The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-03-01
Fer the Lansing Republican
Is THERE SUFFERING!

Nh. EprToR:-Under the above heading, III
the Detroit Free Press of the 26th inst, may pe
found some remarks in reference 10 the suffering
in our new counties. II is 10 lie regretted that
so many conflicting statements are made regard
ing that suffering people. They are truly IN a
condition which renders them quite unable 10
endure the consequences that are likely TO arise
from such statements The Free Press admits
tbs, from >. 700 10 =, 1000 Knight have been
necessary for their relief" but claims that no
proofs have been adiuced TO show that any such
amount of suffering exists, or Is likely TO exist,
"a Is represented in the Governors message, or
Mr. Ferris letter TO the Rev. NJ. Bellows. In
the same article may be found quotation from
a Montcalm paper, expressing nearly the same
sentiments. | have no desire 10 be made con
spicuous in this matter, and for the present, shall
withhold from the public mos. heart-rendIng
class of facts, Of which have personal knowl-
edge, acquired within the last four weeks, during
which time | have been with that unfortunate
people. Neither is ii M purpose TO cr'ticise the
motives of the Free Press or the Montcllin pa
per. But it is much to be regretted that such
total ignorance Of the facts should exist, eSpe-
cially in publisher residing in the very seat OF
such extreme restitution. One week ago TO-DAY,
within seven miles of the place where the mt
calm paper is published, in the short space OF
six hours | received the written statements
certified nv tie Supervisors o. their townships
of more that fifty heads OF families, representing
more than three hundred persons, all OF which
stated that they were nearly, or entirely desti-
tute of provisions, and had no means - Fhich
they could procure them. Very many "a these
persons presented me with certificates OF the SUI
pervisors of the above character, to which they
had made oath before some proper officer, To the
tn. tlfulness of their contents.
Yes, Mr. Editor, often have | held in my
hand one of these aliiavits, and looked in the
face of its woe-stricken sgner, an: zhHd them
If that could be true and received the answer,
L" YES, SIR, and unless you help me, my family
must perish :" and that, too, in county where,
according to a paper published therein, they need
no help,
Such is the state Of restitution, that shall be
disappointed if, within the next ten days, do
not receive applications from heads of families,
enough, with Those | have received, TO amount
To 1870; each of which will contain statement
that the applicant is either entirely destitute OF
provisions and the means TO procure them, or 20
nearly 80 as TO require Immediate assistance.
All of which applications will he certified TO by
the Supervisor or Clerk Of the respective town.
ships. and in cases where the Supervisors do not
know the facts, the applicants viii be required to
make and sign All affidavit. These applicants
will represent nearly onehalf Of the inhabitants
of Montealm county, according To the last CEN
sus.
There have been presented within the last
three weeks, about five hundred certificates of
destitu,ou, coming from the counties oi Gratiot,
Isabella and MontcaIm. These are from the
heads of families who represent more than three
Thousand persons; and hazard nothing in say
ing that instead Of IS, 600, it will require at least
$50, coo to make that people comfortable The
appropriation made be tie STATE co"Ho' last
io.qe, Nan 10 tie niiAe 81 iprI aud unless
some work can be given them, for which they
can procure provisions, they must have at least
SIS, 200, or leave the country, or perish before
another harvest.
1t is said that this cry is injuring the credit OF
the country That NAV be true, but which will
work the greatest amount OF injury, to supply
the people and let them remain in their homes,
or require them To leave them, or perish "ith
hunger, VERY many have already left their
homes, and many more would have LEFT, il they
could have done so.