Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-12-02
To Auxiliary Associations, and
Friends of Freedom and Human
lty in Northern Ohio.

ity in Northern Ohio
CLEVELAND FREENEN's AID COMMISSION,
CLEVELAND, o., Nov. 18th, 1868.
By the Proclamation Of the President
and the advance of our armies, hundreds
of thousands of our fellow-men heretofore
held in slavery have obtained their free
dom. large proportion of whom are wo-
men and children, and aged and inhrm
persons.
They come within our military lines,
bereft Of everything but their humanity.
and in their extreme destitution appeal
to us for garments to cover their naked
ness, and preserve them from death.
In addition to the able-bodied men and
women, who can be employed in various
capacities by the Government and by in
divlduals, il is estimated that there are
numhsr is constantly increasingly whose
WANT ar the tims bsiag. must be supplied
By thos- TO whom God has given hearts
! of sympathy and means of relief.
In the Department OF the Mississippi
alone, there are fifteen contraband camps,
having already gathered in them fifty
thousand freemen. The Government has
established regulations for the employ
ment, protection and care of these people,
securing the enlistment of able bodied
men, the employment OF all others, able
to work, men, women and children, in va
rious capacities. in the army, in hospitals
and on plantations.
Engaged, as it is, in a mighty effort to
put down the rebellion, we cannot ask
the Government to do more. The peo-
pie must come to the relief of those una
bic to labor or find employment
Chaplain Locke, formerly our agent in
Northern Ohio, and now stationed at
Nicksburg, writes under date of October
3lst, 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 st
that point for want OF food, clothing and
medicines There are twenty thousand
at Vicksburgh, seventeen thousand at
Natchez, and large numbers at Little Rock
and Miliken's Bend, many of whom are
in a suffering condition, and thousands
must perish this winter, if not assisted
by the benevolent.
"The Government is enIisting, 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 benevolent in the loyal
States. VIII they let these poor creatures
perish in this struggle for freedom? Ihope
not. Let our friends go TO work in earn
est. Help friends of humanity, for Gods
sake help nO,c while His poor are crying
for help.
The 'CZsrel,nd Freed,ne,,s' Aid Costq,is;oy. .
earnestly appeal to all Auxiliary Associa-
tions, and all communities and citizens,
to take hold of this work at once. 1t is
too expensive to employ agents. Let Aux
iliary Societies call meetings without de
lay Let clergymen and leading citizens.
without distinction of sect or party, take
measures to organize associations in places
where none exist, take up collections in
money, district the village or township,
appoint canyassers to go through the dis
tricts and solicit not only second hand
clothing but money. 1t is not enough to
give old clothes. Contributions in monel,
and that not sparingly must be made, if
we would meet the full measures Of this
great want.
The things most needed are strao ticks,
bed q,tiHs, shoes and garments for women
and children. Goods designed for gener-
al distribution should be consigned to
Spencer & Mellen, Cleveland. o. Goods
designed for any particular camp, should
be consigned to the Superintendent of
that camp, 20 care of Spencer 4 Mellen,
as above, and all packages should be mark
ed Sanitary Goods" Most of our Rail
Roads will send to Cleveland free, and
Goods 90 from Cleveland to Cincinnati
free Beyond Cincinnati freight 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, Esq, the receipt
of which, and of all consignments of goods
will be promptly acknowledged by him.