The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-05-21
Maine Freedmen's Relief Society.
PORTLAND

a brief and imperfect account of the meeting
at Augusta 1t was the best we could get at
the time. We now present fuller and more
interesting account of the meeting for which
we are principally indebted to the KenEebec
Journal.
A meeting of the State Freedmens associa-
tion was held on Tuesday afternoon at the
Governors SOON in the State House, at the
request of Rev. Mr.. Chaplin, Secretary of the
New Eng land Association, representing the
Rev. Mr.. Abbott Secretary of the Union Aid
Commission. Members of the Bangor and
Portland auxiliary societies were present, as
also Rev. Mr.. King, general agent OF the State
society. Gov. Cony, President OF the State
society presided.
Rev. Mr.. Chaplin stated the object of his
meeting with them. The present position of
the Maine State association is an anon alous
one. 1t is neither an entirely independent as
ISOLATION, nor is it a branch of any, though it
works through the New York, or as it is call
ed. the National Branch. In the assignment
offelds on the consolidation Of the different
Frecdmens Aid organizations, Connecticut
was assigned to NeT York, for various rea-
sons, while Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Vermont and Rhode Island were given to the
New England Association. Maine alone of
New England was not attached to either. 1t
was believed that the work could be done
much more efficiently if the State Society was
attached to one or the other. He had learn
ed before coming here that neither Portland
nor the Bangor societies considered them
selves auxiliary to the State Society, and that
they did not report to the State Society. He
had since learned that this was mistake
He read letter from Mr.. Abbott asking him
to come to Maine and request the society to
choose its relations, and the object of this
meeting was to see what action the society
would take with reference to this matter.
Hon. G. F. Talbot of the Portland society
explained that the society had not been in ex-
istence long enough to report, but they were
glad to be auxiliary to the State Society and
would report to it.
Rev. Mr.. King, agent of the State society,
gave ICdoOuo why TIC AooOCidllOA ouOulu COu-
tinue in its present relations. He stated the
circumstances Of the formation of the society,
and the success which had attended it. With
in the past twelve months the State of Maine
has raised $4,000, more in proportion to her
valuation than any other State in the Union.
No other came very near to it. -Four times it
has sent out urgent appeals. 1t had induced
Gen. Howard to make speech in Augusta
on the subject of the Freedmen, had it report
ed, and published in the papers of this and
other States, so that it has been circulated by
hundreds of thousands. Maine has twenty
nine agents in the field either as Superinten-
dents or teachers, many of them at posts of
honor, and all in positions of usefulness. A
portion of these have their salaries paid to the
New York Society in advance even to next
connects itself with any other as proposed, the
teachers become separated or transferred, and
he thought for the pride of Maine they ought
to DO left where they are. Government hav-
ing discontinued furnishing rations and trans
portation, the salaries and expenses of the
teachers are necessarily increased. He had
made arrangements for the gratuituous trans
portation for each and every organization in
the State from Portland to New York, which
he estimated to be worth thousand dollars
year. If the society connects itself with the
New England branch, teachers will be expect.
ed to go to New York by way of Boston at an
increased expense. There are now five relig-
ious denominations which have societies at
work in the field. The demands of these de-
nominational societies are very heavy and the
people mean to meet them. and they will also
help the general associations if the appeal is
urgent. The greatest power for this purpose,
he thought, was the use of the names of the
best and most eminent men in the State as
officers and sponsors of the State society.
After considerable discussion, which was
participated in by Ex-Gov. Washburn, Hon.
G. F. Talbot, Rev. Mr.. Battles, Hon. N. G.
Hichborn, Gov. Cony and j. L. Stevens ESQ.,,
it was voted on motion of Hon. G. f. Talbot
to appoint committee to take the subjects
discussed under consideration.
At an adjourned meeting on Wednesday
morning, the committee reported plan which
principal points,
l. That the State organization be contin-
ued and extended, by the appointment of sew
eral additional agents.
2. That the present relation of the State
organization with the New York ("National")
branch be continued.
3. That convention be called at an early
day to further perfect and extend the organi-
cation OF the Stale Society.
Hon. N. G. Hchborn, the Treasurer of the
State Society, made report of the financial
doings and condition of the State Society,
which is highly encouraging and showed that
the accounts had been very carefully kept and
the working operations of the State Agent
are highly effective.
1t seems to us that the position of the State
Society will not seem very strange, when it is
known that it is and has been from the COM
mencement auxiliary to the New York Ma
tional Freedmen's Relief Association.
We understand that some of our teachers
by the National Association.
The amount of money reported to have
been raised in the State is exclusive of cash
expended for the purchase of goods to be
made into clothing. We are especially happy
TO say that there are some $4,000 or $4,000
IN the tllf' to be expended the coming year.
Societies are in process of organization in
some OF our larger towns and moneys are be-
ing raised for the support of teachers. It is
hoped that we shall be able to sustain at least
forty teachers next year, exclusive of those
from the State who have been supported bv
the National Society.
Feeling assured that Maine is the banner
State in the Freedmen's cause, we think there
is a pretty general feeling that we will "let
well enough alone" and continue to conduct
our own business as we have been doing.