Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-01-20

TIE Eree-stato Movement In Louisiana
Interesting staTemeHt BY the Agent ofthe
krGe-stnte COMMITTEES.
A meeting Of prominent gentlemen Of
Boston ard its vicinity was held on
Wednesday to hear statement from Al
fred Jarvis, agent OF tho "Free- State
General Committee of Louisiana" and to
consider what action should be taken in
aid of the efforts Of that committee to re-
store Louisiana TO tie Union as q free
Slate, by the action Of her people. The
ophilus Parsons wsI chosen president and
John S. Blatchfcrd, Secretary:
Mr.. Jervis began by referring to the
anomalous condition of New Orleans when
General Butler arrived in that city.
There wss great Union feeling, but it
bad been suppressed. Prominent Union
men had been escorted through the lines,
while those Of less influence who dared TO
express their opinious were Imprisoned or
| hanged. He knew Of only thirteen Union
men ct the time upon whom he could rely.
The remainder Of the Union strength did
not dare TO show ITSELF Under these cir.
cumstsnces the Union associations were
formed, and the members were neeessari-
ly strangers to one another.
These associations spread very rapidly
in New Orleans, through all the municipi-
palities. In sixty days the members num-
bered two thousand FIVE hundred. But the
question OF snti-slavery was not mooted.
Il soon began to be found that the rebel
- - n 81 ,srNo
eating slavery, and that Louisiana could
be restored 10 the Union only as q free
State. Accordingly, the speaker, with 8
few others, set about remodeling the asso-
citation upon the anti-slsvery and free
state basis. This movement met with
great success, SO thai in two months more
than three thousand men were upon the
rolls. Those Union men who went for re-
constructing the Union with slavery form
ed new association, and had their head
quarters in Cansl street. They were rich,
and consisted chiefly of planters.
"The Free State associations are inoreas-
ing in other parts Of Louisiana. Agents
are sent from New Orleans, and secret
meetings are first held in different parishes
and when the organisation is sufficiently
strong the cloak of secrecy is thrown off
Each association, after reaching certain
strength, is entitled to delegate in the
Free State Committee Of Louisiana. This
has now sixty. four members. The inten-
ton Of the committee (after it fairly re-
presents the popular voice Of the State) is
to cali convention for the formation Of
Constitution prohibiting slavery forever.
Mr.. JerYis stated, subsequently, In reply
J.. a o,,aafSor mi by Gol1anfor Y Gnod
rich, that if the means could be procured
that were necessary, Louisiana would be
in the Union q free State before one hun
drsd snd twenty days from the first Of the
present month.
Everything that the Free State Ascot
atoms do is done through the military
government General Banks carefully ex-
amined the constitution Of the organiza-
ton, and said that it met his entire ap-
prevail President Lincoln had urged i'm
mediate and vigorous action by these soei-
cites, and Secretary Chase had written
letter, warmly approving Of their course.
6The vote of Louisiana in 1860 was
about 10000. Thirty-one regiments left
The State before General Butler came and
siucs that time rigid rebel CONSUMPTION
has been enforced in some sections Of the
State. There are not probably 25,000
voters in Louisiana at the present time.
The free 5iate associations already have
more than one-tenth Of the number of
votes cast in 1860, and from one quarter
to one-third Of the whole number of voters
now residing within the limits Of Louis.
lana.
''But it is the object of the free State
men to make their movement a popular
one, embracing large majority of the
people. The planters took the State out of
the Union without the permission Of The
mass of voterp, and as soon as General
Banks assumed sway, few Of them met
a hotel in New Orleans, and, pretend !;
to speak for the whole community, en-
deaVored to take the state back again into
the Union with slaveholding constitu-
ton. They sent representatives. to Wash
ington to mislead President Lincoln as to
the real opinion of the white citizens of
Louisiana.
Mr.. Jarvis gave very interesting &C
count OF the means used by the Free State
to indoctrinste the poor
whites with anti slavery sentiments.
With regard to the women Of New Orleans
whom General Butler taught such |
wholesome lesson-the tide of feeling now
among them is strongly for the Union and
anti slavery.
The singular facts were mentioned |
that there are two thousand three hundred |
and forty registered enemies Of the Unit |
ed States in New Orleans. twenty-five |
hundred fremen Of that city are on their |
parole, and the head Of the FIRE department |
is registered enemy Of the country-an
aYoWed secessionist."-K. z. Post.