New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-13
To Ms Editor Of The " Y. Tkfbune

SIR: Your article in this mornings issue en-
titled DEsoAIoy exactly describes the want which has
called into existence the AMERICAN UNION COMMISSION.
This Commission, organized for the parpose Of aiding
and cooperating with" the people Of the South in the
restoration Of their civil and social condition upon the
basis OF industry education, freedom and Christian
moralitv" aims TO do exactly what you ask shall b
DONE send food and implements to the South" aid in
prompt recuperation Of the energies Of the South;'
afford channel FOR the sympathy which exists among
for the Inundated woesricken whites Of the Sonth
us well for the scarcely ut emancipated Blacks.
This Commission thus comprehensive in its object ID
so also in Its organization 1t embraces auxiliary
societies In Boston. Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati
Chicago Nashville Charleston and other less import.
ant points.
What is it doingi
/. At first the immediate pressing wants Of sick
starving houeess refugees demanded its attention and
absorbed its funds These sent BY Government from
below arrived BY and hundreds. and 10y upon
the wharyes of Cairo Louisville and Cincinnati. hterI
ally perishng These have been fed and clothed tenn.
porary and furnished with transportation to perms-
nent homes in the country Within three weeks past
800 Of such wreched refugees have been thus pro-
yided for in this city alone.
II. Agents ut Savannah Charleston and Richmond
have assisted in providing for the immediate wants Of
the people those points At the latter place TO pre-
vent abuse and indiscriminate charity the entire city
has been distrcted every family In want visited. and
their actual condition and needs ascertained BY per-
soual inspection During the last two weeks We have
shipped from this point alon< 60 barrels Of clothing 500
of asur and 200 Of Seeds Large shipments are being
continually made from other points also.
I'LL In the cause Of education We are preparing 70
act We are in correspondence with the State Govern
ment of Tennessee upon this subject and Prof b. s.
edrick widely known by his expulsion nom South
Carolina for his antSlavery sentiments previous to the
war, has already started upon tour OF observation
through the South Atlantic coast where bis previous
will give him peculiar facilities for ascsr.
tanning the needs Of the people in this respect.
". We have not in the past attempted TO provide the
South with seeds and Implements simply because It has
been impractcable. The last Of March visited Nah
Vile. Gov. Brownow then informed me that be an
ticpated year Of the worst guerrilla warfare that
Tennessee had ever SEEN The military authorities con.
nrmed this opinion. Farmers told me they did not
think Of putting in crops for the guerras would reap
them. 1t was dangerous for Northern man to pass
two miles beyond the city imta The condition %
affairs was better at Memphis worse further South.
Under such circumstances could not with wisdom.
do more than send few garden seeds for special dis
tributon. f.f.f--
The sudden collapse Of the Rebellion has changed 81
this The most instant action is needed In order "a
enable an impoverished people to help themselves Wa
have already sent TO our agent at Richmond two
barrels Of seeds and some fishing tackle to supply ths
pressiue wants of the immediate vicinity and trust
to follow this up BY some measuraby adequate pro-
vision for the greatest want the world has almost sveS
seen. as fast and a. far the people Of the North viii
enable Us to do So This does not seem to me TO be
matter Of charity We have Just determined that thiS
is one country; and not this city only but the vhos
North has "a deep and papabe interest in the prompt
rscupersou of the productive energies Of the South.
thank you tor your call upon tho people. hope Tho
cry may be echoed by every loyal journal And trust
that the North may write glorious record Of pstri
otto charity in dealing with the desolate as 1t has q
patriotic self sacrifice in dealing with armed treason.
Yours, very respectfully LYMAN ABBOTT.
C~1y ~