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mcc-jrr_672-035
Austin Groves Cemetery, 67-2 Summary Report, page 35
772 CORRESPONDENCE) ETC. able toachem, ha* ample funds and will do, I trust, I have endeavored to aid it as well as all other similar oro* • though there are about thia Pennsylvania association 2fanUati,W moneyed security and of practicability which in my of it superior to others. One of the teachers whom they have."? by the way, is the widow of the late Colonel Fribley, U S 1 troops. ' ' PUBLIC OPINION. I have stated that when Major Stearns first began his work encountered opposition from prominent loyal Tennesseeans m he Steams, however, received assistance and encouragement from aJor citizens of standing, and with the assistance of these he endeaS to influence pubUc opinion in the State. By persona1 appeal, by public meetings by puNicatitmg in Kipere, he presented this subject to tin p^pfo of this city StAf ajor Stearns' office was full of slave-owners, representing $200,000 worth of slave property that requested the President to dea* full, immediate, and uncompensated emancipation in Tennessee, Two of Major Stearns' agents wore chiefly employed in influencing public opinion. I know these are slight causes, but I cannot but think they had an effect., and were to some extent, instrumental in causing the great revolution in public opinion, patent in the hist year. Whereas some then opposed. I know of no prominent loyal Tennesseean who does not now believe in, advocate, and encourage the raising of colored troops. A few days since a State convention was held here by persons supposed (as Governor Johnson says in an official proclamation} to reflect the will of the Union men in their re"?|Mctivo counties. This convention called on the Governor to enroll and call out the black militia of the State. The Govemor has orders t heir enrobment-, and recentiy hasordered that. in ab cases coming liefore the courts the Wacks shaU be ta-dto be free, a mof^t, swe('ping and thorough edmt of emiinHp^fon, for any stave has only to get before a court. to bo pronounced ^didaUy free and so go ujmiu the records. LABOR. Incidentally to the operations of thta office it may bo mentio that last fall impressment of negroes to labor on fortifications, was frequent. Major Stearns procure tloiis, and he worked faithfully/tho rate of mortality WAR CF IHE REBELLION, OFFICIAL RECORDS OF IHE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES, putiiShed by The Nabana1 Historlcd Society, jettydburg. PA. 1892. Series HL Vd. N. seria1 No. 125. page 772 35 - (2553)