Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-17
KANSAS AND THE exooua
What Geverner q. John has 70 Say Re-
EasAlsg Black Refugees.

8oSOS0R 0A0GA A010ROO0s
Gov. st. John writes 10 the editor Of the
Philadelphia Times: have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt Of your commune
cation of the 28th ult., and in reply thereto
would cay that have no means Of ascertain-
ing the exact number Of colored refugees
that have arrived here from the south, yet I
am inclined to the opinion that the number
will not exceed three thousand. OF this
number perhaps two thousand were oompar-
atively in destitute condition, and have re-
quired and received aid TO relieve their
immediate necessities. These people are
mostly farmers. They seem not only will.
ing, but anxious to secure employment and
50 far We have besn quite successful in soon
placing them in : condition, BY obtaining
employment for them, that has enabled them
to become sslf.sustaining.
It Was the opinion of many At the begin
ming Of the exodus that it would last but
few weeks and We would hear no more oft,
but in this it seems to me We have been mis-
taken, as present indications lead to believe
that it Is really the beginning of move
ment that will transfer hundreds of ofthousands
from the southern to the northern states.
While At present all the refugees seem to be
determined to locate in Kansas, yet think
it will not be long until they will begin to
flock Into other northern states, whore per-
haps the chances for them are - favorable
a they are in Kansas.
1t is true We have large bodies Of govern.
ment land subject to homestead, q we'll,
also, large tracts of railroad land that can
be purchased at . low price and ON long
time, yet it must be borne in mind that it is
utterly impossible for any man, be he black
or white, to take his family to settle upon
these lands without some means to enable
him to put them under cultivation and thus
make them productive. But in order to
locate these poor people upon the public
lands, or railroad lands, it will require an
outlay of from $50 to $500 to each family
A meeting Of the executive committee o.
the Freedman's Aid society of Kansas is te
be held here tonight, when this whole
question will be fully discussed and an effor
be made to fnaugurate . movement looking
to the establishment of email colonies O
these people in various portions of tn,
state.
| All the refugees agree substantially tha
the cause of their leaving the south exist
in the fact that they had been unfairly deal
with, really robbed year after year Of thei
earnings, and also not only deprived of thei
political rights, but for years have been in
secure in both life and property.
They further say that they have had thil
movement in contemplation for a number
of years past, but have been waiting from
year to year, hoping that things would ge
better, and at last, when reduced to abec
poverty and their friends and acquaintance
being murdered around them BY midnigh
assassins, they found it impossible for then
longer to remain, and now many of then
are here and many thousands more are com
ing, and it is left with the loyal north t,
say whether We will do our whole duty b,
providing for them temporary aid or turi
them away and let them starve.
As for Kansas. I think speak the senti
ment Of the people when say that they
shall never be turned from our doors fol
want of bread. AS for myself believ,
that Gods hand is in this work and thai
the present exodus from the southern states
is one of the means used by him to forever
cement the American union and to render
secession in the future impossible. Very
truly yours, JOHN p. ST. JOHN,
Topeka, May S, 1879. Governor.