Letter from Janet Moses, 73 School Street, in support of the amendments to the Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance submitted by Councillors Siddiqui and Zondervan

My name is Janet Moses My address is 73 School Street. Cambridge I am here to support the Zondervan/Sidiki Amendment to the City's Cannabis Ordinance The Boomtown,Hometown Report of the Cambridge Community Foundation (CFF) clearly raises the question whether Cambridge of the future will lack the rich diversity, in terms of race, ethnicity and income, of the past, and whether Cambridge's historic commitment to social justice will continue to define the city. According to the CCF report. 60% of Black, and 42% of Latino Cambridge households are low income but 75- 80% of white families are high income. The Cannabis industry can provide a lane to help stave the economic hemorrhaging of our communities of color. Big Cannabis is threatening lawsuits to maintain already existing rules and regulations, that in effect protect the status quo—a status that relegates people

of color and poor people to the bottom of every barrel of opportunity. Such rules and regulations fly under the color of 'legality' but are made without due consideration of the consequences of these laws to the welfare of the public. The so-called 'war on drug wars' which has devasted communities of color is a case in point. In 1865 General Sherman, and Lincoln's Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, met with African-American leaders to discuss what to do with the thousands of the formally enslaved Africans who had liberated themselves by fleeing the plantations of their bondage. 40 acres and a mule-a ladder of opportunity-was proposed by Stanton, and agreed to by the African American leaders at the meeting. At the heart of the discussion was the issue of the economic independence of Africans. This discussion of 1865 illuminates and is applicable to the issue before the Council today: Will Empowerment Zones be created for communities that bore the brunt of the criminalization of cannabis? The country said 'NO' to the economic demands of the African Leaders at that Jan. 1865 meeting.

And said 'NO' to The New Deal legislation that would have lifted the African American citizenry out of economic bondage. And in 1989 our city said NO to Black parents who had the audacity to establish a private school for Black and Brown children on Brattle Street. City Councilors Zondervan and Siddiqui have introduced an ordinance that would advance the empowerment of economically marginalized communities by enacting a two year moratorium on the ability of currently established cannabis medical operations to convert their licences to adult/recreational use licenses. The City of Cambridge should say YES to the Zondervan/ Sidiki amendment.. The moratorium would give Empowerment Zone applicants—people earning less than 50% of the AMI (area median income ) priority. Today we are faced with the same questions as in 1865: Can people of color and poor people reap the fruit of their own labor, such that they are no longer poor? The answer is YES.

Is there enough intelligence among Black and Brown and poor folk to operate these businesses. The answer is Yes. Does Cambridge have the political will to move in a direction to right the wrong of economic disempowerment by passing the Zondervan, Siddiqui Ordinance for Cannabis Empowerment Zones? The answer is in the hands of and on the conscious of this esteemed City Council. Thank you, Janet Moses Related Articles: 40 Acres and a mule: Justice Initiative <[email removed]. Zoning Fight Forcing School to Move Sparks Bias Charges in Boston Suburb, by Mark Walsh 10/11/1989. www.edweek.org/ew/articles/1989/10/11/0909 0010.h09.

https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/1989/10/11/09090010.h09.htm... Zoning Fight Forcing School To Move Sparks Bias Charges in Bos... EDUCATION WEEK. Zoning Fight Forcing School To Move Sparks Bias Charges in Boston Suburb By Mark Walsh October 11, 1989 1 Back to Story A zoning battle that resulted in a private, mostly black preschool's move from an affluent neighborhood in Cambridge, Mass., has shaken that politically liberal Boston suburb in recent weeks. A candlelight vigil was held last week at the former site of the Commonwealth Day School, which was forced to move back across the Charles River to Boston after a continuing battle with its neighbors over a land-use permit made it impossible to register students for the new school year. The school's neighbors on Brattle Street, which is described by some as home to the city's "Old Guard" elite, circulated a petition last year and fought the school's attempt to get a special permit needed to operate a primary school. Among the signers were some of the city's most prominent citizens, including a nationally known television personality and a major constitutional-law scholar. Although the petitioners cited as main concerns the increases in traffic and parking problems, a number of their critics have charged that opposition to the school was fueled by race and class bias. At one zoning hearing, said Robert F. Myette, headmaster of the school, "someone actually said we were going to change the complexion of the neighborhood." Joan Wallace-Benjamin, president of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, whose son attended the school last year, said she became convinced after hearing neighbors voice their objections that "they didn't care about traffic; they just didn't want children of color educated in the building." One neighbor of the school who helped lead the battle against it did not return repeated phone calls last week. Several other petition signers could not be reached for comment. In published reports in the Boston press, however, petitioners have denied discriminatory intent. One Brattle Street resident who signed the petition was quoted by the Boston Globe as saying 1 of 3 6/24/19,11:09 PM

https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/1989/10/11/09090010.h09.htm... Zoning Fight Forcing School To Move Sparks Bias Charges in Bos... that "the minority issue was never discussed." Legal Maneuvers The 18-year-old school moved from Boston to Cambridge in 1988, after buying the large, mansion-style building that had previously served as a preparatory school for boys. Neighbors were immediately suspicious, claimed Mr. Myette. One even obtained a cease-and- desist order that delayed the school's move. Later, they gathered 235 signatures and sought to block the school's occupancy permit and convert the building back into a residential-use-only structure. But last October, the Cambridge Zoning Board of Appeals granted&the school both its occupancy permit and the special permit needed to expand to a primary school. Neighbors then appealed the case to a state land court, whose backlog meant that the school's case could not be heard until this fall. Because of the uncertainty over its future, Commonwealth Day School was unable to sign up students for the expanded grades. Lacking that means of expansion, officials made the decision to move back to Boston. "When parents came in to check out the school, I couldn't lie to them" about its legal status, said Mr. Myette. "These parents wanted something definite." The headmaster noted that the building's new occupant, a land-policy think tank, generates just as much traffic and represents no more of a "residential use" than the preschool did. Yet, 40 of the neighbors who signed petitions against the school, he said, came out in favor of a permit for the new owners. Chiding City's 'Liberals' Commonwealth's move back to Boston might have passed quietly, had Sheila Russell, a Cambridge City Council member, not expressed her distress over the neighborhood's actions. At the request of Ms. Russell and Mayor Alfred Vellucci, the Cambridge School Committee voted to lower flags at the city's publicel10lschools on opening day last month "to note the passing" of the Commonwealth Day School. This revived the debate, especially after the local news media became aware that the signers of the original petitions against the school included several prominent citizens. In addition to a federal judge and the president of the local public-television station, they included Julia Child, whose nationally televised cooking show made her a celebrity, and Laurence Tribe, a professor at the Harvard University Law School and a leading constitutional scholar. Mr. Tribe has disavowed his signing of the petition. But some in the community have pointed to the irony of so many leading exponents of liberal thought having appeared to have opposed a predominantly black school "in their back yard." "The very ones who opposed it are the liberals in the city," said Ms. Russell. "I think what most of us object to the most is that the people who live here are always telling the rest of this city what they should do." The mayor, who is retiring this year but is currently running for a seat on the school committee, 2 of 3 6/24/19,11:09 PM

so many academic resources nearby at Harvard and m.i.t. They took that opportunity away from these kids." WEB ONLY

https://justiceinitiativeinternational.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/836/ Forty Acres and a Mule: Part One Participants & Minutes from Ge... Justice Initiative International Forty Acres and a Mule: Part One Participants & Minutes from General Sherman's Meeting with Black Leaders in Savannah on January 12, 1865 • Uncategorized © May 9, 2017 By Heather Gray May 7, 2017 Justice initiative International General William Tecomseh Sherman Most of my professional career has been devoted to cooperative economic development and issues relevant to Black farmers in the southern United States. Doing this work you cannot help but become 1 of 14 6/24/19,11:07 PM

https://justiceinitiativeinternational.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/836/ Forty Acres and a Mule: Part One Participants & Minutes from Ge... ensconced in the history of slavery, the Civil War and its consequences. In this instance, knowing the actions and attitudes of General William Tecomseh Sherman is essential, albeit with his occasional condescending statements coupled with some understanding and seeming generosity (a general's mindset some have noted). In fact, it was Sherman and Lincoln's Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, who initiated the concept of the " 40 acres" for freed slaves after listening to the demands of the freedmen. As Sherman marched through Georgia toward Savannah from November 15 to December 21, 1864, slaves left the Georgia plantations to follow him. Once in Savannah, Sherman realized he had to do something about the Black folks who had followed him so he and Stanton called for a meeting with Black elders to ask what they wanted. "Forty Acres and a Mule"? In summary, the Black attendees in this historic meeting told Stanton and Sherman that they wanted land to grow food and a community of their own to develop. Sherman re- sponded with the famous "Field Order 15." In the "Order" Sherman provided 40 acres for families in the abandoned land along the South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida "low country." Sherman also ulti- mately offered Army mules that might be available - thus the, "Forty Acres and a Mule". As a result, un- told numbers of the Black families almost immediately moved into the lowlands. 2 of 14 6/24/19, 11:07 PM

Forty Acres and a Mule: Part One Participants & Minutes from Ge... https://justiceinitiativeinternational.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/836/ HISTORICA History of Emancipation: Special Field Orders No. 15 On January 12, 1865, U.S. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and General WhiT. Shermat met here at the home of Charles Green with 20 leaders from Savannah's African-American churches, including Garrison Frazier, Ulysses I. Houston, and William Campbell The meeting resulted in Sherman's isote of Special Field Orders No 15, which encouraged the enlistment of freedmen and also reserved coastal land from Charleston south to Florida's St. Johns River for settlement by freed families in 40- acre tracts, The Freedmen's Bureau Act of March 1865 formalized government aid to freed slaves but made no provision for land. After President Lincoln's death, President Andrew Johnson revoked Special Field Orders No:15, hampering efforts by African Americans to gain economic independence after Ematcipation Erected for the Civil War 150 commemoration by the Georgia Historical 201L.2 Society, the Georgia Battlefielde Association and the Georgia Department •of Economic Development 25-37 Then on April 14, 1865 President Lincoln was assassinated, Andrew Johnson becomes president and not long after he rescinds Field Order 15. The devastation and betrayal was immense. Johnson states ultimately that he is giving the land back to the white owners and blacks will need to work for the white owners. However, for "Part One" about "Forty Acres and a Mule" I want to share the following: • As stated in Sherman's memoir, it is important to note that President Abraham Lincoln's Secre- tary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, traveled to Savannah that included this historic meeting with the Freedmen. Sherman notes Stanton's desire to "confer" with the "negroes." • General Sherman's archived minutes of this historic meeting in Savannah also includes the names and description of the Black leaders who participated in the meeting as well as the questions from Stanton of the Black leaders and the answers given by Reverend Frazier, who was selected by the group to serve as their spokesperson. (1) From Sherman's Memoir - information about Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, in Savannah 3 of 14 6/24/19, 11:07 PM

https://justiceinitiativeinternational.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/836/ Forty Acres and a Mule: Part One Participants & Minutes from Ge... and the decision to meet with the Black community on January 12, 1865. Edwin Stanton Mr. Stanton staid in Savannah several days, and seemed very curious about matters and things in gen- eral. I walked with him through the city, especially the bivouacs of the several regiments that occupied the vacant squares, and he seemed particularly pleased at the ingenuity of men in the constructing their temporary huts. Four of the "dog-tents," or tentes d'abri, buttoned together, served for a roof, and the sides were made of clapboards, or rough boards brought from demolished houses or fences. I remember his marked admiration for the hut of a soldier who had made his door out of a handsome parlor mirror the glass gone and its gilt frame serving for his door. He talked to me a great deal about the negroes, the former slaves, and I told him of many interesting in- cidents, illustrating their simple character and faith in our arms and progress. He inquired particularly about General Jeff. C. Davis, who, he said, was a Democrat, and hostile to the negro. I assured him that General Davis was an excellent soldier, and I did not believe he had any hostility to the negro; that our 4 of 14 6/24/19,11:07 PM

https://justiceinitiativeinternational.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/836/ Forty Acres and a Mule: Part One Participants & Minutes from Ge... army we had no negro soldiers, and; as a rule, we preferred white soldiers, but that we employed a large force of them as servants, teamsters, and pioneers, who had rendered admirable service. He then showed me a newspaper account of General Davis taking up his pontoon-bridge across Ebenezer Creek, leaving sleeping negro men, women, and children, on the other side, to be slaugh- tered by Wheeler's calvary. I had heard such a rumor, and advised Mr. Stanton, before becoming prej- udiced, to allow me to send for General Davis, which he did, and General Davis explained the matter to his entire satisfaction. The truth was, that, as we approached the seaboard, the freedmen in droves, old and young, followed the several columns to reach a place of safety. It so happened that General Davis's route into Savan- nah followed what was known as the "River-road," and he had to make constant use of his pontoon- train-the head of his column reaching some deep, impassable creek before the rear was fairly over an- other. He had occasionally to use the pontoons both day and night. On the occasion referred to, the bridge was taken up from Ebenezer Creek. while some of the camp- followers remained asleep on the farther side, and these were picked up by Wheeler's cavalry. Some of them, in their fright, were drowned in trying to swim over, and others may have been cruelly killed by Wheeler's men, but this was a mere supposition. At all events, the same thing might have resulted to General Howard, or to any other of the many most humane commanders who filled the army. General Jeff. C. Davis was strictly a soldier, and doubtless hated to have his wagons and columns encumbered by these poor negroes, for whom we all felt sym- pathy, but a sympathy of a different sort from that of Mr. Stanton, which was not of pure humanity, but of politics. The negro question was beginning to loom up among the political eventualities of the day, and many foresaw that not only would the slaves secure their freedom, but that they would also have votes. I did not dream of such a result then, but knew that slavery, as such, was dead forever, and did not suppose that the former slaves would be suddenly, without preparation, manufactured into voters equal to all others, politically and socially. 5 of 14 6/24/19,11:07 PM

https://justiceinitiativeinternational.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/836/ Forty Acres and a Mule: Part One Participants & Minutes from Ge... Mr. Stanton seemed desirous of coming into contact with the negroes to confer with them, and he asked me to arrange an interview for him. I accordingly sent out and invited the most intelligent of the negroes, mostly Baptist and Methodist preachers, to come to my rooms to meet the Secretary of War. Twenty re- sponded, and were received in my room up-stairs in Mr. Green's house, where Mr. Stanton and Adjutant- General Townsend took down the conversation in the form of questions and answers. Each of the twenty gave his name and partial history, and then selected Garrison Frazier as their spokesman. (2) General Sherman's archived minutes in Sherman's memoir of this historic January 12, 1865 meeting in Savannah also includes the names and description of the Black leaders. The minutes were also printed in the New York Tribune on February 13, 1865. MINUTES OF AN INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE COLORED MINISTERS AND CHURCH OFFICERS AT SA- VANNAH WITH THE SECRETARY OF WAR AND MAJOR-GEN. SHERMAN. HEADQUARTERS OF MAJ.-GEN. SHERMAN, CITY OF SAVANNAH, GA., Jan., 12, 1865-8 P.M. The "Forty Acres and a Mule" painting of the Jan. 12, 1865 6 of 14 6/24/19, 11:07 PM

https://justiceinitiativeinternational.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/836/ Forty Acres and a Mule: Part One Participants & Minutes from Ge... meeting was done by Haller Buchanan. It hangs in the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum in Savannah. 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, number- ing about 1,800 members. Average congregation, 1,900. The church property belonging to the con- gregation. 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 7 of 14 6/24/19,11:07 PM

Forty Acres and a Mule: Part One Participants & Minutes from Ge... https://justiceinitiativeinternational.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/836/ 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 8 of 14 6/24/19, 11:07 PM

Forty Acres and a Mule: Part One Participants & Minutes from Ge... https://justiceinitiativeinternational.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/836/ 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. 9 of 14 6/24/19,11:07 PM

https://justiceinitiativeinternational.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/836/ Forty Acres and a Mule: Part One Participants & Minutes from Ge... 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 con- sent. 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 la- bor-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 ser- vice 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.] Fifth: Do you think that there is intelligence enough among the slaves of the South to maintain them- selves 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. Sixth: State what is the feeling of the black population of the South toward the Government of the 10 of 14 6/24/19,11:07 PM

https://justiceinitiativeinternational.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/836/ Forty Acres and a Mule: Part One Participants & Minutes from Ge... United States; what is the understanding in respect to the present war-its causes and object, and their disposition to aid either side. State fully your views. Answer: I think you will find there are thousands that are willing to make any sacrifice to assist the Government of the United States, while there are also many that are not willing to take up arms. I do not suppose there are a dozen men that are opposed to the Government. I understand, as to the war, that the South is the aggressor. President Lincoln was elected President by a majority of the United States, which guaranteed him the right of holding the office and exercising that right over the whole United States. The South, without knowing what he would do, rebelled. The war was commenced by the Rebels before he came into office. The object of the war was not at first to give the slaves their freedom, but the sole object of the war was at first to bring the rebellious States back into the Union and their loyalty to the laws of the United States. Afterward, knowing the value set on the slaves by the Rebels, the President thought that his proclamation would stimulate them to lay down their arms, reduce them to obedience, and help to bring back the Rebel States; and their not doing so has now made the freedom of the slaves a part of the war. It is my opinion that there is not a man in this city that could be started to help the Rebels one inch, for that would be suicide. There were two black men left with the Rebels because they had taken an active part for the Rebels, and thought something might befall them if they stayed behind; but there is not another man. If the prayers that have gone up for the Union army could be read out, you would not get through them these two weeks. Seventh: State whether the sentiments you now express are those only of the colored people in the city; or do they extend to the colored population through the country? and what are your means of knowing the sentiments of those living in the country? Answer: I think the sentiments are the same among the colored people of the State. My opinion is formed by personal communication in the course of my ministry, and also from the thousands that followed the Union army, leaving their homes and undergoing suffering. I did not think there would be so many; the number surpassed my expectation. Eighth: If the Rebel leaders were to arm the slaves, what would be its effect? Answer: I think they would fight as long as they were before the bayonet, and just as soon as soon as they could get away, they would desert, in my opinion. 11 of 14 6/24/19,11:07 PM

https://justiceinitiativeinternational.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/836/ Forty Acres and a Mule: Part One Participants & Minutes from Ge... Ninth: What, in your opinion, is the feeling of the colored people about enlisting and serving as soldiers of the United States? and what kind of military service do they prefer? Answer: A large number have gone as soldiers to Port Royal [S.C.] to be drilled and put in the service; and I think there are thousands of the young men that would enlist. There is something about them that perhaps is wrong. They have suffered so long from the Rebels that they want to shoulder the musket. Others want to go into the Quartermaster's or Commissary's service. Tenth: Do you understand the mode of enlistments of colored persons in the Rebel States by State agents under the Act of Congress? If yea, state what your understanding is. Answer: My understanding is, that colored persons enlisted by State agents are enlisted as substitutes, and give credit to the States, and do not swell the army, because every black man enlisted by a State agent leaves a white man at home; and, also, that larger bounties are given or promised by State agents than are given by the States. The great object should be to push through this Rebellion the shortest way, and there seems to be something wanting in the enlistment by State agents, for it don't strengthen the army, but takes one away for every colored man enlisted. Eleventh: State what, in your opinion, is the best way to enlist colored men for soldiers. Answer: I think, sir, that all compulsory operations should be put a stop to. The ministers would talk to them, and the young men would enlist. It is my opinion that it would be far better for the State agents to stay at home, and the enlistments to be made for the United States under the direction of Gen. Sherman. In the absence of Gen. Sherman, the following question was asked: Twelfth: State what is the feeling of the colored people in regard to Gen. Sherman; and how far do they regard his sentiments and actions as friendly to their rights and interests, or otherwise?Answer: We looked upon Gen. Sherman prior to his arrival as a man in the Providence of God specially set apart to accomplish this work, and we unanimously feel inexpressible gratitude to him, looking upon him as a man that should be honored for the faithful performance of his duty. Some of us called upon him im- mediately upon his arrival, and it is probable he would not meet the Secretary with more courtesy 12 of 14 6/24/19,11:07 PM

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