Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-28
Letter From " Carleton"
SAVANNAH, Feb 2, 1865.
10 the Editor Of The Boston Journal.
TIE FREEDMBN

TIE FREEDMBS.
A meeting was hsld here to-day, the like Of
which was never seen in Savannah. Before Gen.
Sherman left the city, be iseued an order setting
apart the islands and abandoned plantations for
the freedmen-each head OF family to have 40
acres You have had the order IN a letter sent
ten days ago. Gen. Saxton was appointed In
spector of those lands and has the general man.
agemeni. 1t 10 presumed tha. the visit OF Sec
retary Stanton had something TO do with the
Issuing Of the order. IL has been and il now
thought that 90 much oil the order as relates to
rico lauds will be impractcable, as the rice cul-
ture is one requiring large outlay of capital,
and regular overflow and drainage OF land
which must be dykei. Therefore unless thero
IS Il community OF interest on the part Of the
freedmen IN managing those lands, they will
not DC cultivated. IL is certain very little rice
will be cultivated the present season. as it must
be sown 10 February, and nothing has bean done
towards cuIiVating the ground
The meeting to-day was called BY Goa. Sax
ton, who desired to explain 10 the freedmen
their position under the recent military events,
and under the order Issued by Gen. Sherman.
IL was held IN the Second African Chu cha
large building with galleries-whieh was crowded
to Its utmost capacity. The body OF the house
was occupied by women, with few old gray
headed men The galleries were filled by cable
cloud such rs | never saw before or expect to zee
sgain. In the singers gallery there is small
organ, which was well played BY oolored or
.anist. TIE choir consisted Of twelve persons
Of both sexes Several colored ministers sat In
the old-iSshioned pulpit Rev. Mr. French OF
New York, who has been at Beaufort since its
occupation By the Union troops, was also in the
pulpit. In front sat Gen Saxton. Lis stall,
several ladies and few northern gentlemen were
present Strange the sght--that tutbaned sea
Of heads-wOmen and girls oil wearing the
brightest c)lorSd hanikerchieis to be obtained,
or bonneh with flowing ribbons the venerable
men whose lives are nsarly worn ou, on the
plantations, or BY service 10 the households al
their masters the great, dense crowds above of
mlddle-aged and yoOng men--all gs1ng upon
Gen. Saxton, the representative vi the Govern
ment which mas made them free.
The organ was playing when entered. After
the voluntary the choir sang
any country, tits thee,
Sweet land OF L'oerty," &c
Their country their liberty The word. have
had new msaning since Christmas morning.
BY request Of Gen Saxton, they sang Bishop
liebsr's missionary hymn
Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Houston, of
the First African Church.
Gen. SaIson, in addressing them, ,aid that
il any one fourteen years ago when hs was on
duty in Savannah Us lieutenant ia the service
of the United States, had told him that hs
would on the second day OF February, 1865,
stand up IN that place as he was now standing
he would have deemed such a man luuatic. /
But he had come 10 tell them what the President
of the United States had done for them
The allusiOn to Mr. Lincoln produced sen
sation. There were cries, " God bless him. - /
" You are all free = Amen they said, !
" bless the Lord"
lie explained the cause oil the war-bog the \
rebels Cred upon tbs hig-Aow they hated Tree J
dom, and wanted to extend slavery, which pro. ,
duced the war, aud which in 'he Providence of /
God had made them free. They were free. but |
thsy must labor tn live. Their relations to their
masters had all been changed. They could 70 |
where they pleased, do what they pleased, pro-
ydsd they did right, but they bad no claim on
their masters they must work for themselves.
All wealth comes from the soil and by Guilty
ing the ground they could obtain food and 10.
crease IN wealth.
ton. Sherman order was read and explained.
lie told them Of the advancement which the
freedmen had made at Beaufort that he knew
Of one man who four years ago was slave,
but nov was worth ten thousand dollars An-
other who vas worth Eve thousand They had
comfortable homes aud schools, and were ad-
vancing rapidly in civilization. The children
we're we'll dressed and punctual at school. The
men and women had almost forgotten that they
we're slaves and the children hardly knew they
bad ever been in bondage. lie would advise
them to 70 upon the islands and begin life for
themselves The Government would aid them,
and 80 would the benevolent and kind hearted
men and women oi the North.
lie also spoke of the duty the young aud
,blc bodied men owed 70 the country to enlist
10 its defense. They were citizens, and they
nus, begin TO do their part as citizens. They
had been mads free. and must protect and defend
Ihsit liberties