Evening star., 1863-04-11

The National Freedman's Relief Association
held their first annual meeting at Temperance
Hall last evening. The attendance, which was
moderate, included sprinking Of colored
people The meeting was opened with prayer
by the Rev. ]. n. Davis, after which the Presi-
dent, Mr.. ]. G. Underwood, made the opening
address, in which he stated the objects of the
society. and paid high tribute to the memory
OF the late President, III. Hamin, Esq. Mr. U.
also stated that he would soon sever his con-
neAion with the society, by reason of his hav-
ing accepted the judseship for Norfolk, tVa)
district lie closed by reading hymn written
by Rev. John Pierpont on his 18th birthday
which was sung by the choir of the Unitarian
Church III attendance.
MIR. G. Buckingham, chairman of the execu.
tive committee read the ann ual renort of which
the following is a synopsis:
The Freedman's Relief Association was or
ganized on the 9th day of April, 1862 its object
being to relieve the Immediate wants of the
contrabands by furnishing them with clothing
temporary homes, and support, and far as
possible TO teach them to read and write, and
bring them under moral and religious inssruc-
ton. Theesecutive committee, which consisted
OF five managers and the officers OF the associa-
ton. have held regular monthly meetings
throughout the past year, and have received
the following donations ofmoney in furtherance
OF the objects OF the association: From rh,
Bos ion educational committee SJiU: from friends
III New York $3.50; from Philadelphia, 500
and from i society of colored people there, 81;
from Asbury Chapel, Washington, Slu..a2;
from Mount Zion (colored) Church, George
town, S:i.1s; from the Washington Lecture
Association. SiOU: from VIM. Curtis Moves o.
New York Siuii from childrens lair at Seneca
Fails, S25 from the ladies' society in Portland
81 from Messrs. Storrs Bros, New York,
So: aud contributions OF other associations and
individuals, making a total OF receipts of
Sie3GI2.
The association has expended for clothing,
6c, S656.6i, and for variety of other neces-
Sary purposes. which made the expenditures
amount to : t', leaving balance of S}s7.>9
III the treasury.
Over 7,ooo articles, donated by friends of the
cause, have been distributed by individual
members OF the association in this CITY and in
Alexandria II is estimated that there are
1u,Gu0 contrabands in Washington at the present
time. Since The superintendent OF contrabands
{DT. Nlchois} entered upon his duties IN June
last, i,S60 contrabands have passed under his
charge. Situations have been provided for
;S,Hh; abost 200 have died, and about 200 re-
main i'll the camp. These latter are mostly
women, children and men too old or feeble to
work. At Alexandria, there are 5000 contra
bands 81 present. About 800 have died since
they first began to assemble there A new free
school for this people has been established in
Alexandria, and it is taught by convalescent
soldiers. The school contains 100 pupils, who
are making very satisfactory progress. In this
city, two evening schools Were established in
May last, and over 5iN pupils have received
the rudiments OF education. These colorad
scholars evincr AN aptitude and desire TO learn
not al all inferior to white children, One of
these schools has been converted INTO a day
school, and is taught by Elizabeth Smith, an
intelligent colored woman. In conclusions thu.
report praises the free colored people of this
District and clsewhe for the efforts they have
made Tor the relief of their less fortunate breth-
rem. tribute OF respect is paid TO the memory
OF i'll. Hamlin, ESQ., deceased, late president of
the society, and TO Edward NJ Thomas, (col j
the socisty's late agent.
Rev. w. II. Charming moved the adoption of
the report. and remarked that he wished the
hall had been crowded both by white and col
ored He described the THANKSGIVING services
II VII ha
company with Mrs. Stowe, and which was a
most impressive Thanksgiving. In 4 few years
We shall live together, black and white. with
ont any distinction Of color.
Their exodus from slavery was like new
birth TO them. They are ready 10 i've up every
thing for this precious boon of freedom The
speaker alluded 10 the preiudices against them
they (the fugltiyes) were told that they had
run away from their masters, and that what
they were getting from the Government was
good enough Tor them He thought that in
stead or the slaves running away from their
masters, the masters ran away from the slaves
These people have right TO our protection
their masters had run away, and now the
country steps in as their master. They trusted
the Presidents proclamation, and they know
OF our promises that they shall be free Their
patience and generosity was comnendable, and
me speaker gave several instances where the
slaves OF loyal masters when told that they
were not yet free replied that they would tru Il
<'Massa Lincoln, and wait a few Years longer
He alluded TO the prejudices against the col
Ored race, which wers not at all credltable 10
oPic iioiuihS Lutu, ana tLat the question
shouid be simply, are they men This praiu-
dice was not well founded when the white
man goes TO Africa, in few weeks all the pre-
.ludfve disappears, and in other countries III.
same effect takes place. 1t was on this preiu
dice hat this unholy rebellion is based The
southerners contend there is a national division
between the white and black races, but do not
recognize II; they viii allow their children to
lEe among the blacks; be nursed by a colored
nurse and III every way they trusted with
ont any distinction, except that they must own
IL. pPrfpct1y
by SIDE with them as long they are slaves.
tie believed that the colered race had cour-
age, and that the colored regiments at the South
n properly handled, would take rank with
white regiments. 1t was unjust To demand
fhat they should have white officers; if they
showed their capacity to lead let them lead If
the war continued year we would see regi-
mrnfs commanded by colored officers.
In regard to education they had shown them
selves equal at times to the whites. a colored
Siri IN Salem, Mass, had carried of the prize
Tor poem out OF a class OF whites; and Ed ward
Everett had TO own that his sen was excelled
b. = coiored boy in one of the schools OF Cam.
bridge. He would like the precedent set n few
Gays since by the appointment of colored
surgeon followed. He did not see any reason
"hy there should not be colored members of
tht bnf, and he would even like 10 see q cOlored
Judge on the bench. More than once In his life
NJ i'an stood In me same pulpit with Il cnlored
minister. and he felt highly honored, ana such
ministers would always be welcomed in his
pulpit.
Senator PomeToy next spoke Let tho rebel.
Is
no" IN the held return TO their homes and Won
VIII Ind more work 10 secure the negro empioy
ment than you have found in the mast q.
urged the formation OF similar societies through
out the North. he agreed with Mr.. Chanulpp
that the colored race should have an opport a.
niiy afforded them OF fighting for their liberty
" hen you have placed 4 musket in The hand Of
The father, and book in the hands of the son
you have done something for the race He
1ancied, when he saw colored man with a
lnusket IN his hand, that it changer his ca M
pirHlon; and 10 see him member of q guard To
nfihR his former master into camp, was to see
MN WIN MS complexion 90 much altered as TO
~ almost white. He had identified himself
WIN me negro, and had stood up before thou
saiiGs ana boldly declared himself an aboli-
icis', ven with the threat of 2 gallows before
iH. nc did not believe in the doctrine OF
lSll'{ OF races but on the contrary believed
1i.it zoo pad made all men eq quaI, and il he was
= II sro, and could he free no ether way he
would go on by himself and IN yite his brethren
!" lniH hiIn and establish a nation O. their own
tht following eIc appointed officers of the
oE,ion LIZ I's LOT he ensuing year: President,
NJ n IN @ =. NORWOOD; Vice President, Rev.
" ~ tHaGGiGc: Trpasurpr GGorro a. pai,ar