Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-01-27

noverty. and distress. old age, and inhrmity, but
permit me 70 say, that even then, do Dol oeileve
the pictures would be over drawn, II the saddest
day ever scou iu Wilmington Ia regard to poverty,
and destitutlon were multiplied by ten, doubt If
the reality seen In the streets and back alleys Oh
the Capital Of the nation could be equaled. Con-
gress has done and Is still doing mucn, out ont-
side of all this, there 10 monstrous SUFFERING Win
the old freedmen and women, going about the
streets which la too great to expect the citizens 70
relieve. By Invitation l called few days ago ~
the house OF Mrs. Grfing, 1874 Capitol street. sue
Is one OF tho agents authorized by Congress 70 us
tribute TO those outsiders. She had last year oo;
600 dollars vt her disposal which she reports an
expended, except 200 dollars. On my arrival ner
house was crowded, outside aud In by feeble
worn ont slaves; II was with difficulty conlu
reach the door; inside found Mrs. Griihng win
three assistants, busy distributing such as mats,
old coats, pants, meat, tea, and coiiee, NC When
these were let out another lot OF or were au-
mitted. which continued for feur hours, and when
/ left, some 10 or 10 were sill waiting tiicir
turn in the cold. Rachel VI. Townsend aud her
husband had called there few days previous,
and witnessed the sad situation OF those people
aud the great desttution that prevailed there,nnd
amer their return to Philadelphia they sent several
boxes of clothlug for the destitute NOW icy me
propose that some twelve or twenty OF my VIII
miugton friends get up one or two,or, II possible,
five boxes of clothing, and send on here; cast oil
clothing will I've thankfully rcccived.o OF every size,
shape or condition, that can be applied TO keep
the human frame warm, and forward them 10
Mrs GrifiiUg, and rest assured they viii be wisely
disposed of. visited the Howard University and
Government Hospital, both on a large scale. The
hospital had near five hundred inmates OF old,
lame and helpless freedmen. will now leave
the subject after saying there ia not one day to be
lost. Mrs Gritiing told me that one hundred
beds and one thousand blankets could be put to
immediate use and add greatly 10 the comfort OF
those destitute people.
president Grant in his late message gave the
gratifying opinion that tho National debt might
be cancelled in ten years. Now,t this Is possible,
which / do noy doubt, then let me ask IL ever
such unprecedented prosperity fell to the lot OF
any people, since the beginning. Then should
the general government manifest its gratitude t.
the author OF their prosperity, and their phian-
thropy on behalf of sutlerlog humanity, and
declare that they will freely remain in debt one
year longer, and devote the income of the Nation
Tor one year 10 smoothing the passage OF thost
homeless freedmen to the grave, aud also for the
education OF the colored youth for the next Ter
years
-" Any person disposed to aid these suffering
freed people, either by isoncy or cast of clothing
my send the same to Thomas Garrett, No. 22i
SIMPLIFY street, who will SCI that all is properl,
forwarded To Josephine s. dflfliug, who is author
| Aed by Congress to attend To the distribution o
food and clothing for the destitute ireedmen.