The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-19
F Q RID A.
General Towards Speech to tho Freedmen
Of Tallahassee and the Members Of
the Florida Convention.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION.
Discussion ON the QuestiOn of
Reputation.
&c. kc. &c.
Our Tallahassee Correspondence.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla, Oct. 80, 1855.

L TALLAHASSEE, rA, OCt looo.
GENERAL HowARD's SPEECH TO THE FREEDMEN.
Major General o. O. Howard, Commissioner of the
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
addressed meeting OF freedmen at the coored hetho-
dist church in this place this afternoon and in the even
ing upon invitation of q committee OF citizens, ad
DIR ssed tho Convention and citizens the Representa-
tive Hall.
His purpose in addressing the freedmen to explain
to them their duties in the new position in which they
found themselves placed by tho fortunes Of and 10
dsabuse their minds of the widespread notion that the
Glands of their former owners divided among
them at the coming Christmas
Ho told them that they had received their free
DOM which could be taken from them, and that
rested tn them whether it would prove blessing to
them otherwise. II they went 10 work and strove
earnestly to gain livelihood and 10 improve them.
selves and educate their children they might become
good cit and respected in the community but the
other hand, If they left their homes FIN the country to
crowd together in the large and Cities spending
their time In ideness and dissipation, they would be
rapidly declmated by disease and DO hated and despsed
by all good citizens He advised the making of yearly
contracts either with their former masters with other
parties the best terms they could, and urgently i'm
pressed upon them the necessity and duty of fulfilling
contracts 10 the letter. If they should find
they had made hard bargain He told them the President
of the United States their friend and would protect
them in their rights He told Nem lie had heard many
complaints against them for insOlcnce to the white eo
pa. ana hoped they were not true that rs freedmen
they should In their behavior to the white people, be
more polio than they We're a. slaves aud show
that they worthy OF being free He tried TO i'm
upon them that freedom did not mean dIcnes and
ease but that meant work, hard work, and that they
should be willing and glad to do this for the bencnt
(which would accrue To their children.
HIS speech was Listened 10 with much attention and
interest and will doubtless have beneficial effect
N
his SPEECH TO THE COVE TIoy.
AT seven O'Clock IN the evening q large number OF
citizens and members OF the Convent on met the General
In the hail OF The House OF Representatives where he
addressed them for hour As h sent out eApr ssy
by tho President ~ restore the conscatcd lands to their
former owners lac was stoned 10 with attention. He
tcCK dccaon TO express to the Con, ehon the cling OF
the President and his abnet regard To giving freedmen
The ri ht Of testimony aud stts in courts of law, anu
urged upon them TO oOnfor this rht upon them be
fore they adjourned III said the President considered
n n rIp ht which must be erred upon them. He OK
pa nd the object Of the laws which the War Depart
neut had him to execute n.euded 10 relieve the
blacks in passing from asys em of slavery TO one OF free
nation nat made through NJ Lincoln n lis proclamation
and endorsed by Congress- should be kept that is that
and protected in their freedom. He explained tho
manner in which he took up the matter
committed to him at Washington, having in
vow the interests OF all par.ies wlde and black.
The questions OF most importance concerned labor and
these endeayored 70 adjust by system Of contracts
m 6dc agreements entered into between tt property
hoIdcis and the freedmen He recognized the IN tual
OF the OF capital and the aborers,
ana earnestly advocated ans of restoring complete
confidence where tue kindly relations formerly sting
had been disturbed by the with its hi anous
conf ant evils lie hoped now that Florida had accepted
freedom she would c2slatc rec state, with we
single To her best interest," with view to the future,
o. erlooking much possible, temporary and ransi
tory annoyanccs ana considering the best method OF
ccvating people Of all classes, and opening up the
State 10 emigration without the hDdranccs that would
turn the tide other directions He adyocats d good
schools rs necessary ~ any dcaree Of success under
free ystcm Ii people governed by laws they ought
10 be ablo to understand those laws Trooper education
will always promote good morals and good order The
negroes had already SIX schools IN Tallahassee, and
they were showing great energy In carrying them
on All good will approve and assist them
in their self susta ming Efforts He touched upon
the matter VI frecdmens testimony and suits In the
courts OF law lie said tho President Provisional
Governor every lawyer he had convcrscd WITH from
Washington TO this pla 9, expressed the same opinion
must afford t. he knew Of other possible way but
by suits and n,ony courts The General explained
the subject OF abandoned lands The bureau now be-
carne sort OF gathe OF everything, and no
had regulated matter OF restoration the President
had directed The law had itself led the negroes to
think they would have land oil the country.
Wrong Impressions being corrected and contracts
would BIO mado and enforced. The property at Apa.
lachis ola was TO DO restored Immediately under ju
dicious officers direction He explained how the lands
set apart b, General Sherman ing returned Every
disps on the part OF the government and his own
agencies was friendly and he urgently recommended
the working together without paying any attention TO
political action and wire pulling Tor the solution OF
p,oblrms that perpcx ,aad try every man In the
country The time had come ior sober, calm deliberate
thoughts and dIspassonatc and wise legislation.