The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-02 00:00:00

The Freedmen.

We extract the following from The Freedman,
monthly magazine
Mr. Henry S. Foote, ex-Governor of Missis-
sippi, who, in the Senate at Washington, threatened
to hang Mr. Hale, Senator for New Hampshire, has
published a book on the war, in which he says :
"African slavery is indeed gone for ever; and I
am confident that there is not one thousand intelli-
gent persons in that region, of all the slaveholding
class, who Would now resuscitate this defunct sys-
tem, even if they had the power to do so. The re-
sult should not now, and I am well assured it will
not hereafter, be a source of permanent regret to
the white population of the South ; they will, in-
deed, be far better off in time to come without
slavery than with it. The whole Southern people
will be far more prosperous hereafter than they
have been heretofore ; labour in the South will
be more diversified, and be likely to yield more
solid benefit of every kind. Manufacturing and
mineral ixdustry will now be seen to flourish for the
first time in that great and prolific region ; and
even Southern commerce may hereafter attain a i
more healthful and self-isupporting•existence." In
respect to the treatment of the newly-made freel-
men
he says : "It is really astonishing to he-at -time'
men in 'this enlightened age should for a moment
hesitate in regard to the propriety of allowing per-
sons of African descent to testify in courts of jus-
tice, especially in cases where their own life, liberty,
or property are involved; it is heartlessly unjust to
the black man to assert that he is not a respector
of truth, and less inclined to the exercise of justice
than the white man. I have lived amongst this race
all my life, and what I now say on this subject is
the fruit of more than half a century's experience
and observation."
The American Freedmen's Aid Commission states
that in South Carolina, where the work was first
begun, and where the subjects were among the least
• promising, the results have been such as to convince
the most sceptical. llerds of human chattels, im-
pelled by force, have been converted into commu-
nities of human beings regulated by law. Ten thou-
sand ignorant blacks, degraded to the rowest point
within the power of slavery, have been lifted up to
a condition of comparative intelligence. These now
constitute a self-supporting, law-abiding, wealth-
producing community ; and one more orderly or
better behaved may not easily be found.

An influential meeting was held at Masborough,
Yorkshire, on March Ist, under the patronage of
the local magistracy, the clergy, and the ministers
of the neighbourhood. Addresses were delivered by
the chairman, Dr. Fred. Tomkins, and Dr. Hol-
brook, who attended as a deputation from the
British and Foreign Freedmen's Aid Society, and by
the Rev. Fred. Falding, D.D. An influential
committee was formed to act as an auxiliary to the
above society. The Rev. Dr. Falding has kindly
consented to act as secretary.
A meeting was held, on March 12, at Wellington-
road Baptist Chapel, Shacklewell. Wm. Willis,
Esq., LL.D., of the Inner Temple, presided. The
meeting was addressed by the chairman, also by the
Rev. W. Allan, Dr. Fred. Tomkins, Dr. Hol-
brook, the Rev. J.. Stanton, Rev. Dr. Waddington,
and other speakers. A committee was formed to act
in furtherance of the objects of the British and
Foreign Freedmen's Aid Society.

Gen. Grant has been presented with $105,000
by the leading citizens of New York, as a testimonial of
the appreciation in which his eminent services are held.

The total imports at New York for 1865
amounted to $217,808,327 ; the total exports of petroleum
for the same year from the United States were 29,805,523
gallons, valued at $17,313,1414.