Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-23
THE FREEDMKN N KANSAS.
Address of G. H LangsfOn before the
Freedmen's Aid Society on Il 9 cOndi-
tion and wants Of the Freedmen in
Kansas.

The public notice, given in Saturday
mornings LEADER, of a special meeting of
the Freedmen's Aid Society, brought to-
gether large number of the members and
friends of that organization, on Sunday af-
ternoon, at the A. NJ. E. Church, on Ohio |
street, to listen to an address by Mr.. C. H. |
Langston, well known to our citizens as one |
of the defendants in the celebrated oberlin
rescue trials. Mr.. Langston has been
travelling among the freedmen of Kansas
for nearly three years. His address, which
was mainly upon the condition and wanta
of the freedmen in that State, was very
able and interesting, and was listened to
wi marked attention. He said that prior
to the war there was in Kansas a colored
population of six hundred, and that now it
had increased to twelve thousand. This
population came principally from Mis-
souri,, Arkansas and the Indian
Territory. The freedmen from Missouri
were generally industrious, thrifty and en-
ergetic, and by their energy had accumu-
lated money and property, and had estab-
lished schools, churches, nc. Those from
Arkansas consisted almost entirely of help
less women, with families of small children.
Mr.. Langston cited the following extract
from letter of DR.. C. C. slocum, of Fort
Scott, in illustration of their condition:
At this post find many refugees, both
| white and colOred, mostly from Arkansas.
They Mthq%H6 q%H66PT Pd 9shfat wth the
ruined in health and broken in spirits,
their hearts bleeding at every pore. They
must have protection and help. I start
North with a Government train of white
women and children. Tomorrow I will
take them TO Leavenworth. They will need
your sympathy and help.
Mr.. Langston proceeded to describe the
want to which the freedmen had been
reduced, especially during last winter
He said as they had greatly increased in
number their suffering would be greatly
increased in the coming winter, unless the
friends of humanity came to their relief.
He made an eloquent appeal for aid from
the benevolent people of the North, espeei-
ally toward the erection of Freedman's
Home in Leavenworth City, He concluded
with brief and modest rehearsal of what
he and his cO-laborors, the Rev. J.
! Copeland and Mr.. ]. R. Brown,
the excellent and whole-bearted
agent of the Sanitary Commission at
Leayenworth City, and brother of old
0ssawattomie Brown, had done and were
dong for relieving tho wants of the
| fraa1 man in Kansaa IN fba yoaFtars &c
clothing, fuel, house room, education &c.
At the close of Mr.. Langston's remarks,
the following resolutions, presented by
Elder j. C. Warren, were unanimously
adopted:
ResolUed. That we, the members of the
Freedmen's Aid Society, return to Mr.. C.
H. Langston our sincere thanks for his
very interesting and instructive address.
touching the condition and prospects ofthe
Freedmen of Kansas.
Resolred, That he has truly distinguish
ed himself as a philanthropist, in his self
sacrificing efforts in behalf of the destitute
freedmen, having labored faithfully for the
past three years for their moral, social,
and intellectual improvement.
RctolUed, That, as a society, we are plea--
ed to learn that the funds donated by :.
has been the means of alleviating much
want and suffering.
ERssOlUcd, That we feel encouraged, and
will continue our work of labor and love,
for the relief and prosperity of suffering
and oppressed humanity.
The Society then appropriate S55 for the
relief of the Freedmen of Kansas.
We had the pleasure of conversation
with Mr.. Langston yesterday morning, and
Of examining a number Of letters from dit
lerent points in Kansas, upon the numbers
and condition of the freedmen. The testi-
mony is unanimous as to the great and in
creasing numbers of freedmen, their pitt
able condition, and their great need of aid.
At Leavenworth, where Mr.. Langston has
been particularly engaged, and where he
has a school, numbering some three
hundred pupils, there are some three
thousand freedmen, and the num-
Der is constantly on the increase. o.
these over two thirds are entirely des-
titute and dependent, their husbands and
natural protectors either being in the
Union army or run off by rebel mfs.ers.
Among these Mr.. Langston has worked
very effectively, doing great amount OF
good with a very little money. He is now
desirous of establishing a sort of Freed
mons Home among them, and for the pur-
pose of soliciting aid in this work, he has
returned home. He has met with eonsid- |
cradle success in Chicago and this city, |
and We trust that he may be still more
successful during the remainder of his
brief stay with us.