Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-21

Al d to assist the government the young men
should ellIst in the service Of the government
aud serve ia such manner a. they should be
wanted. The rebels told US that they piled them
up and made batteries of them. aud sold them
o Cuba but we dou't believe that. We want
to ba placed on land unit we are abe to buy II
aud make it our own.
q State 10 what manner you woLld rather
live whether scattered among the whites or IN
colonies by yourselves.
A. | would prefer to live Ivy ourselves, FOL
there is prejudice against us IN the South tn d
will take years to get over but do not know
that can answer Tor my brethren. Mr.. l. nch
says he thinks they should not be separated, but
i've together. All The other persons present,
being questioned one by one, answer thai they
a. rec with brother Frazier.
q Do you tblnk that there Is inIelligene
enough among the slaves Of the South u malp
tain themselves under the government Of Ih
United States
A. think there is sufi intelligence,
among ue 70 do 80.
q. State what is the feeling Of the black pop
uI4ton Of the South towards tha government ai
TIC United states; What 10 ,Ae understanding
10 respect 10 the present war, its causes and Oh
jet, aud tho disposition to aid either side State
FULLY your views.
A. think you will fnd thore are thousands
that are willing 10 make any sacrifice to assist
| the government Of the United States, while there
are also many that are not willing to take up
arms do not suppose thore arc a dozen men
opposed TO the government | understand, as
to the war; that the South is the aggresaor.
| President Lincoln was elected presidsut 10y a
majority OF the United States, which guaranteed
him the right Of holding the office and exercising
that right over the whole Unite States. Tue
South. without knowing what be would do, re-
belled. II is my opinion that not man Ia this
city could be started to help the rebels one inoh
for That would be suicide. There were two
black men that left with the rebels because they
bad taken active pat with the rebols, and
thought something might beAll lhem II they
stayed behind but there is not another man
II the prayers that have gone up for tho Union
army could be read out you would not get
through them these two weeks.
Y. State whether the sentiments you express
are those only of the colored people in the city,
or do they extend to the oOlored population
throughout the country, and what are your
means OF knowing the sestiments Of those living
In the country?
A. think the sentiments are the same among
the colored people Of the State my opinion is
fOrmedb by personal Communication in the course
Of my ministry, and also from the thousands
who followed the Union army, leaving their
homes and undergoing suHerngs. do rot
think there would be 30 many. The number
surpassed my expectations.
q. II the rebel leaders we're TO arm the slaves
what would b. the eifeoti
A. ! think they would fight az long rs they
we're before the bayonst, and Just as soon as
they could get awsy they would desert, in my
opinion.
] g What, in your opinion, is the feeling Of
tae colcrsd psOpe a boat enllsting aad serving as
soldiers OF the United States, and what kind sf
military service do they prefer
A. large number have gone as soldiers to
Port Royal to be drilled and put in the service
and | think there are thousands Of the young
men that will enlist. There is something about
them, perhaps that is wrong. They have SUI
J fered so long from the rebels that they waat to
shoulder the musket Others want to 20 in the
quartermasser or the commissary service.
Y. Do you understand the mode Of enlist
merit Of colored persons in the rebel States by
State agents under the act Of Congress-
z; In answer the speaker replied that its opera
:. ton was to leave one white mao at home for
n every coored man taken into the army, and tina
the army was not increased thereby.
q. State what IN yonr opinisn is the best way
to enlist colorsd men as soldiers.
A, | think that all compulsory enstments
! should be put stop 10. The ministers would
tals 10 them, aud the young men would enlist
1t il my opinion that it would be far better for
the State agent to stay at homo, and the enlist
mems to be made for the United states under
! the direction Of Gen. Sherman.
, 10 the absence Of General sherman, the fol-
! lowing question was asked -
Q. State What is the feeling OF the oolored
people in reglrd-to General Sherman.
A, We looked upon General Sherman, prior
t to his arrival, a, man specially set apart BY
Providence to accomplish this work, and we
unanimously felt mex pressible gratitude to him
looking upon him as man that should be hon.
ored for the faithful performance Of bis dusy.
Some OF US callsd upon him Immediately upon
his arrival, and 1t is probable he did not meet the
Secretary with more courtesy than he met US.
His conduct aud department towards us cbarac.
| terlz,d him as friend and gentleman. We have
confidence 10 General Shsrm IN, and think thai
what cor Germs US could not be in better hands
This ia our oplni n now, from tho short ac-
qualntanes and interest we have had. Mr
Lynch states that, with his limited aequan :
Huce with General Sherman, he IL unwuliug q
, express an opinion, All other prescott declare
their agreement with Mr. Frazier about Camera
Sherman.