Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-17
THE AMERICAN FREEDMENs AND
UNION COMMISSION.
The Meeting YesSerday-ResOlufiOns
Alphabetically Interchange of
Sentiment.

at a meeting Of the above-named organi-
cation, at their rooms in New York, April
18th, the following resolution was adopted F.:
Resolred, That the General Secretary be
directed to call q meeting of the Commits
sion in the city of Cleveland at such tina
ss may be agreed upon by correspondence
with the Branch at that place; that he in
corporate in the call q notice that a Presi-
dent will be elected in the place Of Bishop
Simpson, resigned, and that such amend
ments to the Constitution may be submitted
as are necessary for the more perfect and
satisfactory organization and adjustment of
the work in the Western States and that
he invite all the Societies hitherto acting as
auxiliary to either Commission to send dele
gates to confer with the Commission upon
the general interests of the work and the
bestmethods Of its prosecution.
Accordingly q call was issued for e meet
ing here on the 10th of May, concluding
as follows:
It is the desire of the Executive Com
mittee to secure not only full attendance
of the members Of the Commission, but also
of representatives from all cooperative IN
UNCONVENTIONAL societies, in order to secure
NlO RGAACAN nal A4OAy anu GO-ODCAG "
in the work Of popular education in the
Southern Ststes.
In pursuance of this action and call,
quite a number of gentlemen interested in
the cause of the freedmen, met at the par
Tors of the Stone Church in this city, at IL
o'clock yesterday morning. There seems to
have been some difference of opinion and
object among the various Commissions,
which it was intended should be harmon
lied by the creation Of the american
Freedmen's and Union Commission" There
still being a variance, the northwestern
Freedmen's Aid Society" at Chicago, and
others, still adhering to the "Ameri-
can Freedmen's Aid Commission" and
declining to unite with this Com
mission, this meeting was called to ad-
just the difficulties and perfect the organi-
zation.
Hon. Hugh L. Bond, of Baltimore, was
elected Chairman, and Messrs. E. W. Hoop
er, of Boston, and H. B. Spelman, of Cleve-
land, Secretaries. On motion a Business
Committee was appointed, consisting of the
General and Corresponding Secretaries Of
the Commission, one member from each
branch Of the Commission, and one mem
Der from each Independent Association re-
presented here.
The following gentlemen composed the
Committee:
J. Miller McKim, Esq. Gen. Sec'y, New
York, Chairman; Rev. J.. Parkman, Bos-
ton Rev. E. H. Garfield, D. D., n. Y; Mr..
VIM. Bruce, Baltimore ; Mr.. Joseph Per
kins, Cleveland Rev. Lyman Abbott, Cor.
sec'y, y. Y; Rev. Joseph Haven, D. D.,
Chicago; Rev. J. NJ. Walden, D. D.. Chi
csgo; Mr.. j. S. Willetts, indianapolis Rev.
S. Chase, Detroit; Mr.. Jos. S. Travelli,
Pittsburgh Rev. Jesse T. Peck, D. D., San
Francisco.
On motion, adjourned to 8 P. NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Re-assembled pursuant to adjournment,
Judge Bond in the Chair. The minutes Of
the morning session were read, amended
and approved.
The reportof the Business Committee being
in order, they submitted the following:
Resolped, That all delegates 10 this meet
ing and other friends of the cause, be iD-
vited to sit as corresponding members, and
take part in our deliberations.
This being adopted, the following list of
delegates in attendance, was then made
out
Secretaries-J. NJ. McKim, and Rev. Ly-
man Abbott.
Baltimore-Hon. Hugh L. Bond, Rev. F.
Israel, Mr.. VIM. Bruce, Nj. Geo. P. Hayes.
New York-Rev. DR.. f. H. Garfield, Mr..
Francis George Shaw.
Michigan-ReT. 8. Chase.
Pittsburgh, 6c.-Rev. J.B. Bittinger, Mr..
JOS. s. Travelli, Mr.. Josiah Copley.
California-Rev. DR.. Jesse T. Peck.
Cleveland-Rev. DR.. J. A. Thome, Mr.. H.
3. spelman, Mr.. Joseph Perkins, Mr.. H. x.
Reynolds.
New England-Rev. J. Parkman, Mr.. E.
". Hooper.
Indiana-Mr- J. S. Willetts.
Chicago-Rev. J.. NJ. Walden, D. D., Rev.
]. c. Burroughs, Rev. W. C. Jackson,
Rev. Joseph Haven, D. D.
The Business Committee further reported
the following:
Res0lrsd, That the Chairman of this Com
mittee be requested to submit to this meet
ing such facts in regard to the history of
The Commission as may be instructive and
needful to their guidance.
RESOLVED, That a Committee be appointed
10 inqnire into the best method of promot-
-ng the unity, harmony and efficiency of
III the organizations in the United States
or the benefit of the freedmen"
The second resolution being agreed to, j.
N. MeKiT, ESQ., General Secretary and
Chairman Of the Committee, took the floor.
Is said:
This movement originally grew out of the
of Port Royal, some four years ago.
t was seen that provision must be made for
he care Of the poor blacks who came into
ur hands, and small societies were created
o effect this purpose. The first was at New
IoriI, the second at Boston-calIed the New
Educational Sceiety,-and the
bird at Philadelphia-called the Port
Society. Afterwards, as Grant q v
Is victories in the West, freedmen's societies
prang up in Chicago, Cincinnati and the
Vest, and long since they became great and
bodies. Then the necessity of
Inion between these different societies be-
anne apparent, and those of Boston, Eew
Tork, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago
nd elsewhere were partially united, with
general headquarters at Washington.
his quasi union was found to be unimpor-
ant, and a genuine union was anxiously
Various informal propositions
zero made, and finally it was determined
0 organize a grand national association.
Gentlemen from the West said they would
mite with US of the East, and we were glad
undertake the project of a deep, strong,
oAG Tdc national organization. We of the
,ast held preliminary meetings, and Great
d the american Freedmen's Aid Union"
ncluding all local branches from Boston to
'ittsburgh west and Washington south.
movement was tolerably successful,
ct we had not gained what we wanted-A
EAL1Y NATIONAL COMMISSION. Accordingly,
re Ind conference and correspondence with
hen from all parts Of the country, and
lst as we were going to bring the work to a
Ve were requested not to go on until we
ould consult the West more fully. We
the arrival of our friends from the
Vest and then organized the MAmerican