Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-10-31


tion, progress, prospects, &c, Of the Freed
men. The pastors of several other
churches gave over services in their re-
spective houses of worship, to give all an
opportunity to hear the Professor, who, it
was understood, has had unusually favor
able facilities for observing the status and
promise of this large class of people, who
are becoming a new element of our popu-
lation and system.
In the absence of the President and Vice
President of the Commission, on business
connected with the Commission, Rev. J. A.
Thome presided, and made some state
ments concerning tho establishment and
workings of the Commission in this city.
Professor Peck gave very interesting
exhibition of the state in which he
EJund the Freedmen in Norfolk, Va,
and its vicinity, on his two visits
ere in December and April last. He was
appointed by Governor Tod to go to Wash
ington and Fortress Monroe TO look after
the interests of Ohio soldiers stationed at
those and various other points. He carried
I'pass from the Governor, and, on his ar
cival in Washington procured one from
Secretary Chase, which opened all passages
tpr him wherever he went; so that he was
enabled to make observations not only
rom Humanitarian stand point. but also
from military and social points of view.
He proceeded to detail his observations
At the workings of the policy carried out
ia Northeastern Virginia respecting the
1Ontrabands. Things went badly with this
large and constantly increasing class until
the return of General Butler to that De-
partment, when ne issued his famous Order
No. IA, whose fundamental doctrine was
this: " The Freedmen are the inevita BILE
Charge and children Of the government" +"
Before the announcement of that doctrine
the condition Of the blacks was worse thrn
shat of slavery itself. They were kicked
about from officer to officer, defrauded,
abused, and their situation made doubly
pitiful. This state was instantly revolu-
tiOnized on the re-appearance Of General
Butler. His policy had these four cardinal
points:
1st. His subordinates must shelter the
blacks from indignities.
4 I'd. They must give direction to the Ia
Dor of the Freedmen.
Cd. They must encourage in every way
the intellectual and moral development of
this class.
4th. They must see that those who could
not help themselves were provided with all
the necessaries.
Under this humane and inviting regime
the black colony grew rapidly in every res
pect. Therewereaboutl9,O Is, 900 eontrabands
in and about Norfolk under Buffers first
brief rule. Prof. Peck, on his visit in De-
cembsr, found "a 900, and row they num-
Der upwards of 80, 900, and all classes of
these are thriving, in schools, on farms, md
are fast learning the science and art of life
One fact is remarkable, and it is being
everywhere developed in the South, and
it turns to nought all the extant
adverse theories, this, namely, that
the negro, give, him never so small a
chance, is found willing and anxious TO
sustain himself He is not the lazy,
thriftless nuisance which not only your
recent Copperhead, but your old time pro
slaveryite, was ready at any moment to
prove-before it had beon tested. He is
not an incubus, nightmare on the State,
out, give him opportunity, and he is just
one of the most nimble and onterprising
men. Thus, as evidence, of these "a, 900
Freedmen to whom, they know perfectly
well, Government would furnish rations in
case they made no exertiOns in their own
behalf, only 5000 drew rations, and the ma
jority of these last were families of those
whose husbands and fathers had enlisted
in the military service, cripples, decrepit
folk, and newly arrived and exhausted re-
fugees.
On the other hand, there is the greatest
desire, even anxiety, among them to get on
in the world, TO make the most of the new
conditjtn whereinto they have been most
marvelously born, and for which they
have prayed, and they huant the school,
and press to the farms, and engage in
their new profitable avocations, with
the greatest enthusiasm and zest.
As the sulky citizens Of Norfolk deliber-
ately shut down on trade, school and
church going, General Butler said very
well, !" and put the contrabands into all the
hool-houses, with the exception of one,
which was used for hospital and there,
where Ham had entered upon the pre-
negatives of Japhet," in those school houses
might be seen negroes of every age-child-
hood with its mirth, youth, middle age,
and men and women whose forms were bent
and whose hairs were white with age-alI
with one accord and with one spirit in the
pursuit of knowledge.
We know there is large class who, when
the negro is mentioned, or measures for his
amelicration are proposed, have nothing
but the long ears, the stupid, violent hoof,
and the startling, inane bray to give and
present in response. But, despite vulgar,
insane prejudice, it is true that here on this
continent, and now, tho great event of the
times, the phenomenon of the age, is un-
70 ding and developing itself, and it is
nothing more nor less than the uprising,
through night and fire ODd sword and
blood and great sgon r4cs long
ground down,-than no spectacle,
for him who has eyes to see and not merely
to blink with, can be more sublime.
SIXTH WARD UNION MEETING ON SATURDAY
NIGHT.-The regular meeting of the Sixth
Ward Union Club was held ct the Wigwam.