Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-06
VOL. XVII.
The Jubilee Meeting az OberIIu


The jubilee proper was insugurated in
the afternoon By the choice Of Rev. z. q.
Fairchild for President, Mr.. o. S. B. wall
and Mr.. H. G. Little, Vice Presidents, and
I'M. Fitch, Secretary.
The following preamble and resolutions
were then presented to the meetingby Pro
fessOr Henry COwles;
l. Assembled on this eYentful day which
seems destined to become history, marking
q great era in the progress towards univer-
sal freedom in our land, we cannot forbear
to note the magnificent results which have
accrued from the failure and consequent
reaction Of the very plans and movements
of the slave power:
How they sought to gag down free dis
eussion, yet set the nation on FIRE with dis
CUSTOM
How they repealed the Missouri Com
tpromise, advocated squatter sovOroignty
| and outraged humanity and civilization in
order TO make slave 5Jares or Kansas and
Nebraska, but only made them free;-
How the5 split the naznaaro4in party in
the last presidential campaign, by demand
ing too much for slavery, and thus put the
Republican party in power;-
How they rushed msdly upon war for
the sake of making slavery perpetual, and
have thus hastened its utter fall: So that
to-day we hail the abolition Of slavery in
! the District of Columbia, and in all the
territories of the Union as accomplished
facts; we may also rejoice over an effec-
tive treaty for the suppression of the slave
trade, and the hearty recognition Of the
nationality of Hayti and Liberia; and not
least, the enactment of laws confscating
| the property Of rebels and setting free
their slaves, resulting already in the actu-
al liberation Of not less than fifty thousand
prior to the proclamation which is to date
this day. La
Nor let US forget that this great war of
the Shareholders rebellion has revealed to
| the free states the desperate malignity Of
the slave power, and the baleful influence
Of the system Of human bondage, both on
the master and mistress and upon the en-
tire structure of society, and has thus con-
verted scores of thousands to a conviction
that slavery ought to be and must be abol-
ished.
2. With ferVent gratitude for the past,
and strong hope for the future, we recog-
nize the hand Of God in these wonderful
events, giving shape in his permissive
guiding providence, and over-ruling hu-
man devices so as to make the wrath of
man praise Himself, converting the very
efforts Of the slave power into sWiftest
agencies for its own destruction. Surely,
it is not of man but of God that we this
day stand on the farther shore Of the Red
Sea, to cry" Sing unto the Lord, for He
hath triumphed gloriously:' y:'-e the oppres-
sor is vanquished;" )" g the oppressed are
free ~
We cannot too emphaticslly record our
conviction that the original impulse, the
guiding hand, and in the last analysis the
working force that have secured the glO-
rious triumph we this day celebrate, have
been in God and not in man.
8. ReSolUed That as friends of God and
Of his long-oPpressed people, we turn our
thoughts to-day to the great duties devOlv-
ing on the Christian philanthropists of our
country in the present crisis. Among
these, we place first in order our duties to
the thousands and perhaps millions of
freedmen, now emerging from bondage
to them personally lifelong and to their
race full two hundred years.
f. ResOl0ed, That it is our duty and priv
ilege to greet them on the threshold of
freedom with our warm right hand, bear
ing to them assurances of our sympathy,
supplies for their physical wants, and
provision as fast as possible for giving
them labor on fair wages, useful educa-
ton, and instruction in pure Christian
ity.
5. RssolDed, That we recommend an or
ganization among the citizens Of this place
TO promote these objects and to cooperate
with other organizations for the same OBJ
ject, whether Missionary Boards or Relief
Committees.
6. RssoEved, That we earnestly favor the
mastering Of coloredm men into the military
service Of the nation, to aid in putting
down this slaveholders rebellion, and in
defending themselves and the country
which has been and should be their home.
Z. ResolVed That as an important means
Of immediate relief we strongly recon-
mend the employment Of the freedmen, in
large numbers, on government works,
military or otherwise, at fair wages, un-
der kind supervision, and with efficient
protection in their just rights.
8. Resolved That we diseountenance the
solonizing of freedmen beyond the bounds
they have a right to a home in the land 30
long wet with their sweat and blood; be-
cause their labor is needed here; and be-
cause the nation owes them its best en-
desvors and appliances for their comfort,
instruction, elevation and Improvement in
all that pertains to Christian civilization.
The resolutions were ably discussed by
the President Of the meeting, Rev. E. H.
Fairchild, by Professor Cowles, Father
Keep, Captain Ralph Plumb, Rev. NJ. W.
Fairfield, J. NJ. Langston, Esq, Solomon
Grimes and J. NJ. Fitch.
The meetings were continued during the
afternoon and evening till a late hour.
The audiences were large, and hope, joy
and thankfulness to God characterized
them in high degree.
Shortly before the close Of the evening
session, Professor CoRles, Chairman of a
previously-appointed Committee, presented
( the following Constitution Of the 0berlin
Freedmsn's Association, which was unan-
imOusly accepted.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FREEDMEE's RELIEF
ASSOCIATION. ira
Impressed with the necessity of the most
efficient measures possible for supplying
the wants, physical, mental and moral, Of
the thousands Of freedmen now coming
forth from slavery, we hereby organize
ourselves into an Association for this pur-
pose, under the following Constitution.
L The organization shall be known as
The Freedmen Relief Association Of 0ber-
lin.
II. It's objects shall be to aid in afford
ing to the freed men Of this country such
relief as their wants, physical, mental and
moral, may seem to demand.
III. The Association shall cooperate
with other Associations or Boards Of Re