The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-05-03
Awful!
NrvTTya OF M CoLoRED People

MEETING OF THE COLORED PEOPLE
LAST EvES1Se.- by Officers
of Tie FFeedms.Rs BureGu.-GeneraI
Charles H. Howard, Assistant Commits
sioner Of the Freedmen's Bureau for
this Department, Rev. Mr.. Kinball,
Superintendent Of Schools and Marri-
ages, and Col. Raymond, OF Gen. How
ards staff, arrived in this city last eve
ming, and addressed the eolored people
of Wheeling last night at the Colored
Church, uhe old City Hall in the Mar
ket House). No previous notice had
been given, bat IT happening to be regu-
lar prayer meeting night, a large crowd
of colofed people of both sexes, proba-
bly, hundred and hfty In all, were
present.
opened by Rev. MI. KimbaIf with
prayer, and were tnterspersed with
singing between the addresses.
Mr.. Kimball made some introductory
remarks, explanatory of the general
character and objects OF the Freedmens'
Bureau. he said the number of color
ed children in the schools established
by the Bureau in this District (which
comprises the District OF COIum-
bia' West Virginia and six
counties of Maryland) was over six
thousand. Tie Bureau had recently
purchased, he said, a hundred and fifty
acres of land near Washington City,
and had there founded an University
for the instruction Of the cOlored people
Of both sexes. This institution Is to be
made complete In all its departments,
and equal TO other similar institutions
throughout the country. 1t Is to have
its regular departments for instruction
In medicine, philosophy, literature, gem
eral science, Theology, &c. 1t is called
the Howard University, in honor of
General o. o. Howard.
Mr.. kimball was followed by Gen.
Howard, who said he must cOngratu-
late the colored people OF Wheeling on
their prosperous condition, and the
respect in which they were gem
orally and deservingly held by the
dominant race. He spoke somewhat
at length concerning the designs and
purposes contemplated by the Bureau
which was to assist the colOred people
to become independent and seff-sup-
porting, useful and intelligent men and
women. He advised them to seek EN-
ployment in all departments of trade
and every branch OF business; to seek
10 excel in whatever they undertook;
10 avoid the use Of intoxicating liquors;
to be temperate, frugal and dIlIgenI.
He disclaimed any profession of great
er love for the black man than for
the white man, but regarded
the black man as "a man,
entitled to just AS much in point or
natural rights as the white man; and
whose circumstances gave him claim
10 greater protection until he should
hnRnN1n a DIn IN those ~ nd
secure respect for them on his own ac-
count. He advised them to do nothing
to mar the harmony existing between
the two races here; and he hoped as
soon as they demonstrated by their
conduct that they were lifted for the
elective franchise, it would be accorded
to them. he wanted them to have an
ambition TO do something to benefit and
elevate their race. He suggested the
establishment of night schools for
their educatfOu; and said that
FFeedmen's Savings Banks had been es-
tablished in nearly all the Southern
States, in which deposits had been made
during the past year amounting TO up
ward of a million of dollars. He adj
vised them all to lay by their savings
regularly; to be temperate, industrious
and saving; and when they could not
get such wages as would enable them
to put by something each day
or week, to quit that employ
ment and try something else.
Col. Raymond followed, and was
speaking at the time our reporter left.
The addresses were listened TO with u
greatdeal OF interest, aud cannot fail to
have a beneficial effect in encouraging
oar cOlored people to aspire and labor
for that position of respect in the COM
muntty to which their thrift and gener.
al good behavior is fast emitting Them.