Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-04-22
Correspondence ofM Vermont Phanir.
LETTER FROM FLORED.s.

JACKSONVILLE. FLA, April 4, 1870.
Today, for the first time in the history Of
this city, the municipal election has been
carried by the Republican party. Captain
Peter Jonos-who, during two years Of the
rebellion, carried, in the vessel he COM
mandod, munitions of war for Union
troops, meanwhile suffering frequent bonn
bardment from rebel batteries-was elected
mayor of this city, April 4, 1870. But why
is it that we hear such news Of the elections
in Hartford, New Haven and New York;
Standing, as these cities have ever stood, in
the blazing light of freedom, why is 1t that
the elections show determination TO sus-
tain the rotten carcass of population, ma
tional dishonor and the dark ages9 The
answer comes from the pig-headed element
dominant in those cities-from which may
God deliver the South. "An' wud yer
have yer dawter marry Nagur?"
Notwithstanding old prejudices and op.
position to the spirit of the age generated
during the long, dark night of slavery, the
cause of the true and the right is more
hopeful here than in New York. Freedom
is now gaining victories here as impor ant
as any yet gained by shot and shell ON
bloody fields. The Southern mind has
been slow and reluctant 10 receive the
truth as taught by "the great Jehovah and
Continental Congress- we'll nigh one bun-
dred years ago, and three generations have
gone down to the dust in apparent igno-
| rance or indifference to the sentiments
contained i'm the declaration of 10
The first free school in this city, attended
by white children, commenced in Deem
Der, 1863. There was much opposition and
but two or three scholars attended the first
week, but now, we learn, over one hun
dred children attend this school. TIE large
school house erected here by government
for the education of the freedmen, is well
} filled every Sabbath afternoon by colored
children and ladies and gentlemen from
abroad. The meetings commence at two
o'clock, p. NJ. Several hundred children
) are here instructed, on the Sabbath, mainly
by northern visitors. These children give
evidence that they are making rapid prog
| ress. At one of these sessions the superin-
tendent Mr.. Coan, said: "Can any of these
girls or boys recite verse from Scripture
containing the word mother?" More than
= dozen volunteers. Some of not over ten
>
separately, different passage containing
the word. Several other words were given
out by the superintendent with the same
= result. After singing and other exercises
which would DO considered creditablo per.
formances by children Of equal ages any
5 where or of any color, visitors were invited
to address the children or ask them ques
tions. Professional gentlemen from Mas
sachusetts, New York, ETC., accepted tn,
invitation. Every Sabbath there is new
set of speakers who have come from vari
Gus parts of the Union. The varied cul
ture, style and sentiments Of the speak err
render this department of the exercises at
tractive, exceedingly pleasant and instrue
tive. One of the veteran editors of til,
New York Tribune, Scion Robinson Esq.
is greatly interested in these efforts in be.
half of the colored children. His tall ven.
cradle form, long white flowing hair and
piercing eye, can always be seen on these
occasions. His exhortations and sugges-
tons give evidence of much thought and
commendable feeling in relation to this
matter H.