Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-03-19
AN APPEAL FOR HELP,
For the Starving Sufferers of the South.

AT the Public Meeting held in Charles
town, on Saturday last, the undersigned we're
appointed as Committee to prepare an Ap-
peal, to our more favored people, for contribu-
tons to relieve our countrymen in the South
now suffering from want. We feel that we
can best perform this duty by brief states
ment of the facts, which show that extreme
suffering exists, part of which it is in our
power to relieve, in order to call forth prompt
and earnest action. 1t is generally known
and undoubtedly true that when Gen Johns
ston surrendered, and the war ceased in Geor-
g'". Alabama aud South Carolina, in May,
1868, Immediately after Tie ravagcs of Gen.
Sherman's army, it was too late to plant corn.
After the little that had been planted ma
tured, an impoverished people struggled
through the ensuing year, having hardly
suthciency to support their population until
the next crop became available. The year
1866, after being very wet in the winter, was
one of remarkable drought. The drought
was so severe as TO cause general failure of
the corn crop-in themselves. many localities
not producing seed. According to the care
fully prepared estimates of the Agricultural
Bureau, published several months since, the
corn crop of South Carolina was only three
tiiths of the very small crop of 1865 The
cotton crop was also injured to such an ex-
teUt that 1t does not afford means to purchase
supplies. The inevitable result has been that
much suffering has already been endured
some have actually starved to death, and
gauut famine is now pressing upon large nor
tons of these States. Of the truth of this
statement and the extent of this terrible suf-
fcring, We have abundant proof in official re-
ports, and from private sources known to
members Of your committee to be above sus-
plclOD, With whom there can be no reason for
deception. We cannot quote all these, as 10
do SO would make our statement too long
We give some briefly. The report of Gen.
Howard, sent to the U. s. Senate, states from
official sources, confirmed by others, he esti
mates that So $50 persons will need food from
some source before the next crop relieves
them. This was evidently an under estimate,
probably including only those who have made
application to the Freedmen's Bureau, since
he estimates Georgia having but 5000
that need aid while the Governor of Georgia
telegraphs that the destitute in that State
number 10000 whites and 80 900 blacks
Gov. Orr, Of South Carolina has written 10
the secretary of the Southern Famine Relief
Commission Of New Y ork, that 500, GOO bush
els Of corn are estimated to be needed to feed
the people, over and above all that can be
obtained within The State. The Legislature
OF South Carolina has tried to raise $500, 600
to- buy corn, but could not sell their bonds.
The Governor Of Alabama has made similar
statements.
Rev. j. Leighton Wilson, D. D., one of
the most hon0rcd and trustworthy men in the
Presbyterian Church, writes from South Car
DINA, March I'd: "Since making tour of
100 miles through the heart OF this State, |
have come to the conclusion that the distress
OF the people is unpreccdentedly great. Ma
ny of our people are destitute, and without
credit to get the means of subsistence. This
distress is not confined to any one section of
the State, but prevails to a greater or less cx-
tent in every portion of it. a goodly num-
Der have raised cotton enough to purchase
food, but the greater mass ct'thc people hare
neither cotton, money, nor credit to Guy tie
food necessary TO prcrcnf their /1atiHcs fran,
actual STARVATION" After showing that
the distress is beyond their power to relieve
it, he says that several hundred thousand
| bushels of corn will be required to relieve the
distress in South Carolina alone" We have
| also we'll authenticated instances Of actual
! death from starvation before the first of
| March.
a letter to DR.. W, which he has published
says: = L have seen, sir, on many of the bit
tcTcst days Of our severe winter Just past,
ieebie- women, wan with starvation, walk ten,
fifteen and twenty miles, scantily covered with
rsgs, with their babies in their arms, to re-
ccive half bushel Of corn, which they arc
thankful to be able to carry home to their
starving Children"
We might go on adding proof TO proof :;
but we think tic above sufficient to satisfy
you, as 1t does us, that very alarming and
terrible state Of desttuton exists in the
South-so great that actual starvation must
oVertake nlany-sO great number, in truth
being in want, that the contributions of both
Government and people will probably fail to
supply more than Ian the need. Many of
these people, too, are the very best people Of
the land who have been reduced to want by
tie war. Many arc the widows and clildren
OF those who came to help Virginia in her
hour OF need, and whose bones sleep beneath
her soil. These are startling truths, and we
who have had cur prayers for daily bread an
swercd so abundant!y that We have never
known the fear of want, can hardly realize
their meaning; but we appeal to you to con-
slider, ponder and act upon them We're
there but few actually starving, it would
show that there were great many pinched
by want; but now many are starving and we
should realize, as the Ndtionu! Inte!li1enccr
states, that Poverty sits by the freside of
most Southern homes and the cry for bread
comes up from furnishing lips" We cannot
hope to relieve all. but we know that what
We may give will relieve actual ,cumt; and
we appeal to each and every one whon we
can reach by this, our most urgent call, to
join us in the effort to supply bread in re-
Spouse to this furnishing cry. We hope that
in determining how much you will give, each
Of you will so in thought into these poverty
stricken homcs-wil think Of the corroding,
heart s;ckening care-the prolonged, helpless
agony Of these parents unable to give their
children the bread for which they unceas-
lng " ask-wil think of the gnawing paugs