Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-11-03
Drccu n.t. freeman
MONTPELIER, VT.
Tuesday Morning, November ., 1868.
Freedman's BeliefAsSOciatio

lie real practical h)lull0n Vi tnc hesrO PIou
lem in Ameria IS being rapidly pushed forward
by the progress Of the war and enterprises COZ
nected with it, in way that leaves little room
for speculation Something to be done, not
merely 10 theorse about, IS before us. The col.
ored people gathered in great numbers at Port
Royal, Newport News, Fortress Monroe and
many other points, give US on moderate scale,
an example Of what may be anticipated on a
large scale, when the bulk of the colOred pOpu-
lation of the South shall be free
Ii is in this view that peculiar and absorb
ing interest attaches to the results which have
thus far been attained by the American Freed
man s Relief Association. Enough has beeo ac-
compllshed to show the susceptibility OF the
African ,aoe, and give US a specimen Of the Of
lect Of granting freedom and imparting instruc-
ton to this long oppressed people. 1t is cheer
ing to learn that the result il all that friends OF
the freedmen had anticipated, Those who have
gone as teachers and missionaries under the au-
spices Of this Association, describe the aptness
of those whom they have taught. az an many
instances peculiar and surprising. Making al
lowanoe ioT enthusiasm there still remains,
Of facts that cannot DO disputed, enough
to show that the slaves may be made good and
industrious free citizens. Moro than one hun
bred teachers, most Of them from New Edglaud,
would not testify uniformly to the conclusion
we have stated anless 1t vas well founded.
1t was in view of the above lacts that we fol.
especial interest in the address in reference to
the Freedman's Association, last evening, by
Rev, l.. II. Stone, The atatistios presented by
him. some Of which We may briefly refer TO- are
highly suggestive, and will undoubtedly press
themselves more and more upon the public mind
until their Importance ia felt and acknowledged
Take as an instance the statement. that to-day
there are seven hundred thouand freedmen oil
whom five hupdEed thousand have gained lhoir
freedom since the first day of January last. Al
Mr.. Stone very we'll remarked it would seem az
though nothing more is needed than to allow
this process to continue, to bring the rebellion
speedily to close.
The only definite reports We have Of the condi
tion Of Iheae huudreds Of thousands, com 10 III
through the agents of the Relief Association
Amid the rush aud auFry of "arlike prepare
tlons tina t have made us forget almost everything
else, there have been those who have been stead.
lily working, and on a scale by no means inslg
nlGcant, to instruct and aid those thus suddenly
thrown upon the benevOlence Of the Norbert
public
Ia FEBRUARY 1867, the Relief Association wa
organized under the direction OF Rev. DR.. Ste
phen Tying of New York The names Of many
Of the tlrst men Of our nation were assocateC
with this enterprise 1t was felt to be grea
missionary work. thrown upon the hands Of til,
American people. A regular system of paid la
Dor was adopted, and of careful superntendenc'
for such of the freedmen as desired to place them
selves under The care al the Society. Report
! Of agents show that thrift and prosperity charac
. lcllAo AuOo1 btatlOuo auu linhNhbiOuc Nhpip VIZ
plans Of the Association have been carried out
% The contrast between such places and those 10
o calites where the negroes have eOngregated with
out such aid or ina rue ton, is very marked Th
school. which have been established, bave beel
E especially successful, and the localities wher
d they are lacking as lamentably deficient.
), The progress Of this enterprise, which mus
: soon become a very widely extended one, is on
t, of the many remarkable things of this temarka
. BILE period of our history. This plan aims a
u nothing less than to accomplish the elevation q
: the African race in America Though 1t al
'e fords at present only relief To a comparatiVel
a small. number, any one who has observed tn
e operation OF benevolent societies among US, wi
q not fail to understand that the spirit which orig
K mated this enterprise, will yet 50 en.arge II
!, scope aud operations, az to include all the freed
e men who have need Of lts benefits. Forty teach
r ers. in addition to those already the field {
I'd labor, are soon to engage 10 this work. Other:
al will doubtless follow, and the work of instruC
r. ton will be pushed rapidly forward in conucc
..r ton with the material aid afforded.
Such is tho Freedman's Relief Association, a
nj entel prise that is, in connection with the wa
70 efecting practical solution OF the dficulti'
u connected with the negro question in Amercl
so far as those difficulties admit oil a solution
a. and Rev. Mr.. Stones address was interestin
" and valuable, practically enforcing as he did Il
claims OF this Association upon the intelliger
r, efforts, and the liberal charities of every philar
ed thropsi and lover of freedom for the whole rac