New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-20
FROM FLORIDA.


as..ncipntion i'm Fierida-A Trip in'o the
Int rior Of ihe sinte-Present Vondi'
tien Of the Frscdms n-Tewpor Of the
Pesple-Anxiety for she Fu'sre-The
Crsps-A Peace Commission.
Prom Our Special Correspondent.
JACKSONVILLE Fla, june II, 1865
Msjor.Gen. Gillmores emancipation order
No. 63 was issued at Hilton Head May IA. ana ABOUT
che 25th Of the same month 1t had gained gener" VI
saation throughout the District OF fior'""'
eone had for some weeks been anticipating something
~ the kind AID DO one was taken by surprise ~
vaoud be stated the credit Of planters ana sa'o
holders generally that soon as copy o' INC o,''
ss received they called their slaves together reau W
mem the order and told them that they were
- themselves-and could go and DO as 'ney Pea'ou.
In few instances the freedmen were with threats ana
tnprecations ordered off the plantations ana toid tha'
seath would be their fate if they returned few
others gathered up the aged deerepid and chhuren'
and carried them to the nearest military post or rail
road station for the purpose Of getting rid OF the use
less burdens forever, and retained 90 hired a-
borers the ble.bodied hands Another class,
una in number proposed 10 their people to remain on
Ebe place aud labor for their food and clothing as
they had formerly DONE receiving in all respects the
Should any 60 away. they would not be permitted 10
return But by far the larger part Of all the slave
owners proposed their hands to remain on the place
mature the CROP harves. it, and promised that about
Christmas they should be paid fair wages for their Ia
Dor Some entered into written agreement with their
peope and had the same witnessed by officer OF the
army.
The freedmen hardly knew what to do with them
selves or with the boon Of liberty The hTst and gen.
,rs anxiety was TO do something on their own account
They could think of nothing better than to 50 some
where without asking leave or having pass. lLonHn
Jacksonville least 90 miles from the siavehodlng
district yet within few days not less than thousand
q the dirty, ragged Jolly fellows came into the place
Tallahassee was also thronged with those living in that
vicinity. The same took place at GAINESVILLE hadl'
vou AMI other towns in tie State. All sorts Of ideas
occupied TIE minds OF the freedmen. Some supposed
their lsbors were all over but had idea of the means
by which they were to be supporedi Others thought
she lands of the planters to be divided among
Sbem. But within few days nearly all were back on
sher old plantations again bard at work the suffer
ing CROP The military took The in hand as far as
possible and the confusion was q short dura
uon But the chaos of ideas Was than Dything
else The ex. slave has as clear conception OF
his situation many Of the exmasters have Of theirs
They know not how to bring any influence to bear
upon the negro but authority aud coercion But the
rule Of the lash over. and the power OF reason,
motive and interest unknown, the influence Of the
master was quite limited few instances Of violence
occurred there considerable rowing about and
the whole, matters were quite unsettled Large num-
bers were still arriving daily in Jacksonville. and Col
hempe CommandaDt OF the Post suggested the idea Of
sending commission into the interior for the purpose
Of adjusting the relation between the two parties
mat both would be benefited and that the present
crop might not be permitted TO suffer. Brig. Gen
vogdis assented to the proposition, and Chaplain
Moore, Rev. Oser, aud Z. S. Stetson, esq.
selected for that purpose
Chaplain Moore, who had charge Of the commission,
furnishes the following account Of his operations in the
interior: AT Baldwin Re met a large crowd. jest
rvel Oh the cars bound for Jacksonville. They were
SOLICITED together, and after brief address they con.
olnded TO return 70 their former homes. The same
evening May 81 he addressed large audience, com.
posed Of about equal number Of white and black. at
Lake City. Nearly all the prominent citizens Of the
paee we're present. ss1 manifested the deepest interest
IN all that was said and done. Tie colored people real
ked that the meeting was their own-that they were
recognized as an element OF society. and were highly
erstfed From this point the commission went north.
tnte the Suwanee River country in the neighoorhood
of White Springs visiting plantations by day and hold
ING meetings at night. They extended their labors
nearly to the Georgia line and then returned TO tue
railroad at Medium From this place 20 Tallahassee
all the prominent places were visited public
meetings held and addresses delivered. The
speakers seemed TO understand the position
Of both parties, and the new and common ground
which both should occupy In most after closing
his address, Chaplain Moore gave both planters and
freedmen the opportunity Of proposing any questions
they saw proper OF of dissenting from any Of the views
he had expressed These opportunities were generally
freely improved and perfect understanding between
ali parties and interests reached. This commits
zion found Chaplain Hobbs. Sd e. s. c. r., actively
engaged in the same work in the vicinity Of the capital
They extended their labors forty miles west Of Tala'
bassee went south nearly to the Gulf Of Mexico and
the 10th inst arrived again at Lake City. on the way
home At this place the citizens demanded that
another meeting be held. Tie first one they said
had done more 10 regulate affairs than all the
Provost. Marshals In the land could have done.
The time allowed for getting up q meeting was very
short but tie attendance was very arge-lsrger than
ct the first At the request Of Mrs. Col Jones the
speaking took place from the steps Of her residence and
the Colonel took special pains tohaye helaw and duties
Of married life clearly presented. pretty shrewd
negro commenced speech, spologizng Ior past TreSu
lsrites but Chaplain Moore excused him from proceed
ing, relation Of past sales and separations might
not have sounded we'll and told him be did not condemn
them for the past but anxious 10 have them act
worthy OF freemen in the future. This appeared %
be satisfactory. The meeting closed with perfect
unanimity of views and with the best Of feelings.