Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-01-12

lHs FREEDMEN AT EDIsTo, s. C.-We
have already published, in friend Hubbard's
article, touching paragraph concerning these
freedmen, and now we give another. from a
correspondent Of the New York Independent.
Gen. Howard had explained the wishes of the
President. and the freedmen had appointed a
committee Of their own number to report an
answer, after which we read
D" After they went ont, Mr. Alden asked
them to sing one OF their hymns for the Gene
rd, when they commenced, Wandering in
the wilderness in sorrow and gloom, "A very
sad one and very appropriate. At first one
voice was heard, and then one after another
they fell in; and il was very affecting. We
asked the man who sat behind us to sing,
Nobody knows the trouble see : and he
SAID, Use so torn in my mind, cant sing =
but woman on the other side Of the house
began Il, when they all sang, keeping time
with their heads and feet. a, usual.
Judge Whaley address es them in half
jocular manner. He had been pardoned for
what he had done, if be had done any wrong;
he had capital they had labor After he had
spoken, black man arose, and told him.
that, II he were honest in what he said. he
would set off a thousand acres Of bis land for
the children Of the blacks who had suffered
so in slavery.
Another correspondent writes
Meantime, what shall be done with the
silent assembly, whose ferceness flashes from
their eyes like that Of tiger in Jungle?
Judge Whsley talks. No response. The
General proposes that they sing. No esponse.
How shall we sing the Lords song in a
strange land ? BY and by an old man, bowed
with his elbows upon his knees, and his face
upon his hands, in low minor voice began.
One aud another voice dropped in, until the
vast assembly came upon the mOurnful melo-
dy which ran as follows:
While wandering to and TO
In this wide world OF woe,
where streams Of sorrow how
wen camp awhile in the Wilderness
Then we're going home.
When tears o'erAow mine eyes
Then TO the mercy-seat
go my Lord to meet
Wen camp awhile in the wilderness.
Then we're going home
p" The effect was overwhelming the hero
OF many battles could not refrain from tear.
The committee comes in, reports that thew
are willing to give up the land, but that they
wish either to ease or buy the lands. and will
not come so near the old relation of slavery
rs 70 Dc employed by their former mAsters.-
The assembly indorses by sullen .ie,ee II
bursting sobs and grosns. Meeting breaks
up The Judge tries to beckon his late be-
loved people to him. They hold back. He
gets one man by the hand. why, don't Won
know me, Jscki' After valiant stare and
one or two noes, he answers, Il used N
know YOU. But, Of his hundred ex.slayss
only hall dozen of the raggedest and most
ioriorn OF women are drawn out TO shake
hands and twitter their obsequiousness.-
ihe Judge goes home, calls together his eli
ehts' whose hundred ttousand acres he rem.
fesens the next day reports that the plan
ers viii yield the matter Of employment, and
lease or sell the lands"
The result, it seems. was that the freedmen
are TO remain on the land, the owners enesg.
Ing to sell or lease to them