Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-06-03

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land FFesdmau's Ala ConHrissiOH - Dear
Sir: Your note should have been happy
to answer earlier. It was gratifying to
know Of the organization Of your Society,
and of the strong working element in it.
While the act which sets these people free
is military, the progress Of their affairs
exclusively controlled by military author
ity, and the purpose in each step to make
them self-suppOrting, yet there will re-
main continually much for Christian char
ity.
The machinery ofth best Society, how
ever we'll it works, fails to meet all the
necessities Of the people included, until
charity with her large heart, smiling face
and open hands, appears.
As we 60 down, the demands for her
labors increase. Paganism taxes the
Christian world. A people coming from it
through centuries Of oppression and abuse
suddenly relieved Of their choices in an
hour Of utmost confusion, when society
quakes to its centre, in day of civil frat
rioidal war, no craftsmanship, no human
foresight or effort can so provide for them
that these people shall not need in large
measure, in a thousand ways, the kindly
Offices Of charity. Yet all this charity is
misguided, if while It helps, it does not
prompt TO self-help.
Facts which you seek are heOnly guides
I know, either for the authority or the
charity exercised for this people.
They ere SO numerous-often only half
revealed. Changes follow each other so rap
idly that an eyewitness in my Office could
hardly be sure he knew them. Can any
one write them? You understand the plan
on which General Grant has put US to
work, supervision, authoritative, kindly,
at once general, concentrating all under
his eye, and local reaching as far as pos
sible every black who comes within our
lines.
Ali this was done until the arrival of
General Thomas, without any formal au-
thority from Washington. BE has come
and set the broad responsible seal of the
Government upon it by authority of the
President.
HIS arrival was thebour of dawn. The
change Of sentiment, the greater success
Of effort for these. people, the more COM
mon sense treatment extended to them is
most marked. You should see him at his
work. For forty years his business has
been to deliver military orders-write
them.
Now that he speaks them, it is not so
much his erstory as his orders that tell
they are clearly, pOintedly delivered; no
one can misunderstood the will of the
GoVernment-of the nation. These peo-
pie are free; are to be treated kindly; if
naked, clothed; ifhungry, fed furnished
industry and paid for their labor; as far
as possible educated and elevated; the
men armed. He hopes to raise 10000 COL
cred troops in this Department before he
goes to Washington. He has no doubt |
they will make good soldiers.
This he declares to the army and to the /
blacks. The interest eliminates, when he /
visits colored camp puts colored soldiers |
through the manual Of arms, hears cOlored /
children sing, snd tells them all briefly |
his great message. Some 1000 were pres
ent at Corinth. The ground was that oe-
cupied by one Of Besuregard's old camps.
A year ago the hosts there were marshalled
to establish a government founded on the
most criminal oppression of the race who
now live there in peace, cultivate the coil
in security, enjoy legal marriage, ere rap
idly ascending the steps TO the temple Of
liberty, and then are armed to fight for
their liberties, and the deliverance Of the
Government from the assaults Of this IN
holy rebellion.
Chaplain Alexander, a man of most
sterling qualities, is Superintendent there.
He has nearly a regiment raised. Over a
thousand have been added to the camp Of
late. !
The goods in Cleveland came Just in
season to cover their nakedness. The
donors should have seen the tatters, the
flth, the nakedness, and the change affect
ID by their gifts.
next visited the camp. This motley
crowd, 30 lately slaves, SO destitute, SO
ready to suffer, were transformed into
sleanly dressed freed people, living in fam
lies, their children in school, the men SOL
iers, others tilling the soil The labor
hus demanded at the hands Of Chaplain {
Alexander and his faithful co-laborers was
immense. These scenes will be repeated
t the different camps in connection with
ach march made by our forces into the c
ountry by the enemy.
This policy shows clearly the determin- 4,
hon Of the Government. It hurts the :,
ebels. Shall we always be ready to meet q
he necessities Of each new arrival as
rompdy as we did the last at Corinth y
: the timely receipts of goods from Cleve- q
md We can hardly expect ii. =
Chaplain Grant, Superintendent at La q
range, wrote the other day:
We have had a hundred thrown
pom ourcare to-day without any cooking
tensilsY without frying pan, or pail, OF II
nife, or fork, or anything-no coffee-pot, II
D basin, no cup; also, no tents or shelter
all adequate to the necessities of the
IRE. H
Gen. Smiths 1.-THE General is an Ohio Be
an) forces sweep themin, not letting him Rs
at is in the field return to take what he 7
8 at home" Ju
We are endesVOring to set every infu- Z
ce In motion to meet these necessities =
thout tax upon charity. More seed
9 been put into the ground at Corinth, =
Grange, Memphis, and Island No. 10, r
an dared anticipate. We now succeed Il
securing more generally compensation
all who work for Government. We do An
lat we can to induce them to expend 3
sely what they earn in supplying their
n necessities, thus hoping to relieve oV
arlty as far as possible. I am glad to ,
another invoice of goods from your So
ty-they will arrive very opportunely. . !
Sincerely yours, &C., =
JOHN EATON, JR,
aplain 9th Ohio, General Superintend- O
mt ContTabands. "