Viewing page 2 of 17

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

314    THE NATIONAL FREEDMAN.
the very imperfect crops of this year, have together, not strangely, proven too much for the best endeavors of many.  Thousands have succeeded-hundred of thousands-despite all these difficulties in providing for the winter, and ask no charity.
Other hundreds of thousands will by steady industry, although unable to provide in advance, keep the wolf at bay, until the spring drives him back ; and these ask no charity.
But there remain the equally industrious but less fortunate, who can find neither work nor wages until the planting season returns ; besides the infirm and the thousands upon thousands of orphans, whose mothers can not be found, and whose fathers gave up their lives that we might celebrate this peace.
The President of the United States assures us that, so plainly is the relief of these, the NATION'S POOR, the national duty, that he shall cause rations of food to be purchased and distributed generously, at the expense of the National Treasury.
For immediate relief, for the purchase of blankets and personal clothing, for the erection of temporary shelters, for the opening and maintenance of an hundred additional orphan asylums-not less than a million of dollars is needed. 
It can be given in one day by the churches to whom this address will come, with the greatest ease, if the churches will it. 
Contributions may be sent directly to GEORGE C. WARD, Treasurer, 56 Wall Street, New York ; or to either of the local Treasurers named below :
WILLIAM ENDICOTT, JR., 33 Summer Street, Boston.
JOSEPH B. COLLINS, 40 Wall Street, New York.
E. W. CLARK, 35 South Third Street, Philadelphia.
JESSE TYSON, Baltimore.
C. G. HUSSEY (President), 37 Fifth Street, Pittsburg.
JOHN M. WALDEN (Secretary), 25 Lombard Block, Chicago.
On behalf of the Commission,
MATTHEW SIMPSON, President.
JACOB R. SHIPHERD, Secretary.

O Spirit of the living God,
In all they plenitude of grace,
Where'er the foot of man hath trod,
Descend on our apostate race.

Be darkness, at they coming, light ;
Confusion-order, in thy path ;
Souls without strength, inspire with might ;
Bid mercy triumph over wrath.

FLORIDA.
By a reference to the Report of the Teachers' Committee, it will be seen that a large number of teachers have been sent to thisState [[this State]].  Letters received from Mr. Moore, Agent of the Freedmen's Bureau at Jacksonville, and also from Mr. A. E. Kinnie, at Fernandina, speak of the increased interest for the establishment of colored schools at that place.  Teachers have been sent to St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Fernandina, Tallahassee, Madison, and to other points.  Gov. Marvin evinces commendable interest in this enterprise, and we trust that the Government will give the agents of the Bureau the means of aiding us in providing this State with the number of teachers called for ; this number is stated at twenty-five.  Our Committee, from want of funds, are compelled to stop at our present appropriations for this object.  Shall we have the means to answer the urgent call of Mr. Moore?

SOUTH CAROLINA.
COLUMBIA, S. C., November 6, 1865.
REV. W. G. HAWKINS.
Dear Sir :-In accordance with the arrangement of which I informed you in my last letter, I came to this city last Thursday, with the Misses Haley, McKinney, and Loomis.
You are no doubt aware that most of the buildings here were destroyed by Gen. Sherman's army, and that in consequence our accommodations must by very poor.  Through the kindness of Gen. Ely, we have secured a shelter in Government buildings, and a temporary boarding place in the family of a destitute citizen.
While I have been here I have visited many of the freed beople [[people]], and they are greatly rejoiced at the prospect of free schools.  There are few buildings here that will answer for school purposes, but I think we shall soon be able to accommodate all.
We opened a school to-day in a basement which is used for a church by the colored peo-

THE NATIONAL FREEDMAN.    315

ple, and will accommodate 100 pupils.  Gen. Ely has given us rooms in a Government building which will accommodate 100 more.  These we are fitting up with seats, and will be ready to-morrow.  We have the promise of other rooms soon.
We registered 243 scholars to-day, and expect to have 400 or 500 in a short time.  I am informed that there will probably be from 700 to 800 scholars as soon as buildings and teachers are provided. 
Gen. Ely has two daughters here whom he wishes to have teach, and there are a few persons among the colored people competent to assist in teaching who desire employment.  On account of the limited accommodations I do not think it advisable to have any more northern female teachers here at present.  There are plantations near here where men might be profitably employed, but ladies could not go there. 
We have one school in the building occupied by Gen. Ely for his office, two in a Government building, and one in the African Church.
I hope Mr. Tomlinson will be here soon and appoint assistance teachers, as I do not feel fully authorized to engage them myself, and it seems very desirable that we should have more help before I can receive word from you.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T. G. WRIGHT, M. D.

Columbia, S. C.
COLUMBIA, November 11, 1865.
It is exceedingly interesting and encouraging to witness the joy with which these people welcome the establishment of free schools, the eagerness of all both old and young, to get some education.  I am asked by scores of adults, every day, if I can give them a night school.  I have promised to make arrangements for them as soon as possible ; they are obliged to work during the day, and their only chance is to attend an evening school.  I trust the Freedmen's Bureau will be a permanent institution, and that the military will not be withdrawn from the Southern States for a long time.  It will be a great misfortune to the freed people and to the country if the Government does not continue to protect them.  Nothing seems more important than that these people should be protected and educated.  They have little to hope for from their former masters, their help must come from the North.
If the planters will not see that it is for their own interest to treat the negroes humanely, they should be made to feel that they can not crush them with impunity.  There will be great suffering among the freedmen this winter, and already it has commenced in earnest.  The crops are now all in, and those who have employed the negroes this summer will not and can not keep them this winter, and are driving them off from the plantations, threatening to kill them if they do not leave, and in some instances fulfilling their threats.  The consequence is, the negroes are coming into the cities in crowds every day, applying to the Bureau for relief.
Government is feeding them, but has no place to shelter, and no clothing for them.  They are obliged to sleep in the open air these cold nights without blankets, or anything but the few rags they have on.
In the room I have occupied I could hear their cries of distress all night long, but could do nothing to relieve them.  It is the opinion of all who have the best opportunities of knowing the actual state of affairs, that the negroes will perish in large numbers this winter.  Those who say this is not true either know nothing about it, or have made a very superficial investigation.
Gen. Howard passed through this city a short time since, arriving at night, and leaving about the middle of the next day, he was unable to visit the office of the Bureau.  Strangers traveling rapidly through the country see only the bright side of the picture, and do not get a correct idea of the real state of affairs.  If it is in the power of our Association, I hope they will send clothing, shoes, blankets, etc., to Columbia as soon as possible ; education is of great importance, but now it seems more important to have the means of preserving life. Books and teachers are not the thing for naked and starving people, the body needs attention first, then the mind.  Twenty-five negroes came into the city to-day, and applied to Gen. Ely for food and shelter ; among them was a family who would not leave the plantation where they had worked all summer, when ordered to do so by the owner.  He set fire to their cabin, and their youngest child was burned to death.  The General gave them food, but had no clothing or shelter for them, and they with seventy-five others have to sleep on the group near the General's headquarters.  The nights 

Transcription Notes:
I couldn't get the Alt0151 to work for em dashes. Also not entirely sure I have handled the page spread/break and columns as ultimately desired.