The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-03-06
"FANINE AT HOME -

charity for the needy, in the promotion
and formation of humane Societies to
provide for suffering mankind, the
American People, to-day, must realize
that the great receptacle OF their cheer
ful and voluntary bounty is their own
country, The poor and INDECENT of our
own land demand priority OF Hungary,
Crete or the downrodlen of Erin -
Ameiica poverty calls tor the uulooslng
OF American purse strings,
Under the above caption we have re-
ceived the following circular, which we
commend to benevolent hearts in our
midst:
New YORK, January IS, 1867.
REroRrs Of extreme destitution in a
part of our country led. three weeks
since, to public meeting, at which Il
body of citizens were charged with the
duty Of ascertaining the f,cts in tae case,
and, if occasion should be found, Of de-
vising and establishing an agency for
the conveyance Of relief to those in
need, from all no, prompted solely by
compassion for suffering fellow-men,
might be disposed to make Use Of it -
The Commission thus established has
since been organized. and diligently en-
gagged in its duty, 1t has secured spe
ciic ahd trustworthy information by
telegraph and letter from correspondents
who are known to its members to be
men of probi,y and sagaclty, and by the
examination OF witr esses who have res
Gently come from the South, several of
whom had made personal study cf
matters with regard to which the Conn
mission has been most concerned to be
well advised. Consultations have also
been had with the War Department and
the Freedmen's Bureau, and other meas
ures taken to satisfy the Commission IS
to the occasion for the proposed under.
taking and the best means of accom-
plishing 1t and after extended discus
sion, and much earnest deliberation, the
conclusions which are embodied below
have been reached.
First That in that part of our coun-
try which lies between tho ridges OF the
mountains and the naylgable waters OF
the larger rivers flowing through the
cotton-producing districts east OF the
Mississippi, an extraordinary drought
prevailed last summer, and that, owing
to conditions resulting from the late
rebellion, much less ground than usual
was planted, while Its ullage was eXtre-
mely imperfect. These three circum-
stances, everywhere acJing more or less
together, account for the fact, that in
many neighborhoods less than one
quarter of the usual crops were harvest-
ed, and that, on an average, the pro-
duction Of food amounted to not more
than one,half as much as was required
TOR the sustenance of the lnhabltant:
during the succeeding year. a state OF
famine has resulted which must increase
in severity with every day that passes
until June, when green corn Of the new
crop may be hoped to present means
sustenance. Among the destitute there
rs many thousands Of women and chill
dren, chiefly of the most ignorant class,
who have been deprived by the REBEL
ion of their natural protectors, and who
would not now be living bat for the
charity of their little less unfortunate
neighbors. There is no room for doubt
that many must die from want of food,
unless it is brought into the region af-
ilcted, from without; and the general
poverty of the inhabitants is such that
no considerable commercial demand can
be expected. Large planters have rever
occupied this region, ,ani here was, even
before the rebellion, but little accumula.
ted property in it.
Second, Owing to similar causes, ii
tho greater part Of the seaboard country
the destitutlon. though less general, i,
Also great and appalling, Tho PLANTER,
are In many cases organizing measures
to mitigate its severity, and the Freed,
mems Bureau is doing much among
those who are properly deeaea 10 be-
for the time being, under the special
guardianship of the National Govern,
ment; but there is no prospect that,
with all that will be thus done, there
will not remain many thousands unpro.
vided for,
7hrd. What is wanted is merely the
barest means of sustenance for human
beings, and the form in which this can
be supplied most cheaply, 9ud with the
least liability to waste Or misuse, is that
of Indian corn. The Commission, there.
fore, propose to devote the funds with
which they may be intrusted by their
fellow.cillzens TO the purchase, trans
portatlon, and distribution Of this article.
The Commission has already shipped
twenty thousand bushels OF corn, and
the whole cost OF it delivered, transport
tation free, at different pointsn the
destitute region has been, on an ave>
rage, less that eighty cents bushel,
Each bushel may be expected to mains
tain family In extremity for week
Fourth, The Commission believes
that the advantages it possesses for the
economical purchase and transportation
Of corn, chiefly owing to tie special and
gratuitous instrumentalities placed at its
disposal, are such that the most valuable
form of contributions will be that OF
money.
Efh. Contributions IN the form OF
corn or other breadstutfs, bacon and
other cured meats and fish, will be res
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