The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-22

prom the Philadelphia North Amerioan.l
The following extracts are from let
ters received by the Pennsylvania Freed
mans Relief Association, No. 424 Wall
nut street, from their General Secretary,
now on tour Of observation through
Tennessee and the Mississippi valley from
which may be perceived the urgent need
Of prompt and persistent action on the
part Of the loyal and humane north:
NASHVILLE, Dec. 81, 1868.
- There is DO mistake about
there being much destitution in the de-
psremsnt. The suffering seems to be
about equally distributed among the col
ored refugees (contrabsnds) and the
white refugees (Unionists.) The differ
ence between the two classes is that the
latter are provided for by the State gov
eminent, which imposes taxes on the
rich rebels for their maintenance, while
the former are dependent for what they
need upon the philanthropy of the north.
do not mean to imply By this that Gov
ernOr johnson and his coadiutors are
insensible TO tie claims of the blacks,
but that they have as much as they can
attend to, and more, in providing for the
wants Of the poor whites. From what
have been able to collect, could estimate
the number Of newly fresd people in this
department at the present time ct 10, 600
It is the policy Of the authorities here
not to let them accumulate in camps and
barracks, awaiting future developments,
but to distribute them wherever their
services sre needed and people are will
ing 10 hire them. Farmers aud citizens,
men and women, needing "hel2," obtain
pass to 60 out to "HObson's Chapel"
the contrsband rendezvous" about
three miles from the city, where the
blacks are collected, and with whom they
make the best bargain they can. This
"Hobson's Chapel is constantly chang
ing its inmates, some going out to COM
pensated service, others coming in from
chatleI bondage. The new ones that
come in must be clothed, bedded, and
instructed. This is being done by good
people here sent from the north. In this
work we of Philadelphia are privileged
70 take part. These 1900 will soon be
multiplied tenfold. That the old system
of slavery is falling to pieces in this
State is patent to the dullest observer. All
admit that before long the 275 600 Ten
nessee slaves will be freed. What shall
be done with them? Employ as laborers
those who can work, is the answer of
sll intelligent men here with whom
have eonVersed, and instruct in schools
the remainder. l have yet to see the
first Tennessean-andI have talked with
q good many on the subject-whO has
not seemed relieved when assured that
the north would provide teachers to the
extent of their necessities. An inteIli-
gent citizen of this place told me this
morning that Tennessee would need az
least three hundred teachers to supply
the want The same is true of the other
slave States. 1t will require large
number of teachers and helpers to recon
struct society in the south. Whether
the government organize a Bureau of
Emancipation or not this work will sure
ly devolVe upon the loyal and humane
people of the free States. We have
Winked at and aided in the degradation
of the black man, and we must now aid
and promote the work of his elevation.
?. ST. have read this letter to my
friend DR.. -, q Tennessean, whom l
sec here daily. He is an ardent and I'M
conditional UniOnist, 8 particular friend
and adviser of Gov. Johnson. "Do you
approve of what have written, DOctorp
"YeF, fully. What you have said is just
right. Your people are now on the right
track. They did well in working for
the abolition of slavery, though it is only
now that see it. used to be opposed
TO them, [the doctor is the owner, in law,
of forty slaves but now slavery is dead
It's only ray Of hope is in the success Of
the rebellion. Slavery and the rebellion
must 60 down together. If your friends
want to help US let them fight to put down
the rebellion, and work 10 aid US in solv-
ing our social problem"
NASHVILLE, Jan. !, 1864.
am glad the supplies are coming, %
they are much needed here at this mo-
ment. The Association did well to buy
blankets and shoes. Nothing could come
better here at this time. Blankets will
serve as shawls during the day, and as
beds at night.
The high price of rents make it hard
for the poor. Large families are crowd
ed into small rooms, unglazed and in
every way cOmfOrtless. Here in the city
there would be no difficulty about the
support of these blacks, if they had only
8 place TO live. Labor of all kind is in
great demand, and these blacks have all
q natural knack of making money. All
sgree here that the blacks have faculty
in getting along and adjusting themselves
to circumstances much superior to that
Of the. poor whites. The fact is, the
blacks in the south are, by all odds, the
most thrifty, industrious, managing peo-
pie TO be met with. All they want is an
opportunity. Here in Nashville their in
dustry, thrift, responsibility and sue
cessful enterprise are matters of general
observation. / have made . list of the
weIl-tO-do and rich cOlOred men of this
city, and its length would quite surprise
you. have the names of = dozen men
whose aggregate property is worth not
less than $4,000. -0ne man is worth
$4,000, another $50, 200, another SlO-
900, and 80 on down. They are chiefly
hackmen and gardeners, (truckmen) and
she like.
A local freedmen's association has
been formed here since my arrival, COM
posed partly of men and women of Nash
vile and partly of strangers sojOurning
here, which will assume the charge Of al
goods sent here from the North.
Yours, &c, -.
-F-e-e-s--s--