Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-07-11
Office of the Kansas Freedman's Relief

Office Of the Kansas Freedman's Relief
Association.
To the friends Of the colored people:
The directors of the Kansas Freedman's
Relief Association in view Of the present
situation, deem II proper to make public
this address, and ask the friends of the
colored people for further aid in caring for
the helpless and destitute refugees.
This is a matter not local to our State,
but is one of National concern. II in
wolves the solution Of a great question i'm
pOItant alike to the people of the whole
country, and if properly met will go very
far to work a cure of the ills of the freed
men of the South. IL we prove equal to
the occasion and can assist these people
who are seeking homes in the North and
utilize their labor, those who remain be-
hind will discover a kindlier feeling and
better treatment in the South.
In organizing this association we were
moved by two controlling motives. The
first was one Of humanity.
These people without warning and un-
solicited east themselves poor and needy in
our midst
Many of them were old and decrepid and
many young and helpless, and with few
exceptions were destitute.
They were landed on the river banks by
hundreds in the chilly days of early spring
after long and tedious journey fraught
with hardships and privations. Many were
sick and dying from exposure, and many
we're suffering for food, clothing, and med
ical assistance. The simplest dictates Of
humanity demanded immediate and or
ganized effort for their relief.
Another incentive to meet this emergen-
cy was to maintain the honored traditions
of our State, which had its conception and
birth in a struggle for freedom, and equal
rights for the colored man. She has shed
too much blood for this cause to now turn
back from her soil these defenseless people
fleeing from the land Of oppression.
We have not sought to stimulate or en-
courage their migration hither. We have
always endeavored to place before the col
ored people of the South the plain facts,
hoping thus to properly restrain an i'm
provident hegira, based upon delusiye
hopes and expectations. We have also
sought to impress upon them that our
Western and Northern states possess
equal advantages for homes for the labor
ing man.
In brief we have undertaken so far as
lies in our power to provide for the desti-
tUte Of these people, who come voluntarily
among us, the common necessities Of life,
and to assist them in obtaining situations
where they can earn a livelihood.
We have made an effort to establish
colony about fifty miles west OF this city
in Wabaunsee County. Finding that good
land could be bought at $2.65 per acre, we
are locating about thirty families on forty
acres each. This is University land, one
tenth to be paid down and the balance IN
nineteen years at seven per cent. interest.
We have furnished for their use, teams
and some agricultural implements, built
barracks to be used in common, and fur
nished ratiOns, We also agreed to make
the first payment for them. Some ground
has been broken and planting done but 1t
was too late to realize much this season.
This is an experiment and so far seems
successful, but it requires more money
than we anticipated. The ultimate sue
cess of this colony must depend on future
contributions. The refugees have estab
ished three other colonies, one in Graham,
one in Hodgeman and one in Morris Coun
ty. The association is not responsible for
these but they will need assistance.
This association has taken charge Of and
aided more or less, about three thousand
of these people, and there are still here and
on the way from st. Louis about four hun
dred more.
We have received in money from all
sources, $5,819.70.
We have expended and incurred obli-
cations for the whole of this fund.
A large quantity of clothing and blank
cts have been received, and we have a
large lot of clothing now on hand.
What we need is money with which to
obtain food, shelter, medical assistance,
and furnish transportation to such pla ces
as will give them employment. This we
must have or else relinqufsh all further eff
fort at organized assistance to these refu-
gees.
The good people who have already so
generously contributed to the cause, haYe
our sincere thanks,
All contributions should be sent to Gov.
John P. st. john
John P. st. John, President; Jno. Fran
els, Treasurer; P. L Bonebrake, Auditor;
Albert H. Horton, Chief Justice; G. G.
Foster U. S. District Judge james Smith,
Secretary of State; J. G. Hebbard, Secre-
tary; Willard Davis, Attorney General.
N. c. Mcfarland, T. W. Henderson and
A. B. Jetmore, Board Of Directors.
TOPEKA, KANSAS June 26th, 1879,