The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-03-07
From The Columbus lnurna.

Inc Executive Committee appoint
ed by the Southern Relief Association
in New York. has issued a Circular
presenting general statement of the
necessities OF the Southern people
and the plan adopted for their relief
The Committee have counseled with
the War Department and the Freed.
mems Bureau, and have obtained in.
formation from correspondents known
to the mem bers of the Committee, and
other. entirely trustworthy sources;
and they are satisfied that 'destitution
more or less severe exists, throughout
tho territory between the Atlantic
coast and tho Mississippi river.
In addition to the effects of the war
there has been failure of crops. On
account Of the scarcity of labor, but
little ground was planted, and drought
and other causes had prevented sue.
cess even where the effort had been
made. 1t is safe TO say that less than
one quarter of the usual crop has been
produced. The result has been a state
Of famine, which must increase in se-
verify until there is time for another
crop.
Among tho destitute there are thou
sands of women and children, chiefly
OF the most ignorant class, who have
been deprived of their natural pro-
tectors by the rebellion, and who
would not now be living, but for the
charity Of their little less unfortunate
neighbors. There is no room for
doubt that they must die for want of
food unless they arc supplied from
without.
The planters are in many cases or
ganlzing measures to mitigate the suf
fcring, and the Freedmen's Bureau is
doing much among those who are
properly deemed to be, for the time
being, under the special guardianship
OF the National Governments but there
is no prospect that, with all that will
be thus done, there will not remain
many thousands unprovided for.
What is wanted ia merely the bar.
est means OF sustenance for human
beings, and the form in which this can
be supplied most chcaply, and with
the least liability to waste or misuse,
is that of Indian corn. The Commits.
sion, therefore, propose to devote the
funds with which they may be in
trusted by their fellow. citizens, to the
purchase, transportation, and distri.
button of this article. Tho Commits.
sion has already shipped thirty thou
sand bushels of corn, and the whole
enst of it, delivered. Transportation
free, at different points in tho dcsti.
tule region, has been, on an average,
less than eighty cents q bushol Each
bushel may be expected to maintain a
family, in extremity for week.
In view of the circumstances the
committee appeal to the generosity of
the people OF the North, and recon.
mended the formation of neighbor.
hood associations and the solicitation
OF contributions for the purpose, either
in money, clothing, or provisions -
They urge that the duty of giving
bread to those who lack it, in this in.
stance, il pre-eminently u Christian
duty for us Of tho North, and the
Commission suggest to ministers and
church officers that they seek to i'm. !
press ii upon their congregations with
earnestness and zeal
They add +: "Tho emergency is too
imminent To- admit Of the organiza.
tion OF well,6ued machinery of coop.
Grafton c)mpreheuding all that part
OF the nation which is blessed with
plenty, and the Commission, being ad
vlsed that organizations having tho
same purpose with its own arc already
organized or arc contemplated in the
principal cities Of tho West, recon.
mended that agencies thus establish.
cd be made use Of by that portion of |
the public which is in most direct
communication with them. Should
similar agencies be established at any
other of Tho Atlantic ports at an early |
day, the samo advice would apply, and |
the Commission suggests that u Com.
mllteo Of Conference from all the or.
ganlSations which deal directly with
the South shall meet tor tho purpose of
arrangements TO secure a
fair division OF all contributions among
the different parts of the region ai.
flictcd."
The Circular closes as follows:
The Commission believes that, with
no exception OF tho slightest signf.
cance, the whole people OF Tho North
most sincerely desire the restoration
OF substantial peace, civil rights, To-
cal self government, commercial pros
pority, aud happiness to all the people
OF the South. But II also believes that
u is the fixed conviction Of majority
Of the intelligent people of the North, l.
that tho only sufficient guaranty Tor
permanent peace and prosperity in
our country must be found in an un.
qualified security, for all men, in the
exercise OF their natural rights as de-
lined by tho Declaration OF our exist.
inee as an independents nation. The
Commission believes il to be nocessa-
ry, to secure the confidence OF tho pub.
Ilc, to express It's respect for these
views, and to give its assurance that
Ils agency can in no way be used to es.
lablish in the minds of tho people of
Tho South an Impression that those
who are most ready to aid them in
this distress are influenced by any (
sympathy with their past or present
political views.
The names of tho officers of the