The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-29
The Free State Movement i'm
LOaiSiana.

A meeting Of prominent gentlemen of Bos-
ton and its vicinity was held on Wednesday,
to hear statement from Alfred Jervis, Agent
of the Free State General Committee Of
Louisiana, and to consider what action should
be taken in aid of the efforts of that Commit
tee to restore Louisiana to the Union as Free
State, by the action of her people. Theopilus
Parsons was chosen President, and John S.
Blatchford Secretary.
Mr. Jervis began by referring to the anon
alous condition OF New Orleans when General
Butler arrived in that city. There wasso
eat Union feeling, but it had been suppress
cd. Prominent Union men had been escorted
across the lines, while those of less influence,
who dared to express their opinions, were
impressed or hanged. He knew only thirteen
Union men, at that time, upon whom he could
rely. The remainder of the Union strength
did not dare to show itself Under these cir
cumstances, the Union Associations were
formed, and the members were necessarily
strangers to one another.
These associations spread very rapidly in
New Orleads, through all the municipalities.
In sixty days the members numbered $500.
But the question of Anti-Slavery was not
muoted. 1t soon began to be found that the
Rebellion could not be destroyed without
eradicating Slavery, and that Louisiana could
Accordingly, the speaker, with few others,
set about renodeling the associations upon
The Anti-Slavery and Free State basis. This
movement met with great success, So that in
two months m re than 5000 men were upon
the rolls. Those Union men who went for
reconstructing the Union with Slavery formed
new association, and had their headquarters
in Canal Street. They were rich, and con-
sisted chiefly of planters.
Tho Free State associations are increasing
in other parts of Louisiana. Agents are sent
f.om New Orleans, and secret meetings are
first held in different parishes, and when the
organization is sufficiently strong the cloak
of secrecy is thrown off, Each association,
after reaching a certain strength, is entitled
to delegate in the Free State Committee of
Louisiana. This has now Ga members. The
intention of the Committee latter it fairly rep
resents the popular voice of the State) is to
call a Convention for the formation of Con-
stitution prohibiting Slavery forever. Mr..
Jervis stated, subsequently,, in reply to ques-
ton put by Collector j. q. Goodrich, that if
the means could be procured that were neces-
sary, Louisiana would be in the Union Free
State before 1S0 days from the first of the
present month.
Everything that the Free State Assoeia-
tions do is through ths military government.
General Banks carefully examined the consti-
tuition of the organization, and said that it
met his entire approval. President Lincoln
had urged immediate and vigorous action by
these societies, and Secretary Chase had writ
ten letter, warmly approving of their course.
The vote of Louisiana in 1860 was about
$4,000. Thirty-one regiments left the State
before General Butler came, and since that
time rigid oonscription has been enforced
Ia some section of the State. There arc not
probably $4,000 voters in Louisiana at the
present time. The Free State Associations
already have more than one-tenth of the
number of votes cast in 1860, and from
ons-quarter TO one-thirs Of the whole number