THE CONTRABANDS' FREEDOM HYMN.
By Editor
THE following curious hymn comes to us from the Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, who received it from the missionary among the contrabands at Fortress Monroe. It will be seen that there is evidence in this hymn that the slaves in a considerable part of Virginia, at least, have had a superstitious faith in being freed some time in the future. The air to which the hymn is sung is in the minor key, and very plaintive: To the Editor of the N. Y. Tribune, SIR: I this evening received the accompanying song from the Rev. L. C. Lockwood, recently employed by the New York Young Men's Christian Association in its army work, and at present laboring under the auspices of the American Missionary Association, among the slaves at Fortress Monroe. Mr. Lockwood publicly referred to this song during his late visit to this city, and upon his return to the fortress he took it down verbatim from the dictation of Carl Holloway, and other contrabands. It is said to have been sung for at least fifteen or twenty years in Virginia and Maryland, and perhaps in all the Slave States, though stealthily, for fear of the lash; and is now sung openly by the fugitives who are living under the protection of our government, and in the enjoyment of Mr. Lockwood's ministry. The verses surely were not born from a love of bondage, and show that in a portion, if not in all the South, the slaves are familiar with the history of the past, and are looking hopefully toward the future. Yours, respectfully. HARWOOD VERNON.
New York, Dec. 2.