J. R. Shipherd to Richard Yates

Boxes of Clothing should be marked "Northwestern Freedmen's Aid Commission, 86 Washington St., Chicago, Ills. The name of the place from which each box comes, should also be plainly marked upon it. Duplicate invoices of contents should be made - one copy to be placed in the box, and the other to be sent by mail to "Rev. J. R. Shipherd, Cor. Sec., P. O. Box 4,617, Chicago, Ill." All moneys should be sent to the Treasurer, and all correspondence not pertaining to the Treasury, should be addressed to the Corresponding Secretary as above.

Northwestern Freedmen's Aid Commission,

Rooms, 86 Washington Street,

Chicago, Oct 14th 1864.

Hon. J. M. Wilson, President.

Rev. J. R. Shipherd, Corresponding Sec'y.

John V. Farwell, Treasurer.

To His Excellency

Hon Richard Yates

Springfield Ill

My dear Sir,

Mrs I. S. Griffing has placed in my hands the enclosed document, which she has perhaps already submitted to your criticism, at the suggestion of the President and with the approval of the Secretary of War, as I learn, she requests that your Excellency should put forth in some appropriate form an appeal to the people of this State, to give attention to the condition of the National Freedmen, and to concert with the least convienent delay efficient measures for thier relief.

Prominent among these measures it is thought should be organizations for the distribution of the women and children.

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among the loyal citizens of the Northern States where they may earn for themselves a comfortable support while their husbands and fathers are fighting the national battles.

In a personal interview with the President a few weeks since, he expressed to me in the strongest terms his settled conviction that no single measure could be adopted by the people of the Northern States which would go so far to dishearten the rebels in arms, since in no other way could we so distinctly assure them of our unfaltering purpose to make a perpetual end of their peculiar domestic relations.

I have been requested to give assurance to the Governors of the Northwestern States, to each of whom a packet of similar contents is sent, that this commission will afford its hearty support to

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States, to each of whom a packet of similar contents is sent, that this Commission will afford its hearty support to the measure above named, if the Executive recommendation shall first be secured. This assurance I have not hesitation in giving.

We are organized for the aid of the Nation in the aid of the National Freedmen, and will unhesitatingly lend our help to any feasible plan which may be devised for the attainment of our general purpose.

We shall, however, await the Executive official & direct information of which we beg you to transmit at your pleasure.

I have the honor to be Sir

Very respectfully

Your obedient Servant.

Jacob R Shipherd

Cor Sec

Nearly two years have passed since the Proclamation of Emancipation was issued in this country. The events of the war during that time, and the present position of the Rebels in arms against the Government prove the measure to have been just and necessary, and it is the inevitable conclusion of the President the Soldier and the Loyal citizen both North and South that the suppression of Rebellion and the Emancipation of Slaves must go hand in hand till Union liberty and peace are finally restored.

As the result of Emancipation the Freedmen are thrown upon society in a comparatively helpless condition, losing in their release from Slavery the protection and the provision that ownership in them as slaves secured, such as shelter food and clothing sufficient to keep them in good working condition.

It is decided that Troops from the Colored race, in this country, are indispensible in the Army at the present time. Most of the able Bodied men from among the Freedmen are already in the service and it is not unlikely that all will be required in the conclusion of this great struggle for National life want and a Free Government.

The general Government has thus far through Military agents given protection and furnished such provision as it could, to all Freedmen coming within our lines.

The Freedmens Relief Associations and the various missionary societies have aided the Government in providing for the immediate necessities, and the general welfare of these people

throughout the Rebellious Districts.

The Victories of Atlanta and Mobile and the probably continued successes of our army in Georgia and Alabama unlock a great Slaveholding District and throw upon the Government for protection half a million more of the Freedmen.

At this crisis of the War, it must be seen that the responsibility of the Government to the Army is very great, and its duties almost inconceivable to the common mind. The Men must be obtained and the Soldiers paid to prosecute this war untill Rebellion is put down and Government and freedom are established.

It is likewise true that the Freedmen have just and urgent claims upon the Government, for temporary relief and security during their transition form Slavery to free society - and to provide such relief and security the most generous and vigorous cooperation of the States and the Charitable and Philanthropic association will be required during the War.

I therefore recommend that as early as practical the State of ________ offer an Assylum during the war or without limit and give Employment to as many Freedmen as the deficiency in laborers the abundance of provisions the condition of the Treasury and the guarantee of the Freedmen's Relief Commissions and voluntary contributions in the State shall warrent. And I do this from the necessity of the case arising from the pressure of the War upon the Government the unorganized condition of free labor in the South, and the

consequent lack of an abundance of provision to feed both the Army and the Freedmen in the Southern Country.

And I would further recommend that the State Legislature make such appropriations for this purpose of cooperating with the general Government as shall be necessary to provide for them temporary homes and rations and also that an Agent be appointed whose salary shall be fixed by the Legislature and paid from the State Treasury to canvass the State and in compliance with the condition named in the previous section, and the general temper of the inhabitants relative to this subject - report to the authority in Washington having charge of this matter that the State of ________ will guarantee security and employment to a stated number of Freedmen for a stated time or otherwise -- if in this way we may give relief to the suffering among them, and in a small degree assume a part of the burden of the general Government.

I would also recommend and encourage the Organization of County and Township Societies similar in detail to the Soldiers Aid Societies - and Auxiliary to the State Commission to raise money and furnish supplies of clothing, bedding, and household utensils, not only for the few Government may think proper to send to this State, but likewise for the masses that must remain in their present Localities.

I would likewise call upon the Churches in the State of ________ to organize in each Church a Freedmens Relief Society corresponding in its aim to the Christian Commission

and auxiliary to the State or to some commission appointed for the purpose ________ for the Relief of Physical suffering and to attend to the higher interests of the Freedmen by the establishment of schools and Churches with a view to promote social order, civilization education and religion among them.

If it is a crime for the Heathen Mother to throw her babe into the jaws of the devouring Crocodile - what judgements may be in store for this Christian Nation who take from the womb of Chattle Slavery a Race of Immortal Beings and throw them raw and bleeding into the jaws of starvation and the devouring blasts of winter.

With a vigorous and cheerful cooperation of the whole people of the Loyal States the burden will be light upon all. The general Government will be sustained - justice to the Freedmen and a safe policy to the Administration secured - and the righteousness that exaltheth a Nation - will in the eyes of the civilized world, and before the wise Ruler of the Universe bring us an exceeding great reward.

Rev. J. R. Shipherd.

Cor. Sec. of the N. W. Freedmen's Aid Commission

Chicago Oct 14th 1864

Encloses a paper prepared & placed in his hands by Mrs Griffing. Examined and approved by the Prest. & Secty of War, and on which he wants the Govr's opinion & criticism, similar ones are sent to Govr's of each loyal state

In a personal interview with the Prest. he was assured by him that in no other way can we discourage the rebels more than by the measures set forth in the enclosed, viz by assuring them of our unfaltering purpose of making a

(over)

perpetual end of their peculiar domestic relations.

He assures the Governors that their commission will give hearty support to the measures set forth by Mrs Griffing - if Executive recommendation can first be assured.

The object of the paper is the relief by the State - and its cooperation with the General Government for the relief of the Freedmen & their families.