The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-05-29
Aid for tho Contrabands.

Rev J. Il. Locke, Chaplain of the I'd IlH
nos Cavalry, and authorized agent Of Gen
Grant to Wait the loyal States. and solici,
aid Tor The conrabands within the iunsdc
tion of tho Army Of the Mississippi. ed.
dressed very large audience, in behalf OF
his mission, ut tho Methodist Church in this
place, on Sunday last. He stated mauy i'm.
portant aud encouraging facts in relation
to the contrabands-the eagerncss with
which they rush to our lnes--the alac.
rlty with which they do the heavy work.
winch must otherwise be done by our sold.
iers--their willingness and ability to fobt
and perform all kinds of military duty
their capability of Improvement, &C.. &c
which, if generally known, would 90 far to
remove the unjust prejudice against their
race that unfortunately still exists. to n
great extent. in the loyal States. He said
marked change had occurred in the man.
nor OF treating thom, since the earlier part
OF the war, when, by such cruel and impo,;.
A'c orders as Order No. 3, tbsy wero OK.
c'uded from our camps. Now a better pol.
icy prevails, and every army has it's thou.
sands OF contrabands, working on ontrench.
nents, dragging artillery, and doing all
such tatigung work, which, in tho Southern
climate, has proved moro destructive to the
lives OF our soldiers than tho battles they
have fought with the enemy. Every officer
aud nearly every mess" of privates has its
servant. These oontrabands are paid $40
per month and rations and are uniformly |
contcuted and happy And, notwitbs,and. !
ing all predictions and threats to the con-
trary, their presence in oar camps aeives
universal satisfaction, and no officer thinks
OF reslgning on that account The question,
"WiI tho negroes fight: :" Mr. Locke an.
swered emPbatieally in tho affirmative
The first essential prerequisite of all good
soldiers, subordination, they possess to por.
fection and there is reason to believe they
will excel the whites as artillerists, because
they are by nature more able to endure the
concussion of tho largo guns.
Mr. Locke, having 500 contrabauds un.
der his charge at Memphis, possesses the
most ample tacilties for learning what they
require and can do. There are 1000 on
Island No. 10, cultivating the SOIL and per-
forming the various labors of peaceabIe and
Industrious citizens. To provide for all
these fugitiyes from oppression until they A
Shall be able to sustain themselves
is more than tho Government, with the
and increasing burdens it now r
boars, in consequence Of tho war, should be Il
compelled to do. Mr.. Locke is visit ng a =.
number of the loyal States, for tho purpose
presenting this subject to tho people, and c
inducing thom to relieve tho Government,
by voluntary contributions in aid of the
OF portion of the expense of =
providing for them aud he informs Us that,
Sherever he has been, he has met With v
abundant success. He asks for clothing @
If all kinds, farming implements, cooking F.
Utensils, books, and, in short, whatever NAV
20 transported and will be useful to the
T.
At tho close of Mr.. Locke's remarks in
his place, collected was taken up, and
committee of ladies appointed to canvass
be township to solicit contributions. The 81
esult of their labors is most gratifying, our Il
itzens having contributed with great lib ~
raiity. Tho people of Hambden have done o.
kewise In the two townships, in addition VI
0 large quantity of clothing, &c, about
80 have been contributed 10 money. 6i x
Mr.. Locke represents the soldiers in Gen.
iraut's Army as confident that the war will
ot bo of long duration, opposed tc all COM sy
romise, and especially to all Northern
ompromisers, and determined to feht on su
ntil an honorable and permanent peace is
onquered
Gnad