Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-06
MemorinI on behalf of the Freedmen.

II uluCloiE ACU1 aPPCAASS0
the yearly meetings of the Religious So
ciety of Friends, composed ofthemembers
of said society, residing in the States OF
New York, Vermont Maryland, ONO,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, MINES
Wisconsin, and Michigan, having met, in
the City of Baltimore, o'considerthe pre-
sent condition of the recently liberated
slaves in our country, believe it to be Our
duty respectfully to address this memorial
to you.
1t is, as a religious body, undera solemn
sense of our responsibility to God and
duty to our fellow-men, and not in any
sense as political partisans, that We ad-
dress you. We feel that it Is cause for
reverent gratitude that the terrible and
devastating civil war, which has prevailed
in our beloved country, has been brought
to a close; that the authority Of our ex-
cellent Government has been preserved,
and its blessings continued to US; and that
the system Of slavery has been abolished.
Whilst at these results, it Is our earnest
desire that, as a nation, we may not forget
the lessons of the past but that all the
actions of our Government, more es-
peciRlly those which bear upon the poor
or the defeneeless, may be conceived and
executed with especial reference to the
command Of our Saviour, Whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you do We
even so to them.'6MattAet1 vii, l2.l The
faithful observance in the past, of this in
junction, which is binding upon all
Christians, would have saved the lives of
m~ultitudes of our fellow-citizens, and
millions of treasure. Its faithful observ-
ance in the future will not only heal e1-
isting differences, but ensure the happi-
ness of our citizens and the honor and
dignity of the Nation: for righteous
ness exalteth a nation, but sin is a re-
proach to OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, 34.)
We are induced to express this desire
| from facts respecting the condition ana
treatment Of many of the Freedmen, IN
various parts Of our country, which justl-
fly the belief that, under the name of free
men, they are in. some respects worse
important alleViations to the evils of that
condition. They, like other branches of
the human family, are creatures of habit;
and under that system were, IN g great
measure, relieved from care for the future,
and became, like children, dependant upon
others, and deficient in those habits Of in
dustry and economy which are necessary
to provide against the vicissitudes of civ
iliEed life. Under their new condition
they are thrown upon their own resources,
with none personally interested in their
welfare or that of their children. With
out property, or right to occupy even the
rude /" duarters" in which they formerly
lived-ignorant and improvident = sur
rounded by hostile laws and unjust preju-
dice-many must perish, unless sufficient
provision be promptly made for their pro-
lection and relief. In expressing this be-
lief, we have no doubt that an impartial
history Of the race, both in this and other
| countries, will show that, with the advan-
tages Of education, and opportunity to
practice the arts of civilization, they are
~abundantly able, not only to sup
port themselves, but to contrib
ute their full proportion 10 the
general welfare and prosperity Of the
nation. In Maryland, where emancipa-
ton was effected by statute law some
time before the Presidents Proclamation,
about forty schools were established by
the HMaryland Association for the moral
and Intellectual Improvement Of the
colored people, Of that State. OF these
about one-f0urth have been, within a few
months, broken up; meeting and school
houses have been burned; and teachers
assaulted and driven away. In the States
recently in rebellion, they are subject to
wrongs and outrages, from which they
haveno redress under existing laws, which
were made to Subserve the system OF
slavery. Your memorialists therefore
submit, that, as the Government, "for
its own purposes" changed their condi-
ton, and deprived them Of the care incl
dent to it, and upon which they depended,
it has become bound, by every consider
alton of justice and honor, to assume their
guardianship, and to prevent them from
suffering BY the change. We are glad to
see the subject SO forcibly urged upon
Congress by both the President and Sec
rotary of War. In the opinion of your
aeas%Efaif-t t6t--sf~-- 4 <u-~t y
accomplished by the mere adoption of the
late amendments the Constitution, which
provides for the legal abolition of slavery.
Much of the real and personal property
in the parts of the country in which these
" wards" of the Government live, is, by
reason of the rebellion, subject to forfeit
ure, and the lives of many persons to the
penalties of treason. Andi if it be desir-
| able to restore this property to those who
have incurred its forfeiture, and to pro
claim a general amnesty on their behalf,
it is not less desirable to fulfil the obliga-
tions of the Government towards the peo-
| pie who were their slaves, and whose I'M
repuited toll accumulated much of that
property.
Ii it be a ~self-evident truth-of which
we have no doubt-that the Just powers Of
| the Government are der, we'd from the
consent of the governed, in order to Sc
cure them the rights of life, liberty and
the pursuit Of happiness, it must be
| equally evident that any system Of laws
| of the people are disregarded, is inconsis-
tent with that republican form of gov
eminent which Congress is bound to guar
antee to every State Under the rule
of Christian action above referred to, all
these rights would be c%heerfulIy accorded,
SO far as we should desire them for our
selves; and whilst the elective franchise
should be regulated by the sound disere-
ton of a majority ofthepeople concerned,
we believe that all political distinctions
on account Of color are not only contrary
to this rule, but subversive of the great
principles which lie at the foundation of
our government. Under the same rule, q
course of %jnstice and kindness will be
pursued towards them, and full oppor-
tunity will be given and every assistance
afforded, by the dissemination Of education
and int. ligence, to enable them to rise
from the state of ignorance and degrada-
ton in which slavery has left them.
In the past this nation has enjoyed the
bounties and mercies of the Almighty.
These have often been publicly acknowl-
ed by the highest officers of the Govern
ment. We are still the recipients Of His
favors, and the expectants of His mercy,
both now and in the great hereafter. We
are assured, in solemn language, that what
measure we meet will be measured to US.
Mark iv, 24.) How then can we ask or
expect his mercy if we refuse to accord
justice to eur fellow men, who are chill
dren of the same Almighty parent, and
alike the objects of His love and mercy.
1t is with diffidence that we venture to
urge this subject before Congress; yet we
cannot disregard our W duty in this re-
spect. We doubt not that it is the desire
of Congress to do its whole duty on behalf
of our country, in order to merit the ap-
probation of our common Father, who
holds the universe as in the hollow of His
hand, and who can bless or blight our IN
d~eavors, and ther6is none to call in ques-
ton or arrest His judgments
II Is our prayer in behalf of all the