The Portland daily press., 1865-01-05
The Freedmen.

uon IN tnio osate, anu the question. now
shall we best promote their welfare" is one
which the people desire to have answered.
= IL Is well known that number of Asseeia-
tons have entered with zeal upon the work of
providing for their necessities. At least five
Societies in different parts of the country
were organized and had their Agents and
Teachers in the field, not long after the out
break Of the rebellion. The foundation of so
many different Associations for the same gen.
eral purpose, with no bond of union or con-
cert of action, and the sending of their agents
into the field to solicit aid, has naturally re-
suited In more or less Misunderstanding and
loss of time and labor That these difficulties
were foreseen and an effort made to provide
against them, will be shown by briefextracts
from the last annual report of the New Eng
land Freedmen's Aid Society.
"For the purpose Of effecting such union,
the FIVE principal Freedmen's Societies, were
some nonthe ago invited to send delegates for
q conference at Washington. The several
committees met on the second day of Decem-
Der t1863) and adopted the following plan for
q National Society," Here is part of the
first article of the Constitution, and single
resolve adopted by the Convention. ssl.r
"The National Freedmen's Relief Associa-
ton of New York, the Educational Commits
sion for Freedmen of Boston, the Pennsylvania
Freedmens Relief Association of Philadelphia,
the Western Freedmen's Aid Commission oil
r;no;,nat<; and ty,a Ncrtl, v,osto,,, r.ooa
Aid Commission Of Chicago, do form the
UNITED STATES COMMISSION FOR THE Re-
LIEF OF THE NATIONAL FREEDMEN.
"Rssoloed. That we Recommend to the
several Associations that they arrange for
themselves distinct fields for the Collection of
funds and materials of aid. and, that so far as
possible, they avoid all collision or interler-,
arice which may unfavorably affect their sep
arate interests and the common prosperity"
This recommendation wasoso reasonable
that the Educational Commission at once
adopted ID, and localized its title, land it has
since been known as the ,"New, England
Freedmen's Aid Society,"
The only difficulty that i am aware Of, which
has arisen between these various Societies.
was temporary one growing out of the fact,
that the New York Society refused for some
time to act upon the Recommendation of the
UNITED STATES COMMISSION; but would in
sist on the right of its Agents to collect mon,
ey, anywhere and every where, inutter disre--
gard of the interest of the New England Soci-
ETY., or of1that good understanding and
fellowship which it was SO desirable should
exist between them.-And the one other fact,
that some Of the friends of the New York
Society, undertook to invalidate the truth of
my statement, that the N. Y. Society allow
some of its collecting Agents one third of the
money they get as their compensation.
But whenI substaniiated my statements by
reference to Rev. Fl. G. Stewart, in Provi-
dence, r. l., Rev. r. Manning Chapman, in
Middiesex County, Mass, and Rev. j. M. Fol-
lett, at Gardiner in this State, all of whom told
me they received that Commission, the mat
ter was at length dropped, and cordial
understanding has since existed between the
managers of the two Societies. JS1aAEi
On coming into this State the present win
ter for the purpose OF organizing local socie-
ties which would select and support teachers,
to be commissioned by the New England So
ciety, i find that the Rev. Cyril Pearl, has 10
considerable extent represented thisdifficul-
ty as still existing, and that have misrepre.
sented the N. 7. society; and presenting these
presumed facts as reasons for the formation of
a"Maine Freedmen's Aid Society" afor the
sake Of unity and efficiency OF action, and to
avoid the danger of conflicting agencies or
rival societies"
The conflict aud rivalry spoken Of in the
circular Of MI. Pearl / suppose refer to the
temporary misunderstanding above alluded to,
which, as before stated, no longer exists. And
now is it wise, Just at this time, when harmo-
ny Of action has been secured between these
two old societies, to raise the ghost Of a BY
gone discord, and then attempt to lay it, by
organizing and putting still another rival So
ciety In the fleld2 80
Task If the currents Of communication to
the Freedmen, are not already sufficient in
number? And are they sufficiently broad and
deep to satisfy all minds ? ABt# 81
have the most cordial fellowship with the
American Missionary Association, SO far as it
aids the Freedmen. But no one, think, has
a right to demand that contributions to its
treasury shall be exclusively devoted to the
Freedmen, but only such share as the Associa-
tion in its discretion shall see fit to appropri-
ate to their benefit. aarosv x a~r4 e-ssfg
What then is the readiest, most economical,
and the most efficient channel through which,
the Freedmen may be reached? l answer,
the New England Freedmen's Aid Society.
1t Is New England in its ideas and methods,
which no other society is. Its machinery is,
all in working order. Its funds are expended
IN the most economical way, the cost of col
Letting them for the last year, being less than
six per cent. of the whole amount raised. siaT
It's agents are now actively engaged In or
ganizing branch societies in the various cities
and towns throughout New England, which
will select their own teachers, and pledge at
least twenty-five. dollars per month for their
support, such tachers will be commissioned by
the New England Society, and sent into the
field at the earliest practicable date. The To-
cal society by frequent correspondence with
such teachers would be kept informed of all
matters OF interest connected with theschool
and its surrounding; and thus brought into
vital communication with the Freedmen, and
face to'face with this great work the Presi-
dents and Secretaries Of the local societies,
being ex-oficio members of the government
Of the parent society. In this way would the
harmony and concert Of action be secured,
which the movers towards the formation Of
State, Society in Maine. SO much profess to
desire. ~ aae 4sansg 4v .as ss. 500
Asbeforsstated, the machinery of the New
England Society is in excellent working or
der. Its commissions are recognized by the
government and power granted to those teach
srs holding them. And If the friends in this
State would at once organize local societies