The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-15
NOBLE GIFT.

eERRETT SMITH SENDS 81 900 TO THE DESTI-
TJrE IN KANSAS AND OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
PERSONAL HISTORY.
The following correspondents has been
published and fully explains itself:
PETERBoRo. y. Y, Aug. 81 1874.
The Hon. Thos. A. Osborn, Governor of Kansas:
DEAR SIR: 1 have read in the New York
Times your letter respecting the grasshopper
calamity which appears to have reached your
State and Nebraska, as well as Iowa and
Minnesota. Let me say that whilst admire
the honorable. self-reliance which refuses TO
ask help for Kansas from abroad. there are
special reasons WIN | should love her and
covet the privilege of doing something TO-
ward alleviating her present distress.
/, / worked hard in Congress TO save Kan
sas from the curse of slavery.
2. / afterwards contributed $4,000 TO the
various funds for fighting of from her that
matches curse.
3. In saving herself from slavery, Kansas
saved the nation from it. Had the slave
power triumphed in Kansas, the way tor
slavery into any free State would thereby
nave been opened. A great savior, there
fore is dear Kansas.
4. John Brown, who did more to save
Kansas to freedom, and thereby save the ma
ton to freedom, was my warmly cherished
| friend. Now, trust, in the light of these
| facts YOU will not refuse to accept the in
closed draft for $1,000, made to yourself and
the governor of Nebraska, and to accept ii with
the understanding that one-halt thereof
shall go to those in Kansas made destitute
by this great calamity, and the other half
thereof to those in Nebraska made destitute
| by it. With great regard, yours.
GERRITT SMITH.
TOPEKA, August 81, 1874.
Hon. GERRrrT SMITH, Peterboro, y, ":
4 lo4t al for
the relief of destitute persons in Kansas and
| Nebraska has been received, and half OF
that sum. sent to the governor of Ne
brasIa. 1t is not our purpose to 90
| outside of the State for aid, but the
present generous donation from you is
accepted in the spirit in which it is ten
dered Since the day of your vote for free
Kausasin Congress 20 years Ago, this frontier
| territory has become State containing
more than 100000 people, and of property OF
more than $500, 100000 in actual value. The
great mass of our citizens, however, are men
of small means, and the calamltleS OF TINS
| year leave some of them
INA DESTITUTE CONDITION.
The new homestead settlers in the western
counties have had their crops destroyed by
an inflow of grasshoppers and require as
sistance An extra session of the legislB-
ture has been called to take measures fol
their aid, and with this relief and such assis-
lance as will be gladly givenby the citizens
of the old counties, we shall meet the necessi
: ties of all who have suddenly been made des-
titue. The State is rich in resources and
will permit none of her citizsns to suffer
This brief statement of our condition anC
purposes seems due to you, not only on ac
count of your present generosity, but also
from your constant friendship and historic
services in all the dark days of our early
! history. There is not heartbstone of al
early settler in Kansas where the name o
Gerrett Smith is not known, revered anC
loved, and to-day you are extending TO new
| generation of pioneers the bounties Won be-
slowed SO literally. upon us when we wer,
enduring similar hardships whilst YOU
brave words in defense of freedom and ius
4 tice, at period in the history OF the country
when it required the highest order o
o courage to utter them, will live forever il
! the hearts of our people. Struggling as Kan
! sas then was with the power of human slsy
! cry dominant in the land. she will nevS for
get you and your noble co-laborers VIII,
struck hands with her in the severest hou
of peril, and opened the path to uni
j., versal freedom. But the new Kansas ha
) forgotten the animosities and strifes of he
warlike days as you were the first to teacl
us to do, but her gratitude to Ler benefactoi
will ever remain.
Allow me, then, on behalf of the Who'll
State, to renew to you our expression O
heartfelt esteem and veneration.
, Very truly and sincerely yours,
THOMAS A. OSBORN.