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

clergYmen representing the colored churches
and Oolorod population Of Savannah, on the
other part. The interview took place on tie
18th ofJanuary last and was prior 10 Gen. sher-
man order setting apart portions OF territory
in South Carolina and Georgia for the freedmen.
Rev. Henry Ward Bsecher read this report at
bis Sunday evening discourse, the l2'h inst
We ind in an exchange the following report OF
Mr. Beechers discourse, which is Of general
interest
Mr.. Beecher took his text from Psalms TX
81 and advocated the rights of the common
people 60 seit-government. following 1t by this
prescription for the oolorod people Of the soath
800" Make them American CITIZENS, under the
following details ;-
/ |. Give them (the pcgroes) land in fee simple
with ample protection IN the shape Of wise, ssli-
I projecting economy.
| 2. Provide for them all those source. OF n.
prOvement which we 40 solicItlously secure i1r
our white population.
] 3. Open up tor them right to uss their
powers and skill in honest competition IN all
trades and professions, with all classes, they to
stand or fall BY their own capaclty--to stand
the ordeal
/. Give to them the right Of every born
OF :ature 10 take part IN determining the laws,
the magistrates and the public policy under
which he and. his ehild.en were TO i've.
In short, said Mr.. Beecher demand that the
broad and radical democratic doctrine Of the
natural right. OF men shall be applied to all
men, without regard TO race, color or condition.
demand faith IN our national principles, and
courage to trust them in practice. Tho speaker
continued to advocate the education Of the
Masses of the people, and Of the colored race AZ
well, in eloquent terms, and insisted that the
slaves were entitled to the right of sufage as
a right and az q boon earned AID deserved OF
the republic, for their singular good conduct
during the war, for their love aud care tor our
soldiers and for their heroic military services
and fidelity TO tho Union and nation. Mr.. Bes-
cher concluded by remarklng that people might
say that II permitted TO vote, the negro may
also hold Office and asked why not, If people
! want him 20. Ii o thousand men cho0se u send
Douglas TO Congress, will you take away from
them their right to do 50 The speaker referr-
Ell to mIscegenaton, and thought the races
should not lntermingle but, If they did, 1t
should be By bona fde earnest marriages, and
DOT under the promlscuous intercourse prevail
ing IN the rebsi States lie would have ore law
that man may marry block woman II he
wishes 10, and another that man shall never
be compelled to do any such thing
II was towards the close Of his discourse that
MIR. Beecher read the report which follows
HEADQUARTERS OF MAJOR GENERAL SHERMAN, !
SAVANNAH, Ga, Jan. II, 1868,
On the evening OF Thursday, January II
1865, the following persons, OF African descent
met by appointment to hold 40 interview with
Edwin NJ. Stanton, Secretary Of War, and Maj
or General Sherman, TO have a conference upon
matters relating to the freedmen Of the State Of
Georgia, to VIII -
/. William j. Campbell, aged 81 year, slave
until lS49, aud then liberated by will Of hl,
mistress, Mrs. Mary Maxwell. For ten year.
pastor of the FRS: Bapts' church Of Savannah
numbering about eighteen hundred members
average congregation nineteen hundred, The
church property belonging to the congLega.lln.
trustees white worth $4,000. - ~Gs
2. John Cox, aged So, born in SavSnnsh
slave until l847 when he bought bis freedom
for SLIGO. Pastot Of the Second African
Baptlst church in the ministry fifteen years
congregation twelve hundred and twenty -rwo
persons. Church property $4,000.
3. Ulysses l.. Houston, aged IL born il IRA
hamsville, ). C., slave until the Union army
entered Savannah, and pastor of the TIL d Al
rIcau Baptist church congregation ioar nun
dred. Church property s5,OU0. In the minis
try about eight years
4. William Beatty. aged p years, bora il
Savannah, slave until % years of age, when hi
master, John Waters. smancipated hin by will
pistsr Of Address Chapel Methodist Episc0pa
church, the only one OF that denomination in
Savannah congregation three hanired and
sixty members church property worth abou
$50 600 member et Georgia Conference.
5. Charles Bfadwell, aged 10 years, born il
Liberty county, Ga, slave until 1851, emanci
pated by will Of his master, J. !, Bfsdsell
Local preacher
9. William Games, aged ii, bora in Willi
county, Ga, slave until the Uoion forces freed
him owned by Robert roombs, formerly Tn
ted States Senator, and his brother G4brie
| roombs; 10 the ministry 10 years.
I. James Hill, aged 81, born III Bryan c0ua
ty, Ga, slave up to the time the Unlon army
came in owned by H. g. Williams, of Swan
nah in the ministry ID years
t s. Glasgow Taylor, aged ~, born III Walk,
county, Ga, slave uati the Union army cam,
in in the ministry IS years,
o. Garrison Frazier, AGED O., born in Gran
! vile county, North Carolina, slave until eigh
years ago, when he bought himself and wife ui
one thousand dollars in gold and silver 10 th'
ministry rs years
10. James Mills, aged 60, born in savannah
free born and licensed preacher Of the Frs
{ Baptist church eight years IN the ministry.
ii. Abraham Burke, aged aS, slaye unh
twenty years ago, when he bought himself iol
eight hundred dollars ia the ministry abont
ten wears.
. Il. Arthur Wardel, aged A., Save until freed
by the Union amy owned by A. A. Solomons
Savannah ia tbs ministry six years.
10. Alexander Harris aged II, born in Saw.
annah licensed TO prea,h in Baptist church
, about month ago
Il. Andrew Neal, aged 81, born in Savannah
slave until he Union army entered deacon Of
the Third Bipts, church Tor ten years.
Is JAMES Porter, aged SO, born in Charles
ton free bora, his mother having bought her
freedom in communion nine years.
l6. Adolphus Delmotte, agei 3D. born In
Savannah in the Ministry about two years
II. Jacob Godfrey, aged 81, born 10 South
Carolina is class leader and steward Of chapel
since 1896. slave until the Union army came
Is. John johnson, aged 81, class leader and
treasurer Of Methodist church since 1861, slave
, till the Union army came
, le. Robert n Taylor, aged 81 class leader
nine years, slave tlll the Union army came
20. James Lynch, aged &c, free born pre-.
siding elder OF the Methodist church sever
years in the ministry,
! Garrison Frazier, the spokesman OF the abov,
colored clergymen, made anss as follows -
Question-Sate what your understanding /,