The Portland daily press., 1866-12-08
First AWaaaj Repsri OF the sseretsry Of
the Portland Frecdnis1's Aid
Association.


efficiency by consolidation and cooperation,
and greatly extended their operations both i'll
awakening the people of the North to a just
sense OF the Importance OF the work they have
undertaken and in expanding their enlarged
contribution in the education of the freedmen
of the South The record of the educatonal
operations OF the year has not been one ol UNI
form success While there have been scenes
of outrage and brutality burning OF school
houses and churches, persecution of male and
female teachers, murders and massacres of in
offensive freedmen, all disclosing the essential
barbarism which the long practice of slave
holding has made the type of national charac-
ter in large section of our country there have
been unexpected exhibitions of liberality and
humanity in other quarters to encourage and
help on the work of civilization and pacifica-
ton. AS general thing the religious denomi-
nations of the South have not only sanctioned
but aided the efforts OF the Freedmen's Aid So
cieties to instruct the people lately in slavery
Many enlightened planters have seen their
best interest In promoting the education OF
their hired laborers so as to render their labor
more valuable and their conduct as citizens
more blameless. 0 sE ++
A more hostile feeling in the large mass OF
the southern people, partly relic OF slavery,
partly the bitter chagrin and hatred grown out
OF an unsuccessful and not thoroughly punish
ed rebellion, has been kept to some extent In
check by the Freedinens Bureau, supported
by he sanctions of the Civil Rights Act, and
the strong arm of military force wisely main
tanned in the disafected region.
OF course the task of carrying the simplest
elements of knowledge in the spelling book
and reader to the children of degraded peo-
ple in the midst of the hatred of caste and the
antipathy of one barbarOus race for another
has been anything but agreeable. 1t is a work
that has no attractions but for rare and heroic
souls Only such men and women as would
make themselves martyrs for the testimony to a
great truth, or heroes to lead their age in some
upward struggle for freedom and progress. offer
themselves for such labors and sacrifices Moth
, ing has happened it is safe to say, during the
past year to daunt or turn back spirits like
over the dreary battle fields of the South
Co pour the oil of fraternal charity into the
wounds of war. There has never vet, be-
heve, been an accumulation of funds in any of
our treasures, because there have been no he
role women ready TO leave the refinements of
New England homes to brave the perils of a sui
try climate, and the prejudices, threats and
violence of unfriendly people in trying to ele-
yate hated and oppressed race to such
knowledge of their rights and duties as shall
exact from all other men recognition of their
equal humanity.
Soon after the organization of the Portland
Freedmen's Aid Association, its Executive
Committee and other officers went to work to
raise funds to enable it to undertake its lust
share of the honor and toll of the great work
OF converting into valuable citizens a race of
emancipated slaves. There were local organi-
zations IN ald OF the Sanitary and Christian
close of the war with unexpended funds
These, amounting to $500 from each society.
they were readily induced to contribute to our
treasury The young ladies' society, called
RI. f., that had sprung into existence to aid
the charities OF the great war, not only gave
us their funds, but continued and ever increas-
ed their activities in adding largely to the
same, contributing in all The sum of 1925.
The churches and clergy generally aided and
encouraged our enterprise and several of the
religious parishes had anticipated us in can
wasting their own pews, and engaging and
sending out teachers to the field. Late in the
winter a fair was projected, and was most en-
ergeticaly, tastefully and literally planned
and conducted by the various committees of
ladies and gentlemen connected with all the
different religious societies, and both the lead
, ing political parties, to whom the management
of it had been committed.
We have to congratulate ourselves at the
good feeling and zeal with which the peonle of
Portland, almost as a whole community and in
che almost complete absence of sectarian pref
udiee, entered upon this noble enterprise The
work was not only good in its end, but effected
good in its progress in bringing together into
the most cordial relations, calculated to beoet
mutual respect our best people, too much ac-
customed to social connections and benevolent
efforts within the close circle of an exclusive
party, sect or clique. The proceeds of the fair
paid into our treasury was $1316029 We re-
ceived from a society in Westbrook $14S75
and from Otisfeld $l7.00. Liberal donations
taken up in State, Park and Chestnut street
churches ana the First Parish, perhaps in some
other parishes, that have not come into our
treasury.
From all these sources the revenue derived
for she uses of our society, was more than
$4,000. Considering this, the fruits of our eff
fort in single city of only 10000 inhabitants
for period of only six months, it is apparent
that our success has not been equa1led by
another society in the country AT the close
enthusiastic Of fha Not mol
Freedmeas Union Commission in New York,
the other day, it was resolved to raise in New
York and vicinity 100000 for the education of
the freedmen But New York and vicinity
embraces population of not less than a mil
lion or thirty three times the population of
Portland. Should the wealthy city OF New
York contribute TO the education of the freed
men in the proportion that Portland did last
year, she would raise not 100000 but more
than $500 900.
By the time this fund came into our treasu-
~ the season was too far advanced for any new
schools to be established. The older children
were leaving the schools and going to labor
upon the plantations. In most parts of the
South it was deemed unsafe to peril the lives of
our teachers by keeping schools open during
the summer months. We were advised by the
officers of societies that had more experience
than we, to Withhold our funds till the opening
of another season.
The engagements made with our own teach
ers and those we had adopted, however, were
promptly met. Thirty-five hundred dollars
nas been expended up to the present time in
paying the salaries of these. One thousand
dollars was sent to the Hon. John LYNCH last
March, In response to a most moving call for
succor to the unclothed and starving poor of
W ashington city, fugitives from every part of
the South during the war. Five thousand dol
lars was advanced to the National Freedmen's
Union Commission, to be expended by them in
paying expenses of schools under their SUPER
vision, and to be reimbursed to us upon call for
taachprS fof
this has since been repaid and the balance will
soon be drawn upon. Five hundred dollars
was advanced to the society of the ladies of |
Portland to purchase materials for work to he |
disposed of afterwards for the benefit of the |
general objects of the society. The account of |
Hon. j. L. McCobb, the Treasurer shows |
81 2l 63 was left in deposits on interest to be
used for prosecuting vigorously during the |
now opening season the work of continuing |
and multiplying our schools in the South
The number of teachers supported by our So |
ciety during the past year is twelve--ten fe- |
males and two males. Some of these were
sent out at the beginning of the school year,
Oct !, 1865 others in the spring of 1866. The
sum of $500, which has been paid out of the |
funds of the society, for the support of the |
teachers, will pay their salaries up to July l,
1856, the end of the school year. Our teachers |
have, with the exception of two, been found |
competent and faithful. These two have been |
withdrawn from the field and others substitute, |
ed in their places. On the LIST Of October, 1866,
w SehV 1hI sa"o hummer Vi UeacnerS INTO the
field, and the funds in our treasury will enable |
IFS to support them during the coming wear.
One or two more teachers whose expenses are |
partly paid from other sources will probably be
sent in few days nH Ilge
The foresight of collecting so large fund
was even wiser than we knew, for the occur
renee of the great calamity that fell so sudden
ly upon the city of Portland the memorable
night of July 4th, 1866, necessarily turned our
benevolent solicitude and helpfulness in an
other direction nearer home. Very many of
our citizens whose generous hands had con-
trlbuted to aid every local and general charity,
whose large gifts were already in our treasury
by the losses of single night, were made them
selves the objects of charity Others have been |
obliged to slip down from the category of large |
gains, and to devote perhaps the rest of their |
pendeuce; and from those whose means have |
not been consumed in the confagration, the |
claims of naighbors made houseless fIving from