty years, this journal has labored in what its conductors have felt to be the cause of Humanity, Justice and Freedom, endeavoring to meliorate the condition of the oppressed and unfortunate, to honor and encourage useful exertion in whatever sphere, and, to promote by all means the moral, intellectual and material advancement of our country.   It has aimed to be right rather than popular, and to espouse and commend today the truth that others may not be willing to accept till to-morrow.  In pursuing this course, mistakes have doubtless been made and faults committed; but, having in all things incited our readers to think and judge for themselves, rather than adopt blindly our own or others' conclusions, we believe we may fairly claim for this journal the credit of having qualified its readers to detect and expose even its own errors.  To develop the minds of the young by the most general, thorough and practical Education, and to encourage and stimulate Productive Industry, through free grants of Public Lands to actual settlers and cultivators, as also through the protection of immature and peculiarly exposed branches from too powerful foreign competition, are among the aims to which this journal has adhered through good and evil report, and which it steadfastly commends to American patriotism and philanthropy.
 
As to the Civil War now devastating our country, we hold it to have originated in a Rebellion more wanton, wicked inexcusable, then was ever known-a Rebellion in the interest of the few against the many-a Rebellion designed to raise the walls of caste and tighten the chains of oppression.  Having done all we could without a surrender of vital principle to avoid War, and witnessed the forbearance, meekness, and long-suffering with which the Federal Government sought to avert its horrors, we hold it our clear duty, with that of every other citizen, to stand by the nation and its fairly chosen rulers, and to second with all our energies their efforts to uphold the Union, Constitution, and the supremacy of the Laws.  And, though the Rebellion has become, through usurpation deception, terrorism, and spoliation, fearfully strong, we believe The American Republic far stronger, and that the unanimous, earnest efforts of loyal hearts and hands will insure its overthrow.  But on all questions affecting the objects, the scope, and duration of this most extraordinary contest, we defer to those whom the American People have clothed with authority, holding unity of purpose and of action indispensable in so grave an emergency.

In a crisis like the present, our columns must be largely engrossed with the current history of War for the Union, and with elucidations of its more striking incidents.  We shall not, however, remit that attention to Literature, to Foreign Affairs, to Agricultural Progress, to Crops, Markets, &c., &c., which has already, we trust, won for The Tribune an honorable position among its contemporaries.  Our main object is and shall be to produce a comprehensive newspaper, from which a careful reader may glean a vivid and careful history of the times, not merely in the domain of Action, but in that of Opinion also.  As our facilities for acquiring information increase with years, we trust that  an improvement in the contents of our journal is perceptible, and that, in the variety and fullness of intelligence afforded, we may still hope to "make each day a critic on the last." In this hope, we solicit a continuance of the generous measure of patronage hitherto accorded our journal.

TERMS.

Daily Tribune (311 issues per annum) - $6
Semi-Weekly (104 issues per annum) - $3
Weekly (52 issues per annum) - $2

To CLUBS——Semi-Weekly:  Two copies for $5; five for $11 25; ten copies to one address for $20; and any larger number at the latter rate.  For a club of twenty, an extra copy will be sent.  For a club of forty we send The Daily Tribune gratis for one year.
 
Weekly:  Three copies for $5; eight copies for $10, and any larger number at the rate of $1 20 each per annum, the paper to be addressed to each subscriber.  To clubs of Twenty, we send an extra copy.
 
Twenty copies to one address for $20, with one extra to him who sends us the club.  For each club of One Hundred, The Daily Tribune will be sent gratis for one year.
 
When drafts can be procured it is much safer than to remit Bank Bills.  The name of the Post-Office and State should in all cases be plainly written

Payment always in advance.

Address     THE TRIBUNE
No. 154 Nassau-st, New York.


TERMS OF DOUGLASS' MONTHLY.

Single Copies, to American subscribers, $1 per year.
  "      "     to British      "        5s. sterling.

Subscriptions must be paid for invariably in advance.

All communications, whether on business or for publication, should be addressed to

FREDERICK DOUGLASS, Rochester, N.Y.


AGENTS IN GREAT BRITAIN.

We take the liberty of using the names of the following gentlemen who will receive names and subscriptions for Douglass Monthly in Great Britain:

Halifax——Rev. RUSSELL LAND CARPENTER, Milton Place;  Rev. Dr. CROFTS, North Parade.

London——Mr. L. A. CAMEROVZOW, Anti-Slavery Office, 27, New Broad Street, E. C.

Dublin——Mr. WM. WEBB, 52, High Street, and 8, Dunville Avenue, Rathmines.
Derby——Dr. SPENCER T. HALL, Burton Road.

Glasgow——Mr. JOHN SMITH, 173, Trongate.

Leeds——Mr. ARTHUR HOLLAND, 4 Park Row.

Newcastle-on-Tyne——MR. WALTER S. PRINGLE.

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