Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-16
Cleveland Frseameu,s Ala csmmiSalon.


Cleveland Frssdmeu's Aid csmmiSsion.
oLEvELLSD, o., November II, 1868.
10 Auzilidry Associations, and Friends Of Free
dom and Humanity, IN NortheTR Ohio:
By the Proclamation Of the President and
the advance of our armies, hundreds of thou
sands Of our fellow men, heretofore held in
slavery, have obtained their freedom, large
portion Of whom are women and children,
aud aged and inirm persons.
They come within our military lines, bersft
Of everything but their humanity, aud 10
their extreme dsstiyution appeal to us for
garments to cover their Hakedness, and pre-
serve them from death.
In addition to tie able bodied men and
women, who can be employed in various ca
pscitiss by the Government and by iDdiVidu
ais, 1t Is estimsted that thtTs are at least two
hundred thousand, land the number is con-
stantly increasingly whose wants, for the time
being, must be supplied by those to whom
God has given sympathy and means Of relief
In the department. of the Mississippi alone,
there are fifteen contrabaAd camps, having
already gathered in them fifty thousand
freedmen. The Government has established
regulations fer the employ ment, protection
and care Of these people, securing the enlist
ment of able bodied men, the employment CT
all others, able to work, men, women and
children, in various capacities, in the army,
in hospitals, and on plantations.
Engaged, as il is, in a mighty effort to put
down the rebellion, we cannot ask the Gov
ernment to do more. The people must come
TO the relief of those unable TO labor or find
employment.
Chaplain Locke, formerly our agent in
Northern Ohio, and now stationed at Vicks-
burg, writes under date Of October 31st, as
follows: At Pine Bluffs, below Memphis,
are seventeen hundred, who are without food,
clothing or shoes to an alarming extent, and
many are dying at that point for want of
food, clothing and medicines. There ere
twenty thousand at Vicksburg, seventeen
thousand at NatcStz, and large numbers at
Little Rock and MiIiksn's Bend, many Of
whom are in q suffering condition, and thcu-
sands must perish this winter, if not assisted
by the bene olsnt.
s'1he Governments enlisting, feeding and
clothing all the able bodied black men, but
there are thousands Of old men, women and
children, who can only be reached by the be-
uevolsnt in the loyal States. viii they let
these poor creatures perish in this struggle
for freedom hope not. Let our friends
go to work iu earnest. Help, friends Of hu.
manity, for Gods sake help now while His
poor are crying for help"
The Cleveland Freedmen's Aid Commits
sion earnestly appeal to all Auxiliary Asso-
cistions, and all communities and citizens,
to take hold Of this work at once. tits too
expensive to employ sgents. Let Auxiliary
Societies call meetings without delay. Let
clergymen and leading citizens, without dis
tinction of sect or party, take measures to
organize associations where none exist, take
up collections in money, district the village
a.
the districts and solicit not only second hand
clothing but money. It is not enough to
give old clothes. Contributions in money,
and that not spsringly, must be made, if we
would meet the fuu measure of this great
want.
We earnestly recommend that collections
be taken up for this object in all the churches
on the ensuing Thanksgiving Day, or as soon
thereafter as may 30 practicable.
The things most needed are straw ticks,
bed quilts, shoes, and garments for women
and children. Goods designed for general
distribution should be consigned to Spencer
& Melien, Cleveland, Ohio. Goods designed
for any particular camp, should be consigned
to the Superintendent of that camp, to care
of Spencer & Msllen, as above, and all pack
sgts should be marked "sapitary Goods"
Most of our railroads will send to Cleveland
AIooJ anu ECCNE AIgu SASFSihuu " NluCluudll
free. Beyond Cincinnati, freigbts must be
paid. Goods not specifically consigned will
be sent to the most destitute camps. Money
collections may be sent to our Treasurer, L.
F. Mellen, Erq., the receipt of which, and of
all cOnsiguments Of goods will be promptly
by him.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
II. B. Spelman, Pest, L. F. Mellen Seo'g and
Hon. p. Spaul iiag, Treasurer.
Hon. W. B, Castle, Augustus Fuller,
J. B. Merriam, c. ]. Comstock,
Moses White. Samuel FOliaunba