Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-02-23
RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1865,
Inssrcstisg Conference.

Of a conference held In SAVANNAH on tho
18th day Of January between Secretary
Stanton and Gen. Sherman on the one
side and a number Of colored preachers,
and other leaders OF the blacks In that
city, on the other. The following is
verbatim report OF the questions asked
at this conference by Secretary Stanton
and Gen. Sherman, and Of the answers
made by the negroes through Garrison
Frazier, one of their number who was
selected by them to express their com
mon sentiments upon the matters OF In
curry. This Garrison Frazier Is descrlb-
cd as "o7 years Of age, born In dran-
vile county, N. c., was . slave until
eight years ago, when he, bought
himself and wife, paying $1,000 in gold
and silver; Is an ordained minister in
the Baptist church, but his health fall
ing, has now charge ofno congregation;
has been In the ministry 30 years.
Many of the others present were slaves
until liberated by the Union army.
@. D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant
General, certihes TO the correctness of
the following report Of the interview
and says the answers as given below,
were written down in the exact words
in which they were made.
First-State what Is your under
standing in regard to the acts of Congress
and President Lincoln's proclamation
touching the condition Of the colored
people in the United States.
Answer-So far rs / understand Pres
ident Lincoln's proclamation to the Re-
bellious States, 1t Is, that If they would
lay down their arms and submit to the
laws of the United States before the first
of January 1868, all should be we'll
but If they did not, then all the slaves In
the Rebel States should be free hence
forth and forever. That Is what l I'M
derstOOd.
Second-State what you understand
by Slavery and the freedom that was to
be given by the Presidents proclama-
tion.
Answer-Slavery Is, receiving by ~
yssisti69s poaoey the work of another man,
and not by his consent. The freedom, as
! understand it, promised by the procla-
nation, Is taking us from under the
yoke of bondage, and placing US where
we could reap the fruit ofour own labor,
take care of ourselves and assist the
Government In maintaining our free
dom.
Third-State in what manner you
think you can take care of yourselves,
and how can you best assist the Gov
eminent In maintaining your freedom.
Answer-The way we can best take
care of ourselves is to have land, and
turn 1t and till it by our own labor
that Is, by the labor of the women and
children and old men and we can soon
maintain ourselves and have something
to spare. And to assist the Government
the young men should enlist in the ser
vice of the Government, and serve in
such manner as they may be wanted.
fThe rebels told US that they piled them
NO and made batteries ofthem, and sold
them to Cuba; but we don't believe
that) We want to be placed on land
until we are able to buy it and make it
our own.
Fourth-State in what manner you
would rather live--whether scattered
among the whites or in q colony by
yourselves.
Answer would prefer to live by
ourselves There is prejudice against
MS in the South that win take years to
get over; but l do not know that can
answer for my brethren. Mr.. Lynch
saws he thinks they should not separate,
but live together. All the other per
sons present, being questioned one by
one, answered that they agree with
brother Frazier
Fifth-Do you think that there Is in
telligence enough among the slaves oil
the South to maintain themeelves under
the Government of the United States and
the equal protection Of its laws, and
maintain good aRd peaceable relations
among yourselves and with your neigh
bors
Answer think there is sufficient in.
telligence among us to do so.
Sixth-State what is the feeling Ofthe
black population OF the South toward
the Government of the United States
what Is the understanding In respect tC
the present war-its causes and object
and their disposition to aid either side
State fully your views.
Answer think you will find there
are thousands that are willing to make
anv sacrifices to assist the Government
of the United States, while there are
also many that are not willing to taxi
up arms. do not suppose there are
dozen men that are opposed to the Gov
ernment. | understand, as to the war
that the South is the aggressor. Prest
dent Lincoln was elected President by {
majority of the United States, which
guaranteed him the right Of holding tn
Office and exercising that right owe
the whole United States. The South
without knowing what he would dc
rebelled. The war was commenced b,
the Rebels before he came into Office
The object OF the war was not at FIRST U
give the slaves their freedom, but tn
sole object of the war was at first 3
bring the rebellious states back Into Oh
Union and their loyalty to the laws Q
the United States Afterward, knowing
the value set on the slaves by the Rebel
the President thought that his procla
nation would stimulate them TO la
down their arms, reduce them TO ooed
ence, and help to bring back the Reb'