New-York tribune., 1867-04-15
THE SOUTHERN RELIEF FUND.

rHE DTSTITUTION IN THE SOUTHERN SIAlIS-LEl-
1ERs FROM GEN. HOWARD, TIE REBEL GEN
JOHNSTON AND col. PALMER
Further appeal for contributions Is made by the
Southern Famine Relief Commission OF TINS city Ihty
thousand dollars in gold were recently contributed Dy
Calfor a. and tie total receipts reach eCjO0O Nester-
day the following letter from Gen. Howard was received
WAR DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF REFUGEEs,)
FREEDMEN, AND ABANDONED LANDS,
WASHINGTON. April II, 1867.
EDWARD BRIGHT. d. D.. Corresponding Secretary Ia"oi"e
,T. I'm answer to inouiries made through your
Gene raj Agent with regard Southern desttution and
means afforded by Government TO meet IT, inclose
iTcnor ON the subject and will state that arrangements
have been made are in fact in operation for sending
and to the several States where the greatest
II your agents are prompt and faithful as hope they
will be- the dangers Of positive starvation VIII De oov-
atcd Yct it is evident that where destitut0n IS as eX-
tcnsvo ~ is in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama,
something than the means appropriated by me Gov
frnmen and the TeG5 Jo PrIPOiSG pO yS1Ts S1Tuo DC
o. o. HOWARD. MJ.-Gen, Commissioner
LETTER FROM THE REBEL GEN. JOHNSTON.
Extract OF letter Of Gen j. Johnston under date OF
9th April 1867 from Selma Ala, to Mr Louis McLane,
New-Yoh:
..You ask concerning the condition Of this couny-if
such suffering described Ivy the newspaper really
her of the destitute in ali the Southern published
by Gen Howard The best informed here regard IL rs iI
beyond anything ever before imagined in America The
crops the planters failed that few OF them nave t4e
feed reTs aht time, and many Paotaons P .,
will thus be uncutyated this season hear TINS OIteh,
and from such source as to convince me OF the lacV
LETTER OF COL. PALMER.
Col. John b. Palmer who was appointed to distribute
supplies in Lexington District s. c., has written letter
under date Of April 6, from which we quote:
''The corn have received Il commenced issuing last
the very greatest care exercised in the distribution 80
that should only reach the eases OF Si
aud aggravated want that refuse many p iiS
that undoubtedly really meEtoIiouSs anu Miioh
~ have issued this morning to about eighty families
comprising perhaps 400 persons. Tomorrow S lsSue
probably to nearly many more Thls shows Oesuluoh
~ tha most annong character Some OF these poor cea-
lures have come 20 miles, ana nave Deeh Two
themselves to where they might receive the DeheIt o
your bounty. Many however, i've IN my lhiAo""'e
Stricken peope are struggling faithfully to insure
future subsistence Instances have come 10 my khOWF
edge who having lost their horses and mules
and being unable hire others, actually try
ing break up their old fields with hoes in their desper
ate efforts to raise scanty support for their iane
"Two eases of actual starvation have come under my
pess Of am aoed widow and two daughters and, upon
visiting them found the mother and one of the daughters
in the aSonies Of DEATH and credby informed ta
FOR some time their sole subsistence had been the refuse
thrown into the and roads encouraged the sec
Ond daughter by promising assistance ana se recovered
and supported by me till procured her employment
God only knows how many similar cases might pe
searched out in our famished land A.,
al have before letter from widow lady, recently
in auence and whose family name has been associated
with one Of the very highest positions III our country ia
which she makes application for loan to enable her 10
thread and needle store, IN winch employ
daughters She writes 4 have small loaf of bread
in my house, upon which my entire family must dine
We have nothing for supper and our Heavenly Father
only knows where will procure our breakfast tOmor-
row. nave been shown a letter from lady, also re-
duCed from wealth to abject poverty asking II there is
distribution TO OF her class. and stating
that since she and her daughter have barely sup
ported themselves by taking neede-work; but that
great the desttutOn around them, she can pro
PEELED most reluctantly seek relief from public charity.
THE great want viii be experienced within the next
two or three months The wheat crop, when husbandCd
will relieve many, but large number must continue to
suffer tin cOrn which Is the staple, is gathered Any
further assistance you may afford our people VIII be
gratefully acknowledged and remembered"