Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-15
THE FREEDMEN II GKORGI1.
Report of the Conference between
Secretary stanton, General Sherman
and the COIOred People Of Savannah.

and the COIOred PeOPIo Of savannah.
On Sunday evening last Mr.. Bescher
read in Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, what
he said was a photographic report of an
interview between Secretary Stanton
General Sherman and the colorsd people
Of Savannah. Twenty persons Of African
descent met Stanton and Sherman on the
evening Of the 18th of January. A short
Geographic sketch Of each Of the twenty is.
given. All Of them had been slaves, but
some had bought their freedom. This wss
the first time the blacks have been consult
ed about their destiny. They evidently
had very intelligent ideas of the state Of
affairs. A series of question were but to
one of the twenty named Garrison Frazier,
who was. aged 81, Snd was 8 slave until
eight years ago. he is 3 pastor of the
Baptist Church. The colored men selected
him to speak. OF the questions and an
swers, the following are specimens. After
question or two in regard to the emanci-
patton Proclamation, the questions and
answers proceed thus:
Third-Shts in what manner you think
you can take care Of yourselves, and how
can you best assist the Government in
maintaining your freedom7
Answer-The way we can best take care
Of ourselves is to have lsnd, and turn Il
and till 1t by our own labor-thAt is by the
labor Of the women and children and old
men, and we can soon maintain ourselves
and to have something to spare. And to
assist the Government, the young men
should enlist in the service of the Govern
ment, and serve in such manner as they
may be wanted. (The rebels told Us that
they piled them up and made batteries Of
them, and sold them 70 Cubs; but we don't
believe that We want to be placed on
land until We are able to buy it and make it
our own.
Fourth-State In whAtmanner you would
rather lve-whether scattered among the
whites or In colonies by yourselves7
Answer-I would prefer to live by cur
selves, for there is 8 prejudice against Us
in the South that viii take years to get
over but do not know that I can an
swer for my brethren. Mr.. Lynch says he
thinks they should not be separated, but
live together. All the other persons pres
ent, being questioned one by one, answer
that they agree with brother Frazier
Fifth-Do you think that there in INTEL
ligence enough among the slaves of the.
South to maintain themselves under the
Government of the United States and the
equal protection of its laws, and maintain
| Ia
selves and with your neighborsf
.Answer-I think there is sufficient in
telligence among Us to do so. 5
Sixth-Stste Whist Is the feeling Of the
black population of the South toward the
Government OF the United States; what is
the understanding in respect to the pres
ent warts causes and object and their
disposition to aid either side State fully
your views.
Answer-I think you will find there are
Thousands that are willing to make any.
sacrifice to assist the Government Of the
United States, while there are also many
that are not willing to take up armsJ I do
not suppose there are a dozen men that
are opposed to the Government. under
stand, as to the war, that the South Is the
aggressor. President Lincoln Wss elected
by majority of the United States, which
guaranteed him the right Of holding the
Office and exercising that right over the
whole United States. The South, without
knowing what he would do rebelled. The
war was commenced by the rebela before
he came Into'ofice. The object OF the var
was not at first TO give the slaves their
freedom, but the sole object Of the war
was at first to bring the rebellious States
back into the Union and their loyalty TO
the laws of the United States. Afterward,
knowing the value set on the slaves by
the Rebels the President thought that his
proclamation would stimulate them to lay
down their arms, reduce them to obedience
and help bring back the Rebel States; and
their not doing SO has now made the free
dom of the slaves part Of the war. Its
my opinion that there is not q man in
this city that could be started to help the
Rebels, one inch for that would be suicide.
There were two black men left with the
Rebels because they had taken an active
part for the Rebels, and thought something
might befall them if they staid behind;
but there Is not another man. If the
prayers that have gone up for the Union
army could be read out, you would not
get through them these two weeks.
SeVenth-State whether the sentiments
you now express are those only Of the col
ored people in that city or do they e1-
tend to the colored population throughout
the country? and what are your means Of
knowing the sentiments of those living In
the oOuntry7 -r-.---.
Answer-I think the sentiments are the
same among the colored psopls of the
State. My opinion is formed by personal
communication in the course of my minis
try, and also from the thousands that fol-
lowed the Union. army, leaving tbsi
homes and undergoing suffering. I did
not thing there would be 20 many the
number surpssses my exPectAtion. r1 q 3
Eighth-H the rebel leaders we're to
arm the slaves, what would be its effect 7
Answsr-I think they wonld fight as
long as they were before the bsyonet and
just as soon as they could get away they
would desert, in my opinion. -.-
Ninth-What, In your opinion, Is the |
feeling Of the colored people about enlist |
ing and serving as soldiers Of the United |
States and what kind Of military services |
do they prefer1 =..-- t-.t
Answer-A large number have gone Is |
soldiers to Port Royal to be drilled and put |
In the service, and I think there are thous-
Ands of young men that would enlist.
There Is something about them that per-
hAps is wrong. They hgvs suffered 30
much from the rebels that they want 70
shoulder the muSket. Others want Ito
Eleventh-Stste what in your opinion,
is the best way to enlist eolOred men for
soldiers. t4.t l.-T
Answer-I think, sir, that stop should
be put to all compulsory operations. The
ministers would talk 70 them, and the
young men would enlist. Tits nay opinion
that it would be far better for the State
agents to stay at home, and the enlistments
to be made for the United States under the
,1ironffoy of General Gbarr,sn |