The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-12-18
Meeting I'm behalf Of the Freedmen.

Meeting in behalf Of the Freedmen.
The severely of the weather prevented the
people from assembling in as large numbers
last evening, at the City Hall, as would have
been present il the weather had been propiti-
GUS. As it was, there was very respectable
audience, all Of whom seemed deeply interest
cd. The meeting was called to order by J. T.
McCobb, Esq, and Rev. Mr.. Stebbins appoint
ed chairman. Mr.. Stebbins, OH taking the
chair, stated the object of the meeting and
came near getting warmed up into a speech.
His earnest manner and eloquent language
was but an indication OF the deep interest he
felt in the question.
Chaplain Fisher, of the 9TH Kansas cavalry,
was received with enthusiastic applause and
for an hour and half held the undivided at.
tention Of the audience His account of his
escape at the time OF the Lawrence massacre
was exceedingly thrilling, drawing tears from
every eye. Rev. Mr.. Dudley made few re-
marks in regard to what had been done in
other places. A committee OF seven is TO he
appointed by the chair to solicit material aid
for the Freedmen.
The following appeal, signed by some OF our
most influential and philanlhropic citizens,
will meet with ready response, we doubt
not, from our people. Money, or clothing,
new or cast of, will be gratefully received in
behalf of the Freedmen.
The undersigned respectfully aud earnestly
commend to their fellow citizens the appeal
q nd tn In Ia ,f d.,
land by Chaplain Fisher, In behalf of the lib
Grated negro families in the valley of the
Mississippi
The trustworthiness of this gentleman is
youched for by Gen. Grant and other army
officers and civilians in the western country,
IN whom we all have reason to place the great
est confidence.
His relation Of the severe sufIerings of the
wives and children of the liberated slaves in
their present helpless condition, presents one
Of the most urgent claims for relief that could
possibly awaken the sympathics of Chris
fian community.
These people were brought into their pres
ent unhappy condition by no fault of thers.
1t was Others who have set in motion the
agencies by which they are now exposed TO
hunger and nakedness. 1t was perfectly GER
tain when the war began that If our arms
made any successful progress In the slave
holding districts OF the rebellion, large num-
bers OF the slaves would be displaced from
their homes, and that the aged negroes, with
their women aud children would be, for a
time, pitiable wanderers, without adequate re-
source for shelter or food.
The event has so proved. Our arms have
been successful. We have swept in triumph
over great breadths of slavehoIding ground
and q great and terrible suffering to the help
less negroes is one of the consequences. We
must meet this result with conscientious dll-
~ and sympathy similar to the impulses which
lead us to succor our wounded soldiers who
have fallen on the battle fields.
The government cannot at once provide
Tor all these large demands. Private benevo-
ience must meet the question In the first in
stance. In the future there is day of peace
plenty and safety for these oatcasts - but to
help them noc, to help them through this
trying winter, against their great peril of
starvation and freezing, Is duty which the
prosperous communities of the North cannot
honoraby neglect.
We have not deserved our successes, If we
leave these unhappy people TO die Of hunger
and cold.
The greatest event in the worlds history
for 1869, is the Restoration Of The Mississippi
to its own true allegiance. The negroes re-
joice with us, but they also are enduring their
share OF bitter suffering In the progress of
these great events. We must not leave them
TO perish this winter. on the banks of that lib.
Grated stream. We have the means to save
them. Shall the hearts of christian men and
women be true to the call of this hour? With
what nobler Offering and thanksgiving, can we
celebrate the departing days Of this evcntfu
year?
Jacob Mcclellan, Edward Fox,
Phineas Barnes. Horatio Stebbins,
Ebeu Steele. Israel Washburn, Jr.,
j. b. Brown. J. T. McCobb,
WV Thomas, Geo. W. woodman,
Rev. Mr.. B0sworth. T. c. Hersey
Rev. Mr.. Chickering. p. G. Messer,
8. r. Leavitt. At. Dole
VIM. Willis, Oliver Gerrish,
VIM Ross. Cyrus Sturdivani,
~. Miller, Bryon Greenough.