Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-07-31

| From FERNANDINA.---We have Of late
been much interested in the proceedings
with reference to the colored population at
Fernandna, Florida, as given BY the Pc
ainsula, paper well conducted, and which
seems TO enter heartily into their Interests.
Mr.. C. i. Robinson also seems to be CO.
operating in the good work very heartily.
Their Fourth of July celebration, managed
mainly by the contrabands themselves,
seems to have been decided success. Col.
Plaisted of the lth Maine acted as their
President of the day, and Mr.. Robinson as
Marshal. We copy from the Peninsula
portion of the proceedings =
Hon. Harrison Reed next addressed the
at dience, and informed them that ten years
ago he had participated in celebration
where he had reminded his hearers that
notwithstanding the occasion they had for
joy and festivity, more than three millions
Oi lHclf IeIOW-cIcutuiSo WSIo Chuuiih5 q
worse than Egyptian bondage. Now he
rejoiced tn at the cloud had lifted, and he
could behold the dawn Of universal freedom.
Music by the band, and speech by the
Rev. Mr.. Elder, who in eloquent and forci-
BILE language exhorted the new-made free
men to patient and earnest cultivation of
all those Christian virtues and habits which
could alone emancipate them from the &C
cursed evils which was their sole legacy
from the house of bondage. Next song
Work Away by the children. Sergeant
Green (colured) of the First Florida Vol
unteers, was the next speaker, and with
strong native eloquence, though in broker
terms, urged upon his brethren the impor
lance of showing to the word by their deeds
that they were worthy Of their freedom ant
the efforts which are being made in thei
behalf
C. L. Robinson, Esq, then addressed tn,
people, and although not native and to thu
manor BORN he had lived long in Dixie
consequently he could speak by the book.
He goried in this occasion, and in the par
he took in it. He rejoiced that the daJ
had come when the celebration of the 4tl
of July scds stzat ii eemsd,-that the BLACK
man could come forth as a man, and take
such place in society as his talent and hi.
worth should entitle him. He recognized
many familiar faces in the assemblage Of
soldiers-he knew them when in bondage
and he knew their wrongs. He sympathlz
ed with them in their present struggle, fo
he felt he had common cause with them
He too had felt the despotism of the slave
master; he had been driven from his hom
and had seen the torch applied TO his pos
sessions. He closed with the following sen
,iment The colored soldier,-May his flu
ture be as signally prosperous and triumph
ant as his past has been degraded and op
pressed.
Speech by Col. Littlefeld, of the Fir:
Florida Volunteers. Col. Littlefeld is
resident of Illinois, and has seen servic
during this rebellion in the Western depart
ment under General Grant. He is nov
under an Indictment by grand jury 70
having taken a colored man to that Statt
contrary to the infamous black laws whic
disgrace its statute book He comes her
by special authority of the President
raise a colored regiment. Although he hs
been here but short time, he has succeed
ed in getting his regiment we'll started.
Col. Littlefeld had spoken but sho
time, when it was plain to be seen that
possessed the entire confidence and symp
thy not only of his soldiers but Of the ei
tire colored population. This was evinct
by their flashing eyes and the hearty r
sponses they gave to several questions
propounded TO them during his remarks"
u. S. GRANT.-At the torchlight pr
a cession, Belleville, H., one of the transp
d rencies contained the following:
g Major General U. S. Grant.
n