For the duration of the interview between Frazier, the twelve ministers present, General Major Sherman, and Edwin M. Stanton and that there were twelve issues that were addressed. The first question addressed the African sentiment towards the understanding of Congress and President Abraham Lincoln’s [Emancipation] proclamation. Frazier had replied with the statement, “President Lincoln’s proclamation to the rebellious States, it is, that if they would lay down their arms and submit to the United States” then all shall be forgotten, but if stubbornness of South does not cease “then all the slaves in the Rebel States should be free henceforth and forever.” Frazier clearly had defined the African views toward the matter and seemingly would be more than happy to accept the Rebels States back into the Union.
The second issue being addressed was the understanding of what slavery and freedom had meant to them. Which Frazier had replied with Slavery being the “receiving irresistible power the work of another man, and not by his consent.” Freedom meant being free from bondage, and placing them where they can “reap the fruit of their own labor”, self-sufficiency, and assisting the Government in maintaining their freedom. Stanton had questioned what steps should be taken to attain such goals with the idea of self-sufficiency and assistance in maintaining their freedom. Frazier replied with the best solution towards the self-sufficiency, was to “have land, turn it and till it by our own labor.” With land then comes food, with food one can be self-sufficient, and with excess food one can sell the food to receive payment or trade to purchase certain items. With the assistance of Government, Frazier proposed the idea of enlisting young men, meaning young African Americans to help the fight for their freedom. Once enlisted into the Union Army, Frazier may had thought that in any situation where African American freedom may be threatened, the Africans would be more than willingly to take up arms to fight for their own freedom.
The fifth issue was questioning the intelligence of African Americans and their ability to “maintain themselves under the Government of the United States.” Of course Frazier replied without question, and stated that “there is sufficient intelligence” to attain their goals.
The next issue being addressed was the how their lifestyles should be lived, whether amongst the white people or through segregated colonies of their own. Frazier’s own personal preference would be to live in segregated colonies because of the “prejudice against us” in the South would be take many years for the Southerners to accept the freedmen in the south. This idea was not the expression of the majority, which Frazier clearly states as his own words. He does not seem to be a racist amongst the issue of prejudice, but he knew that the Whites or Southern Whites at that would not succumb so easily to embrace African Americans as an equal nor as a human being.
The next issue addressed Frazier’s position with causes and objects of the war and their understandings. Frazier spoke of the “South is the aggressor”, rebelling against the newly elected President Abraham Lincoln, “without knowing what he would do.” The object addressed by Frazier was “first to bring the rebellious States back into the Union and their loyalty to the laws of the United States.” The notion of slaves being very valuable to the Rebels, the “president thought that his proclamation would stimulate them to lay down their arms, reduce them to obedience, and help bring back the Rebel States,” but their reluctance described by Frazier, was what “made the freedom of the slaves a part of the war.” Another question, the eighth question, also had dealt with the issue of war and slave armament. Frazier had thought that the only way slaves would fight under Rebel State control would be by force, but if an opportunity of freedom was attainable, “they could get away, they would desert,” the Rebel Army. Upon also addressing Frazier’s opinion, ninth question, on Africans enlisting, he thought that “there is something about them that perhaps is wrong” for those that wanted to enlist, but he then justifies the enlistment with the thought that it was the result of a long period of turmoil and sufferance felt by the slaves. Next question, tenth question, asked Frazier’s understanding of enlistment of colored persons in the Rebel States by State agents under the Act of Congress. Under the Act of Congress, Frazier’s understanding had stated that color persons enlisted in the Rebel Army are enlisted as “substitutes”, and that “every black man enlisted by a State Agent leaves a white man at home.” Notice the change in Frazier’s wording, where the term “colored persons” is no longer used, but is substituted by “black man,” and seemed to stress “white man” therefore it may signify a little anger on Frazier’s part upon this issue. The eleventh question, ask what Frazier’s opinion was on the proper way of enlisting colored men, which he thought, “that all compulsory operations should be put a stop to.” Frazier thought that all State agents should stay home, without any further encouragement, and that enlistment into the United States should be “under the direction of Gen. Sherman.” Frazier’s words impose great admiration upon Gen. Sherman, with willingness to fight both along side and under Sherman’s military leadership.
When asked if Frazier’s words were the words of the colored people or the city or country, he came to conclusions that his sentiments were the same as the rest of the country, where it is only plausible through his many personal interactions through the course of his practice within the ministry.
The last question addressed Frazier’s as well as the rest of the “colored people‘s” feelings towards Gen. Sherman, and “how far do they regard his sentiments and actions as friendly to their rights and interests.” Frazier, speaking for all colored people in the country, thought of General Sherman was the “arrival as a man in the Providence of God” which was “set apart to accomplish this work” and further “unanimously feel inexpressible gratitude” towards Gen Sherman. Frazier speaking for all, “we have confidence in Gen. Sherman,” to help protect the interests of colored people saying “could not be under better hands.” But his opinion is only formed from the basis of recent and short acquaintances with Gen. Sherman, which seems to exemplify the idea that the sentiments are subject to change if Sherman’s idea decides to change.
Overall, the document had seemed to be in a neutral point of view, because the ideas and sentiments expressed by Frazier was neither racially expressed nor was it in any way favoring that of “colored people.” The statements made by Frazier were merely his opinions and thoughts upon the matter war, self-sufficiency, slavery, and freedom. Never once were racial remarks used, all answers were replied in an ordained and proper manner which seemingly was without anger nor malice towards the questions being addressed. Throughout the conversation, Stanton and Sherman had addressed Frazier accordingly, which they seemed to treat each other as an equal neither expressing any idea of inferiority on the part of Frazier and his assembly of black ministers.