Prompt A: Debate between Douglas and Lincoln 1858/ Prompt B:Union officials met with black ministers in savannah Georgia

The “Interview with Colored Ministers” (1865)

On November 5, 1846, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman began a campaign of total war in Georgia, marching an army of 60,000 out of Atlanta with designs to destroy all military and economic infrastructure in its path. The famous—infamous in the South—“March to the Sea” culminated at Savannah, which was captured—or, from the perspective of the city’s black residents, liberated—on December 21, 1864. Three weeks later, Sherman and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, who had sailed from Washington D.C., gathered a group of black ministers to discuss the status, needs, and opinions of the freedmen and freedwomen. The interview was transcribed by Union Army officer.

MINUTES OF AN INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE COLORED MINISTERS AND CHURCH OFFICERS AT SAVANNAH WITH THE SECRETARY OF WAR AND MAJOR-GEN.

SHERMAN. HEADQUARTERS OF MAJ.-GEN. SHERMAN, CITY OF SAVANNAH, GA., Jan., 12, 1865–8 P.M. On the evening of Thursday, the 12th day of January, 1865, the following persons of African descent met by appointment to hold an interview with Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, and Major-Gen. Sherman, to have a conference upon matters relating to the freedmen of the State of Georgia, to-wit: One: William J. Campbell, aged 51 years, born in Savannah, slave until 1849, and then liberated by will of his mistress, Mrs. May Maxwell. For ten years pastor of the 1st Baptist Church of Savannah, numbering about 1,800 members. Average congregation, 1,900. The church property belonging to the congregation. Trustees white. Worth $18,000. Two: John Cox, aged fifty-eight years, born in Savannah; slave until 1849, when he bought his freedom for $1,100. Pastor of the 2d African Baptist Church. In the ministry fifteen years. Congregation 1,222 persons. Church property worth $10,000, belonging to the congregation. Three: Ulysses L. Houston, aged forty-one years, born in Grahamsville, S.C.; slave until the Union army entered Savannah. Owned by Moses Henderson, Savannah, and pastor of Third African Baptist Church. Congregation numbering 400. Church property worth $5,000; belongs to congregation. In the ministry about eight years. Four: William Bentley, aged 72 years, born in Savannah, slave until 25 years of age, when his master, John Waters, emancipated him by will. Pastor of Andrew's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal Church–only one of that denomination in Savannah; congregation numbering 360 members; church property worth about $20,000, and is owned by the congregation; been in the ministry about twenty years; a member of Georgia Conference. Five: Charles Bradwell, aged 40 years, born in Liberty County, Ga.; slave until 1851; emancipated by will of his master, J. L. Bradwell. Local preacher in charge of the Methodist Episcopal congregation (Andrew's Chapel) in the absence of the minister; in the ministry 10 years.

Six: William Gaines, aged 41 years; born in Wills Co., Ga. Slave until the Union forces freed me. Owned by Robert Toombs, formerly United States Senator, and his brother, Gabriel Toombs, local preacher of the M.E. Church (Andrew's Chapel.) In the ministry 16 years. Seven: James Hill, aged 52 years; born in Bryan Co., Ga. Slave up to the time the Union army came in. Owned by H. F. Willings, of Savannah. In the ministry 16 years. Eight: Glasgon Taylor, aged 72 years, born in Wilkes County, Ga. Slave until the Union army came; owned by A. P. Wetter. Is a local preacher of the M.E. Church (Andrew's Chapel.) In the ministry 35 years. Nine: Garrison Frazier, aged 67 years, born in Granville County, N.C. Slave until eight years ago, when he bought himself and wife, paying $1,000 in gold and silver. Is an ordained minister in the Baptist Church, but, his health failing, has now charge of no congregation. Has been in the ministry 35 years. Ten: James Mills, aged 56 years, born in Savannah; free-born, and is a licensed preacher of the first Baptist Church. Has been eight years in the ministry. Eleven: Abraham Burke, aged 48 years, born in Bryan County, Ga. Slave until 20 years ago, when he bought himself for $800. Has been in the ministry about 10 years. Twelve: Arthur Wardell, aged 44 years, born in Liberty County, Ga. Slave until freed by the Union army. Owned by A. A. Solomons, Savannah, and is a licensed minister in the Baptist Church. Has been in the ministry 6 years. Thirteen: Alexander Harris, aged 47 years, born in Savannah; free born. Licensed minister of Third African Baptist Church. Licensed about one month ago. Fourteen: Andrew Neal, aged 61 years, born in Savannah, slave until the Union army liberated him. Owned by Mr. Wm. Gibbons, and has been deacon in the Third Baptist Church for 10 years. Fifteen: Jas. Porter, aged 39 years, born in Charleston, South Carolina; free-born, his mother having purchased her freedom. Is lay-reader and president of the board of wardens and vestry of St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Colored Church in Savannah. Has been in communion 9 years. The congregation numbers about 200 persons. The church property is worth about $10,000, and is owned by the congregation. Sixteen: Adolphus Delmotte, aged 28 years, born in Savannah; free born. Is a licensed minister of the Missionary Baptist Church of Milledgeville. Congregation numbering about 300 or 400 persons. Has been in the ministry about two years. Seventeen: Jacob Godfrey, aged 57 years, born in Marion, S.C. Slave until the Union army freed me; owned by James E. Godfrey–Methodist preacher now in the Rebel army. Is a class-leader and steward of Andrew's Chapel since 1836. Eighteen: John Johnson, aged 51 years, born in Bryan County, Georgia. Slave up to the time the Union army came here; owned by W. W. Lincoln of Savannah. Is class-leader and treasurer of Andrew's Chapel for sixteen years. Nineteen: Robt. N. Taylor, aged 51 years, born in Wilkes Co., Ga. Slave to the time the Union army came. Was owned by Augustus P. Welter, Savannah, and is class-leader in Andrew's Chapel for nine years. Twenty: Jas. Lynch, aged 26 years, born in Baltimore, Md.; free-born. Is presiding elder of the M.E. Church and missionary to the department of the South. Has been seven years in the ministry and two years in the South. Garrison Frazier being chosen by the persons present to express their common sentiments upon the matters of inquiry, makes answers to inquiries as follows:

First: State what your understanding is in regard to the acts of Congress and President Lincoln's [Emancipation] proclamation, touching the condition of the colored people in the Rebel States. Answer–So far as I understand President Lincoln's proclamation to the Rebellious States, it is, that if they would lay down their arms and submit to the laws of the United States before the first of January, 1863, all should be well; but if they did not, then all the slaves in the Rebel States should be free henceforth and forever. That is what I understood. Second–State what you understand by Slavery and the freedom that was to be given by the President's proclamation. Answer–Slavery is, receiving by irresistible power the work of another man, and not by his consent. The freedom, as I understand it, promised by the proclamation, is taking us from under the yoke of bondage, and placing us where we could reap the fruit of our own labor, take care of ourselves and assist the Government in maintaining our freedom. Third: State in what manner you think you can take care of yourselves, and how can you best assist the Government in maintaining your freedom. Answer: The way we can best take care of ourselves is to have land, and turn it and till it by our own labor–that is, by the labor of the women and children and old men; and we can soon maintain ourselves and have something to spare. And to assist the Government, the young men should enlist in the service of the Government, and serve in such manner as they may be wanted. (The Rebels told us that they piled them up and made batteries of them, and sold them to Cuba; but we don't believe that.) We want to be placed on land until we are able to buy it and make it our own. Fourth: State in what manner you would rather live–whether scattered among the whites or in colonies by yourselves. Answer: I would prefer to live by ourselves, for there is a prejudice against us in the South that will take years to get over; but I do not know that I can answer for my brethren. [Mr. Lynch says he thinks they should not be separated, but live together. All the other persons present, being questioned one by one, answer that they agree with Brother Frazier.]1 Fifth: Do you think that there is intelligence enough among the slaves of the South to maintain themselves under the Government of the United States and the equal protection of its laws, and maintain good and peaceable relations among yourselves and with your neighbors? Answer–I think there is sufficient intelligence among us to do so.

Sharecropping Contract (1868) This contract created an economic relationship between planter John D. Williams and a group of black laborers. The contract was then extended to cover a group of white laborers as well. As you read this document, look for the basic terms of the economic relationship. What elements of the contract do you think benefitted the landowner John D. Williams? What elements do you think may have been valued by the sharecroppers? Who had more power in this deal? Look also at who signed the contract. What can you tell about the laborers from this document? Their race? Age? Sex? How do you think they were related to each other? How do you think they were linked to John D. Williams? Lastly, consider the big picture: How different was this labor arrangement from slavery—the system it replaced? South Carolina Laurnes District Jany. 1st 1868

Known all men by these presents that I—John D. Williams of the Dist and State aforesaid have agreed to give to the following negroes on my White Plains plantation in said Dist on third of all the corn, sweet potatoes, wheat $ Cotton or oats & Malassus the said negroes do rais on Said plantation I am to furnish as much mule or hores power & provision for the Mules & horses as may be necessary to Cultivate the lands they plant. The negroes are to Cloth & feed themselves & pay all other necessary expenses they need— medical bills & and I am to let them have corn—bacon—at the current prices for such articles—the negroes hereby consenting and binding themselves to abide and settle by the accounts kept against them by myself or by my Agent for articles supplied and furnished them and tha binds them Selves to be steady & attentive to there work at all times and to work at keeping in repair all the fences on Said plantation and assist in cutting & taking care of—all the grain crops on Said plantation and work by the direction of me or my Agent—at all times to command theire Services until Jan 1st 1869— They are to be careful of all animals or emplements used by them shall protect the same from enjury from other pearsons & shall be answerable for all property lost—destroyed or enjured by their negligence dishonesty or bad faith and should any of them depart from the farm or from any services at any time with out our approval they shall forfeit one dollar per day, for the first time and for the second time without good cause they shall forfeit all of their interest in the crop to me the enjured person—they shall not be allowed to keep firearms or deadly weapons or ardent Spirits and they shall obey all lawful orders from me or my Agent and shall be honest—truthful—sober—civil—diligent in their business & for all willful Disobedience of any lawful orders from me or my Agent or to my Family or any else, I am permitted to discharge them forfeiting any claims upon me for any part of the crop as for this agreement & they are to assist in Sowing all of the Small Grain next fall & winter and in a settlement with them at the end of the year each hand is to draw their

portion of their crop fall hands—far three forths hands—half or one fourth hands as is Set down opposite their names as witness our hands & Seals January 1st, 1868 Moses Nathan 1 full hand* Jake Chappal “ “ “ Milly Williams ½ “ Easter Williams “ “ Mack Williams Laurnes Dist South Carolina

We the white labores now employed by John D. Williams on his white plains plantation have lisened and heard read the foregoing Contract on this Sheet of paper assign equal for the black laborers employed by him on said place and we are perfectly Satisfied with it and heare by bind ourselves to abide & be Governed & Controwed by it. As witness our hands & seals this January 1st 1868 Wm Wyatte 1 fall hand John Wyatte 1 fall hand Packingham Wyatte ½ “ “ Franklin Wyatte ½ “ “ R.M. Hughes 1 fall hand B.G. Pollard 1 fall hand G.W. Pollard 1 fall hand * All of the black sharecroppers and two of the whites made their marks (indicating illiteracy).