The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-06-02
CORRESPONDENCE.

| MENPifs, Tenn, May Is, 1865.
EprroR or UNioN & JOURNAL, :-Sir-One
of yonr readers, who accompanied me and
my family from Saco to Boston, expressed q
strong desire to have me report through your
paper when We reached this city. He wal
particularly anxious TO have such facts CON-
inundated IN reference to the Freedmen, in
whose behalf We were to labor, rs would
tend to instruct and profit your numerous
readers.
We have now labored over two weeks and
spent three Sabbaths in our new field. We
have one hundred and fifty pupils in our
weekday school. most of whom evince a
strong desire to learn, all Of whom are but
beginners. A few can read quite intelligibly
and have some knowledge Of arithmetic.
Parents express very strong desire for their
children to learn. The religious element oil
the contrabands il pre-eminent. The Sab
bath schools and meetings fer public worship
are we'll attended, and the most serious and
respectful attention is given.
The Sabbath School at 0 o'clock Yesterday
morning numbered ut least two hundred. oil
OF whom were rs attentive and respectful to
their Sabbath school lessons as are the ma
jority of Sabbath school children in New
England. Another Sabbath school We at
tended at one o'clock p. NJ, in different
part Of the city, was nearly as full, and also
was exceedingly interesting.
The singing Of the colored children sur
passes anything we hear in the Sabbath
schools Of the East. Every house now occu-
pied by the colored people rs place of wor-
ab;,, and TO- tb.,r Co hho oohnnIo Ia oroxvI.
ed. so far as have visited them.
The city is crowded full Of refugees and
contrabands. and most Of the masses are rs
yet, apparently, without any suitable regard
for the privileges Others embrace with great
interest. think the resident cOlored per-
sons are generally interested, while sojourn.
ers are not 30 much so. Some efforts are be-
ing made now by the military authorities, to
induce the negroes to 90 back into the coun.
try and cultivate the soil, or hire out to
planters The education Of the colored peo.
pie, think, must remain for many months
IN the hands of the military, aided by the
benevolent exertions of the North. And
this work ought to be engaged in by tens Of
thousands. Every religious sect represented
here ought to enter this work on very large
scale. twill not do to depend upon any very
considerable number Of southern men to en-.
tor upon this philanthropic work. And CIV.
cry laborer, or company OF laborers, sent out,
should bring school house, a ehnrh, d,oei-
ling house, and all the facilities OF house,
keeping, and for the present year nearly all
they may need to consume, as necessary to
economy and success. This conclusion is the
result Of my observation and experience in
this city and of what con learn Of other
sections.
l advise every person proposing to come
South to teach, and every church or society
proposing to send teachers. to have a survey
Of the field before entering 1t, or occupying
il. Take the facts as they exist here. We
have one General Superintendent Of Freed
men, viz: Col. John Eaton, Jr., whose de
partment extends over western Tennessee.
Arkansas and Mississippi. and embraces the
refugees and freedmen. His duties as mil
itary man are defined in orders from the Mil
itary Department. Then we have Chaplain
Joseph Warren, D. D., General Superintend.
ent of Colored Schools under this supervis-
ion, in accordance with the orders OF tho
Secretary of War and direction Of the Presi
dent. All persons who come or are sent up
on the field as teachers, are to report to the
above officers. and especially and Immediate
ly to Doctor Warren.
In some future communication will pro-
coed with statements Of such facts as will
more Immediately concern those who propose
occupying the field under this department.
WILLIAM BAILEY.