New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-25
CAN THE FREEDMEN TAKE CARE
OF TIKMsELVEse
Interesting Facts.


Alta very large and enthusiastic meeting OF
the coored freedmen of the town OF Hampton Eliza
beth CITY County Virginia and also resident upon The
Attaining farms of Jefferson b. Sinclair and Samuel h.
Shields in the immediate vicinity Of Hampton. held at
the First Baptist Church in Hampton on the Dist day OF
August 1865. William Il. Taylor was appointed Chair
man and Peter Pryor Secretary. On motion, it was
unanimously
Rese4 That the report II the Committee appointed AZ
previous meeting take the OF our people WITHIN t
cooperate limits OF Hampton and The adjoining arms Of
fu Trustworthy aud that approve ana ADOPT t SAME
II appears from the report that after the burning Of
Hampton by its Rebel inhabitants, the abandoned and
coniiscated lots within the town. and the abandoned
and confscated farm Of Sinclair containing 600 acres
of land and also the abandoned and contscated farm OF
Shields containing about 400 acres was set apart by the
United States Government for the occupancy and use Of
coored refugees and freedmen. and that there are now
500 families by actual count upon said lots and lands.
each with humble tenement erected or purchased by
themselves that the whole number Of coored persons
upon said lots and lands il 800 there being over 10
wears of age 600 and under 10 years 9O0 and that JS7
can read and write and 9l5 church MEMBERS that
the estimated value of the property owned and possessed
| by Them without any estimation Of Government prop
erty or of other persons but in their right amounts
1
two persons; 50 600 TO one one jOO and nine over
$500, and under 81 1900.
The town of Hampton contains about one-forrth OF
the population as above enumerated. The great ma
ority of the people represent agricultural and
live upon the FARMS socaed, Of Sinclair and Shields
We have FIVE churches built by ourselves since the Re
beion and pay our pastors $50 per annum for the
ministratons of the Gospel. We have a store Of our
own in Hampton filed with groceries and goods Of all
sorts purchased with money at an expense OF
$500 Of which we have paid 1000 in cash, kept and
managed by an association of selection for the
benefit Of the colored people and at which has been
sold in one day at retail and at cost prices goods u
the amount of 1872 and has averaged s2iO per day fol
ten successive days.
Our settlement Sncairs farm is laid ont in streets
with order and regularity and notwithstanding The
uncertain tenure of possession. contains many
buildings Of comfort aad convenience and even
j of elegance.
We unhesitatingy assert that tie farms Of Sinclair
and Shields arabic and cultivated before the Rebellion
in q superior manner, was supposed, will this year
yield better richer and heavier crops twice told than
was ever known before under the system OF slavery
More than thryseyen Of US now at this meeting were
raised upon these farms, and we know whereof We
speak, that free black labor is altogether produc.
tive and remuneraive than slave labor under cir
cumsanees of cruel and unjust deprivation and denial
Of equal rights and privileges TO which as free aborers
we have been subjected and that TO people less hope
ll and SOLICITORS would have almost precllded improve
ment. Those who assert that We are not capable OF
maintaining ourselves either wickedly misreprcsen,
and malignus, or grossly ignorant OF rSapabi
ties.
We are anxious and willing and believe able,
TO build up city upon our lands as soon and as Wen
orderly prosperous, religious, as patriotic and
intelligent could be done by any other people pro
yided the fee TO the lands, and receive
that aid and encouragement TO which We are justly
entitled.
In the midst Of happiness and prosperity, the for
mer Of the Lands occupy, and against whom
DEGREES Of confscaton have been entered in the United
States Court for having participated in the Rebellion
have just returned and seeking by every means il
their power to take from happy homes on 70 i'm
pose their own conditions upon US.
Our attorney and counsel, with our appreciation and
consent have offered in behalf to pay these mel
liberal sums Of money in order 10 quiet all conflicting
claims and to obtain with the consent and appreciation
of the United States Government the fee to the lands
without controversy question, that at once
can enter upon substantial AMI permanent improve
meDts; but are told By Sinclair and Shields that they
will have all that they before possessed or nothing
Therefore
Reosed That we will not leave happy homes unls,
compelled to do by legal authority that will purchase
or lease pces Of the United States Government it, In
we will oppose all legal ways III. opening Of the DEGREES
OF conscaton and shou obtain from the United States
its entire interests In the lands viii contend of
the fee until final adjudicaon by the highest tribunal
Reoed That have confidence and faith that the United
States Government will be Just and with in the
disposition Of lands and that hail The Fyedcns Bu
wise and benchcent institution Tor the protection OF
rights and interests aud that invoke its aid aud coop
Grafton in the social and political demonstration we are making
and DESTROYS and promise that nothing shall
Freedom and also the granting and enjoyment of equals
before the law and equal rights OF suffrage at the ballot
box"
Resoed That employ Calvin Pepper, esq Of the city
Of Norfolk attorney and counsel to act Tor rs III al
matters pertaining these lands until otherwise Instructed
Resofred That we respectfully request al papers IN the
United states friendly interests to publish these 1To.
| ceedinss. WILLIAM Il. TAYLOR, President.
| PETER PRYOR, Secretary
Nate ~ Tgfaia, Elisabeth City County, 10 igt William Is.
Taylor and Peter Pryor being duly sworn doth each ior
himself depose and say that tue proceedings Of the meeting
stated correct DepOneBts that to the best OF
their knowledge information and belief and they have much
persons knowledge IN regard thereto the facts and statistics
the been compiled from actual visitation and
OF the their dwellings aud that labor has been
pared to have the and Trustworthy.
Ueponent " iian Il. Taylor, he is pastor OF thc
BAPTIST Church ard has lived In Iampton for 80 yeRr
Deponen Peter Pryor says that he 30 years Of age and
was born ard has lived IN Hampton from his birth
Sworn and subscribed before me, this 2Jd day Of August
1865. at Hampton Va. WE TAYLOR,
PETpK Pryor
A. s. FLAGe Capt. and a. ON and supt Refugees tc
.fH