The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-03
The Black Elephant at the Capital.
Meeting Of " Culered Pussons.
REPORTED BY AN INTELLI.
GENT CONTKABAND.,,
Correspondence of the st. Louis Republican.

GENT CONERAE}AND.'
Correspondence the st. Louis Republican.
WASHINGTON, March 10, 1868.
"Oh liberty! what crimes are commit
ted in thy name!" Since the commence
ment of the war not less than fifty thou
sand contrabands have left their once hap
Ply homes in Maryland and Virginia, to
taste the sweets of liberty in and about
Washington. OF these, according to the
best estimates that can be made, nearly
one-half are now dead. OF the remainder
some thousands are following the fortunes
of the army in the capacity of transfers,
cooks, BARRIERS and servants of all work.
Other thousands composed mostly of old
men, women and children-the most help
less of the whole company-are crowded
into filthy tents and novels in the suberbs
of the city, where they are clothed, fed
and buried by the Government. The
smallpox and other contagious diseases
are fast relieving Uncle Sam from the care
and expense of guardianship, while those
who wander from the contraband camps to
earn a perilous living in the city, spread
the plague wherever they go, and Wash
ington bids fair, under such auspices, to
soon become great national pest-hOuse.
1t is pitiful to see these poor wretches,
the dupes and victims of knaves and dem
agogues, wandering about begging for
work or bread; or, worst of all, for the
poor privilege OF returning to their now
desolate homes If the fate of the con-
trabands about Washington is any stand
ard to judge by, few years continuance
of this struggle will annihilate the whole
negro race on this continent. And this is
what the Abolitionists call "giving free
dom to the enslaved millions of the South"
The negroes themselves are beginning
to understand and appreciate the situation,
and many Of them express extreme dis
gust and hatred for their Northern bene-
factors.
| cannot give yOu better notion of the
feeling that prevails amongst the darkies
than by the proceedings of meeting COM
posed of "culled pussnns," held to consid-
er their duty in regard to the Conscript
law. The fac's and speeches are reported
by an intelligent cOntraband.
MEETING OF COLORED CITIZENS.
In pursuance to the call of an influential
committee, an enthusiastic meeting of our
cOlOred citizens was held last night, in the
cellar of G. Washington Jefferson, Seventh
street, for the purpose Of considering the
proposition of raising colored regiment
in this district.
Caesar Augustus Grow, Esq, was invited
to the chair, and julius Epaminondas TOney
was requested to act as Secretary. Upon
taking the chair, Mr.. Grow explained the
object of the meeting in the following elo-
quent remarks: "Fellah citizens and cul-
lerd bredren-We is 'sembled in desc yere
spacious halls on a most momentous Ca
sion. 'Bellion has played hob wild dis yere
country, so dat white folks is all skeered,
and now dey call on us to save de nation.
Bredrin, is we ekal to doit? (Voice-'We
am! and vociferous cheers.) Fellah citi-
zens, de white folks in dis country am like
a bob-tail pullet on rickety hen-roost-
sumthn's got to be did, and our emery
(Mr. Craw intended to say Honorable(?)
we presume.-Rep.) Representatives, Mr..
Stevens, and Mr.. LovejOy, and oders, too
tegus to mention, says we cullerd gemmen
am de ones to do it! (Voice-'Dat's So }
Yes, fellah citizens, am twenty-five thou
sand niggers more'n tree hundred thousand
white men? OATS de question! (Voice-z
'Dey is y Dem bein' your sentiments, Mr.:
Toney II please read de revolutions what's
been drawed up"
Mr.. Grow sat down upon the head Of
barrel, amidst storm Of cheers
The Secretary then read the following
resolutions, which had been previously
adopted by colored Congress in Boston:
1. When as how, lookin' back trou de vista
of dis war, we don't see nOthin' 'couragin' and
lookin' trou de ret1ospeck ahead, things looks
wuss'n ever: resolved: sumthin's got to be
done.
g. Resolved, white folks haint done nothin'.
g. Resolved, it takes culler'd folks to do sum-
thin.
4. Resolved, hows it gwine to be done?
5. Resolved, dats the question.
The resolutions having been read, and
several orators floored by tripping on their
neighbours heels, order was finally restored,
and Pompey Cole, Esq, was recognized
by the - barrel Mr. Cole remarked:
"Mr. Chairman, l don't know bout dis
yur ting. Fus place, afore we ticks de Souf
l wants to know what Ue's got to do bout
it? l read story in de Nothnal TELL
gence,' fodder day bout some white tellah
askin' cullerd gemman if he didn't mean
to list. Says de gemman, says he, Look
here, white man, did you eber see two
dogs fightin' ODER a bone?' White man
lowed he had. Berry we'll, says de cul-
ler'd gemman, did de bone fight p
CHOW, den, Mr.. Chairman, on de bar
rel yonder, dey tell us dis's war for lib
ertv-for TO set dem niggers down SOuf