The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-19
s. - KE0KHk Iowa. TUESDAY DECEMBER ID 1885

VOL, ID.
THE DhEnDMnH1b c0n1Izss10N.
We lay before ourr rrsaders u fonowins
circular and letter fipm Rev 3. 8. MoRRrs,
Agent of the Freedmsn's Commiasion. The
letter is addressed 70 : lsay of oar city, who
hands it and the circular to rs for publication,
as the most efectual method of bringing the
ssbjeet directly before the peopse win not
some one take the initiatory steps in the mat
ter? Call meeting and organize here an
auxiliary society. Some of our gentleman
showed great earnestness and ses4 in behalf
of the Christian Commission, will they not
also take this work in hand? The following
is the letter: s
DuBuQuE, Dec. 4th, 1865.
DEAR Mrss The object Of this note is 10
solicit the cooperation of your Society, if not
disbanded, with the Freedmen Commission,
and if disbanded to ask you TO reorganize as
an auxiliary thereto. We must not leave
these poor oppressed people to perish by
thousands from sheer starvation. or to become
victims of the revenge of their old masters and
be crushed to deeper degradation than that
ofthelr former servitude. If they are ever
educated and elevated so as to be fitted for
their new relations and duties, It must be by
the help of their friends in. the free States.
Never before were q people SO eager for in-
struction and imprcv ement. 4 g e q
Shall we not-nsast re not-help them.
viii not your people, in Keokuk, cheerfdlly
and gladly share part in this great work of
mercy. ID ele-s ai1af - .ek
Immediate action, as you will see by the
circular, is most urgently called for. -
! Money is chiefly required, but clothing for
women and children is also now desired
Auxillanes are rapidly forming, and We look
for Iowa, our own glorious Iowa, to do her
4 share in this grand work of Christian philan-
thropy. ..-.e.- .s
Please lay this Communication before your
ladies, land gentlemen, too, if you please, and
I inform me Of the result. @
Yours truly
ar .s- f. S. NORRIS,
1 Agt American Freedwen's $ Aid Com.
7 DrBuorE, Iowx- Nov. Is 1865.
TotAe Churches and Friends Of the Freedmen
IN Ioea, t
4 The Western Department Of the Freedmen S
3 Aid Commission, ut Chicago, has recently is
sued q circular in which an affecting appeal
Is made tor the means to extend aud prose
cute It's blessed work in behalf of the freed
people. It says; r4l.s,s ..-s-.aer.s,
Il must be frankly stated that point has
been reached beyond which the Commission
cannot prudently move without an Immediate
/ and generous response to this call for help.
Applications for teachers come by almost
every mail from the agents Of the Freedmen 5
Bureau and the Superintendents OF our
schools these appeals are from Missouri,
Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia and Texas
at the same time we have the names Of scores
Inexperienced teachers, Christian men and
women, who are ready to be sent to any point
IL the South where their labors are neered--
bun how shall they be sent
The demand upon the Treasures of the So
cieties herein represented have been constant
during the summer to sustain the more per
manent work, such as asylums and those
schools which It was necessary to continue so
that there has been no accumulation OF funds
for the Treasury of the Department equal to
the increased demands of the new school
year. Thee are within the Western Depart
ment above one hundred commissioned tea
chers, sent to various points in the Missis
sippi Valley and sustained at q much greater
outlay than when transportation, rations aud
quarters were furnished By the governmen,.,
lnsvisv Of -shes obigatioss sireAdy asuned'
We have not the means to extend the work
The number of teachers in the field should
be increased; there is scarcely poinl where
| the prpNent nf ucbarr 1<,ae aaIta
be reinforced; the new fields which are open
ing should be occupied; and oil this ought to
be done at once. The earnest and wellad-
, vised friends Il the ffeedmen everywhere feel
. that the present season is the oil important
one. k
Gen. Sprague, Assistant Cosanissioner Of
the Efesdmea's Bureau for Nissouri and Ar.
kansas, n an appeal to this Office for teach
ers Tor Jefferson City. says 81 regard il as
, very important that good schools for colored
children be established in the central part OF
this State. More can be accomplished by
prompt action now in occupying the groupd
than by much greater OutIsy.of means in the
, future. This sentiment Is reiterated in every
call for teachers that comes from the South
4 In some instances assurances are given that
. the teachers win be supported after reaching
7 the field; in others partial support has been
. promised; some of the best teachers who
nave applied for appointments offer their ser
vices eratuitously for three or six mouths,
provided their expenses are paid: thds the
fields are white already to the harvest-the
laborers are ready to enter them, but the
Commission cannot bid them go for want of
e means TO send them. sss
In this Juncture, SO pressing and important,
we turn TO the friends Of the cause-even to
those who have gwen SO freely in the past.
J and to those who hitherto have given so freely
aud labored SO devotedly for the benefit Of
/. hour solders-and ask for the means at once
needed for the work. Will not each Auxiii-
ary Society to which this paper COMES make
e an immediate and special effort, and also for
! ward, without delay, any means on hand
will not each friend here addressed make it .
! personal matter to aid us at tonce-remember-
! ing that every delay does retard, and may de-
feat our efforts for the elevation of the color
ed race. T RI ~Fw IT TNa - g w
j In response TO this appeal ii is proposed that
. collection be taken in every congregation in
n the West on the day Of our National Thanks
e giving, and the amount raised to be sent with,
3 outdehy to the Commission. 4
The churches of Iowa are desired to Join in
this general movement, and the clergy
throughout the State are earnestly requested