, 1864-01-16
NORTHWESTERN FREEDNEN:S
ASSOCIATION.
an Urgent Appeal to the People
Of the Northwest,

The undersigned, recognizing the great an,
pressing needs Of the National Freedmen, hare
upon due consultation, associated theneelycs IN
der the co1porate title above named, and offer t,
the people OF tic Eosthwest to become the almo
ne1e Of euch az have gifts to transmit to this Ion.
down-trodden and bitterly oppressed people, nov
atlcugth, In the good providence Of God, ins2iret
with the hopes Of individually Ind manhood.
Assured by the experience OF organizations ear
lcr In the field. that the people universally desir
TO do NIL In their power for the relief Of these sui
ferers. the Commission congratulate thcmseIye
upon the opportunity afforded them OF facilitatin.
a charity 80 e1uincnny wiee and just
TIE basis OF the organization ie such ae to max.
The managers directly atnennplc to lhc donors IN
der constitutional nmita:iode, end every cnEaaTo1
will be used to conduct the enterprise efficiently
hrds its origin and constituency within the North
west, and is Responsible to no foreign body. Il
&c to The woEk 'aaaqs5ssa
whoac members, 1t Sill be seen, have all been In:
c1uded in the new Commission. The Wcstern
F1eedmen's Aid Commission, heretofore rep
E. ceSb s. Ia: las Il ea E Ssnec s
eignfhed its readiness to yield the territory to
honc culture. and has withdrawn its agent. And
re Rev: r 7. Markham, heretofore representing
BIZ interests with those OF the new organization.
II y now hoped that the entire Northwest will
mite upon The catholic piatfonn offered, end that
nomical concentration Of power. II Is lie ppr-
pore Of tic Commission to aid In relieving the
pres sing ply sIcal wants Of the Freedmen, and, in
tieablc ior th.ir eociai, inteiectusl. moral md
spiritual welfare leaving the formation Of cha.ches
entirely = to separate seclestastical action.
nay be described as follows; -A'7@ 1@eeoso
Mosk1: which viii he required in generous
snms. 70 carry ont 60 extensive work, 10 estab.
M ns No, te
quantities end to provide as tar as practIcahie.
schools and in localities where lsrse nun.
be!g o. aIsea Psep!ed PpasdS,oS e. Eo7gse1
and children, and which is preferable, mnteriaIs
dor clothing-cliefy. coatse blaukets, Hnseya.
jeans and heavy osnahargs, course wooicn cocks
.cook.e rTzSe1ls: Pots, pailf, tin cups and
plates, knives. spoons, DC.
WEp,ca1Es: Cough and disr1hea medicines are
needed in Large quantities.
TEACHERS: Male or female, having strength,
courage, fortltnde, and heart fos this work, WI
ling e Eo tor small sa1srjes, and able TO endure
There are probably not less than fo,.
drer, now within our Itncs, between Cairo aud
1qr hG no aqs9uatf 1sa
hui what they cali .hus6 tents, 1t for nothing
hut to protect them from night acws. They are
ve.y poorly clad, many OF them half naked, and
almoat destitute Of beds and bedding, thoussnda
Of them sleeping on the bare ground The Gov
crIment supplies them with s1tiona, but many nu-
Gvuidable delays arse in tho distribution, 40 that
frequently instances Of Srsat dsetiIutioa occur: o
kind OF diet they are not uec to, they have no fa-
cilitca for cooking, and are almost ignorant Of the
uec Of wheat flour: and eFen where provisions in
cooking. rs to he neither eatabie nor wholesome.
Add to these difficulties tho helplesEness and im-
providence Of those who have el~ays been slaves,
Ioscthg 70 with their to5'orn and jaded condi-
casily account for the fnct TINT sickness and death
prevail to fearful extent No language can de.
scribe the suffering deststuion and neglect which
Contributions Of money should be sent to John
Y. fatwe1l, Esq. {of Cooley, FArweu d. Co.), and
vii be acknowledged monthly IN the cnlc4ao
Iio1es Of clothing. &c. ehonld be marked,
:" Northwestern Fruedmen's Aid Commission,
care Of Col. i. B. Mason, Chicago, H." The res-
oeEce Of the donors should also be plainiy marked
made. one to be placed in the box, and the other
ecnt By mail to - Rev. c. Il. Fowler, Box S705,
Chicago, H." All communications upon the gen.
dscsecd to Rev. Mf. Fowler.
:, The ftst annual meeting Of the Commission will
ae a he1d in the City o. Chicago, on the second
not Ices than i've doliars will he electors. con-
t!ihuiiou Of twenty dollars, OF upwa1ds, at one
time, constitutes q life elector. Persons Ylehinc
10 nrf as electors will p:easc have their names en-
fo!led when their contributions are made.
Eer. L F. Markham and Rev. Il. ", Cobb. are
naf authorized seents. The Poat DtRce address Of
sne niss t. Ct Wheaton, Dupase Co.. III. Of she
1ion. John a. Wilson, President.
1 nev' + ~ Patterson, D. D., Vice prcsIdeat.
HeF. = 4 Fowler, Cor. Secretary,
Hev. :; 4 shlphetd, Rec. Secyetny,
<John '. ta1wel, Esq, Treasurer.
Rev. Joseph Haven, n.
Eev. Robert Patterson. D. D.
. AcE. Y. c. jackson.
- Rev. John B. StcTart.
Gel z. e. Mason.
Rev. n. D. Wiiiismson.
Rer. Edw. A. He1c,.
HeT. T. II. Eddy. b d.
Rey. ]. c: burroughs: IN.
Rev. n. Colser b. B.
J. q. Muhlke, Gao.
Rer. B. N. D,shop, ID.
Chfearu Ill. Jan. 10 15N