The Black Republican., 1865-04-29
FROM MOBILE.
EXCITEMENT OVER THE ASSASSINATION
OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN-MEETlNG OF
THE CITIZENS = STRONG CONDEMNA.
TORY RESOLUTIONS-FEELIE IN THE
ARMY = APPREHENSIONS REGARDING
THE FREEDMEN ETC

The city is sad picture to contemplate.
The stores look thousand years old. They
wear something of the appearance of the
old castles to be seen in some of the coun-
tries of Europe. They are empty
and forsaken, except here and there
an old man seated like some faithful sentinel
at his post. Shelves are forsaken of their
silks, and occupied only with the flies and
the dust. The people look sad and sorry:
The best people of the city are poor and
poorly clad. There is no money save the
scrip of the COnfederacy. The people are
distressed. No money except coin and
greenbacks will pass. They have little OF
the fOrmer-none of the latter. We have
witnessed such sorrow over this order OF
things as we do not desire again to behold.
Soldiers of the Union army, who were ex-.
pected to burn and destroy, have been seen
to empty their haversacks, distributing their
coffee and bread to starving women and
children.
We viii never forget the sight that we wit
messed on Front street yesterday. com
pany Of Illinois soldiers had just drawn their
rations there were around them women
and children, many of whom, on seeing cot
fee, quietly smacked their lips and demon
strated their desire for the luxury of which
they had so long been deprived. The sol
diers were affected at the sight, and almost
instantly the idea went through the compa-
ny, as if by magic, that they ought to give
the poor souls all the coffee they had. Every
soldier took his hayersack and selected some
one to whom he might crafty his heart.
Each gave his ration and with such won
derful satisfaction, that spectators wept at
the sight, and we heard an old merchant
exclaim-" That's the way these soldiers are
going to destroy US adding emphatIcally;
. How much differently from the representa-
ton of our late leaders who told us that our
wives and daughers would be outraged by
these men -
The news of the assassination of the great
and good Lincoln came to this city like q
clap of thunder. The feeling spread through
the city Ill a moment that the soldiers and
the negroes would instantly rise and murder
the citizens. The Commanding General was
implored by the citizens to interfere on their
behalf Rev. Mr.. Conway, general superin-
tendent of freedmen, was approached and
begged to intercede so as to prevent anrin-
surrection by the freedmen. On every
corner old citizens gathered. In one hour
it ras decided to hold mass meeting Of the
prominent men of the city for the purpose
of given expression to their feeling of con
demnation of the fiendish act by which our
President fell. On Saturday noon the
people were gathered at the Odd Fellows
Hall. Judge Chamberlain presided. The
resolutions adopted condemned the crime
by WhOmsOeyer committed, and for Whatso-
ever purpose it was instigated. When read
to the meeting they were received with re-
markable demonstrations of approval by the
vast audience. Judge Chamberlain stated
that the people of Mobile condemned the
act as both unmanly and diabolical-con'
demned alike by the good people Of the
North and South, as by those of the civil
lied world. The meeting was very respect
able and the numbers surprising beyond
description, especially when we consider
that most of the men were supposed to have
been dragged into the rebel army.
The army, just on its move to Montgomery
or some other point northward, received the
sad tidings with almost immeasurable bitter
ness. Regiments were seen to Weep-not a
single man here and there-but whole regi-
ments. A few hours later, as they advanced
on their onward march, the most fiery and
determined expression rested upon every
face. cavalryman, resting on the side
walk among his saddles. and with his com
paniOns, on seeing an infantry regiment pass
along with battle flag draped in mourning,
arose and with singular cOntOrtiOns OF body
and expression Of countenance, exclaimed :
Boysi remember the blood Of Lincoln"
The soldiers moved solemnly along, saying
nothing, but wearing unmistakable expires
sions upon their faces. The appearance OF
the soldiers faces and eyes is beyond all de
scriptOn. The meaning could only be under
stood by those who saw it:
The most serious apprehensiOns were felt
| in regard to the negroes. Many citizens
called on Mr.. Conway, at the E'reedmen's
| Bureau, imploring him to use his influence
| to keep them quiet. There were no reasons
whatever for such apprehensiOns, and the
| gentleman assured them that the Freedmen
| would only demonstrate their sorrow in q
| quiet and Christian way. This was the case
| They were found to be the only ones who
| wore badges of mourning on their arms and
| in front of their dwellings. On Sunday
| morning all the Freedmen in the city were
| assembled in the State street Church, where
| Mr.. Conway explained their rights, and
| gave them such advice as was needed.
| Gen. Candy has issued the following order
| concerning the Freedmen in Alabama, eX
| tending the labors of the Freedmen's Bu
reau Of the Department of the Gulf ovel
vastly more territory than it has heretofore
| occupied. No better testimonial can be haC
| than this to show the wisdom of the man
agement of Freedmen's affairs in Louisiana
under the policy of Major Gen. Banks, anC
the energetic efforts of the Superintendent il
carrying that policy into effect. Already steps
are taken to supply food, clothing, medi
cine, schools, wages, and general protection
to this large class of persons, whose condl
ton, on the arrival of the UniOI
army has no parallel in the history
| of this rebellion. Mr.. Conway found the
| Freedmen locked up in yards and forced by
their former owners into submission to thei1
will. AS soon as the following order wa!
issued, he unlocked the gates an(
set thousands at liberty. The former own
ers had to recognize the rights of the Freed
men, pay them for their work, or let then
go. They are now all free, and the citizens
begin to think that something has happened
and that a wonderful change is wrought.
GEN. CANBYs ORDER.
I" Mr.. Thomas w. Conway, General Super
intendent of Freedmen, Department of tn
Gulf, will take charge of the Freedmen il
and around Mobile. Such officers as he ma.
appoint will draw the necessary supple
from the Commissary and Quartermaster'
Department, upon acquisitions approved b.
the Commander of the Post. Supplies no
furnished by these Departments, viii be pro
cured from funds in the hands of Mr. Con
way.
. All persons formerly held as slaves vii
be treated in every respect as entitled to tn
rights of Freedmen, and such as desire thei
services viii be required to pay for them.
"Care will be taken not to disturb ab
ruptly the connections now existing, ant
all colored persons having places or EN-
ployment are advised to remain, wheneye
the persons by whom they are employees
recognize their rights and agree to c0mpen
safe them for their services.
All unemployed colored persons will re
| port at once at the office established Tor In
care of freedmen, for the purpose of having
their names and residences registered an
being provided with employment. Thos
employed by the Government will be regr
lar1y enrolled, subsisted and paid. Copie
of the rolls of those employed in the diferen
departments of the army viii be furnishe
the Superintendent of Freedmen, and whe
discharged from that employment will b
directed to report to the Superintendent"
JOHN WILKES BoorH.-The New York He