Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-14
Freedmsp,s v RaIief .sectiae in Cooper In
Effrute, New York.


Freedmen's v Rpiirf .seetiaE in Cooper In
stirute, New York.
On the evening Of the 9Th inst. large
audience convened ct the Cooper Institute
New York, under the auspices Of the Ma
4ionAl Freedmen's Aid Association, to con-
slider the condition Of the suffering con-
trabands in The Department Of the Mis-
sissippi. Rev. DR.. Tyny presided. Rev.
A. s. Fiske, Chaplain and sup't. Of
Oontrsbands in General Grants Depart
msnt addressed the meeting. E
Mr.. Fiske stated that there was not less
than fifty Thousand blacks upon the banks
Of The Mississippi, from among whom
had been called every able bodied man for
the military service. This sable throng
was composed of women, children and in
firm. They rushed in crowds to camps,
sheltered by leaky tents whose tatters fut-
ter in every breezs. They were fed by
the Government a cheap ration, upser-
. xiceable military clothing being supplied
% some extent TO the infrm men. OFF,
eers, until recently Chaplsins, were de-
tailed for their care. They were clothed
in Just that apparel in which months ago
they fed from their masters. he should
have some hard things to say Of officers
and soldiers in our army, but amidst them
all let him the modest unpretending
hero Of Vicksburg-stsnd spotless
1Great epplausel. He early overcame all
the prejudice Of education and training,
and had stood the black mans friend. All
that he could do be hsd done, nobly, lib
orally. By his order, every step for their
care and the supply Of their necessities
had been taken. The honor Of his action
in these affairs should brighten forever
the lustre Of his imperishsble name. This
hero should be greeted, as he lived on
through the ages Of the worlds history
as not only great but good.
The speaker proceeded to detail several
scenes Of suffering and injustice which
had pssstd before bis eyes previous to his
heing detailed to the care Of the contra
bands,
Out Of an average number offour thous
and under his charge at Memphis during
the months of February, March and April
of the present year, there died during that
time twelee hundred. Threefourths O.
them had no change Of frsiment-probably
one fourth Of the women had but one gar
meuI ncEMEE4 AAEAunlAN11 anu AAANA A1-
fedness. Many children Were.kept nigh
and day rolled in the poor blanket Of
fsmily-its sole apparel. They had mui
Htudes Of these-no beds. There were
floors in their leaky tents, and NO chance
for fires. The wonder is, not that so man.
died. but that 90 many lived.
What should be done with them Th
men were 10 be soldiers already hun
dred ond twenty-five thousand are in tn
military service either IS laborers or sol
diers. They make good soldiers too
discipline easily; were not appalled,
sight Of blood; were cool and brave
they could not be sent North. They woul
not come. They could not be sent out {
the country. They would not go, and th
country could not spare them They eonl
not be Temanded to their masters Th
tidiDEs Of their sufferings had gone bsc
70 the Confederacy till these people hs
ceased to come in as eagerly as they die
II it ever proved possible for the South
arm her blacks against US, it would be b
reason Of The sufferings Of those who ha
reached our lines. Perhaps, with the ball
ful light of this too well sttestsd fact,
might led 10 strive for his liberty in arm
against us.
The speaker closed with an earnest a.
peal to all the lovers of humanity and a
patriots 10 move for their immediate I
lief.
DR.. Hitchcock followed in 8 strain
eloquent and touching remarks, and Co
eluded by saying:
The slaves proposed to work for us,
fight for us, TO lock themselves in sol
phsisnK to break through whatever 0
posed the Government All they ask
was honest wages for honest work, al
sustensnce for their suffering wives 81
children. We should be just to them;
we were not, the artillery Of Divine retl
button would be playing into our pro-
ranks. Applause.1
At the conclusion Of DR.. Hiieheoek's ]
marks, the plates for contributions We
passed. In the meantime, the followi
preamble and resolutions Were read a
adopted: i
EHrlEAs, Rev. A. s. Fisks ohspIa