Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-26
BACK FROM THE WEST.
DeIuded COIOred Folks Returning 20
sole Tennessee'-The Experiences of
a Victim who Got as Far as st. Louis.

"BAe IeuIlesSee"-khe TX E3eElenCes Oh
a Victim who Got as Far as st. Louis,
Out of all the negroes that have emf
era ted from Tennessee recently for Kansas,
only one party, we believe, has returned
after going as FAR IS St. Louis. That was
family that got back to this city yesterday
on their way to Lynnville, in Giles county,
whence they had set out for the far West.
Many others would, no doubt, have come
back if they had had the means, seeing that
they all went away under the delusiOn
that the Government would give them
''forty acres of land and twelve months
ratiOns."
The pdteJdmiliaS of the family that
came in yesterday and left for Lynnville
last night, gave his name as Reed Martin.
He had with him a wife and several small
children. L was with difficulty that our re-
porter induced him to tell his experience.
He would have denied that he was the per-
son sought if there mad not been witnesses
present to identify him for our reporter as
''the man that had started TO Kansas and
retraced his way from st. Louis" After be-
ing convinced that the UNION AND AMER
ICAN man meant no harm toward him, but
on the contrary, wanted to de1ounce the
parties that persuaded him TO leave home
in the beginning as liars and scOundrels, he
apOlOgiZed by saying he was almost afraid TO
own his name since he had been so badly
gulled. Il was obvious that as he had gone
away cTedulOus, so he returned incredu-
lOus. He proceeded to answer questions
regarding his ups and downs in his own
imperfect way, but there was nothing
amusing in his English.
To the question how much he was out Of
pocket by his trip, he replied that he had
paid out for railroad tickets SLIGO. He was
then asked how he was persuaded to leave
his home in Tennessee and start away to
Kansas. He responded that the neighbOr-
hood of Lynnville had been visited at diff
ferent times by white men who told the
negroes that the Government would give
them forty acres of land in Kansas, twelve
months rations and free transportation to
the new home, if they would only 90 there.
When asked why he returned without
going any further than St. Louis, he said
he was convinced soon after reaching that
place that he had been deluded. lie saw
people at the depot there who were Just
from Kansas, and who informed him that
the government did not propose to do what
he had been led to believe it would do. lie
made inquiries, too, about some Of his fel-
low servants who had gone on ahead Of
him, and got gloomy news as 10 how they
were fdring. Viewing the circumstances
from that standpoint, he decided to return.
"Nhat is your opinion Of those fellows
that deceived you and your fellOw-seryants
nOw?' asked the reporter. The victim gave
it as his opinion that they were agents OF
railroads prscticing upon the Ignorance Of
the cOlored people to increase travel over
their roads; and herein he was doubtless
correct. There is no other conceivable
spring of their action. If they were ennis
saries Of Western railroads, there is 10
language Of contempt, indignation, or
execratiOn too strong for their deserts, in
view of the manner in which they have
treated the negroes in many Of cur cOun-
ties.