Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-06

wan, OF the Emigrans Aid Society, pres ded, and
after prayer by the Rev. Mr. Howard he stated
that the meeting was called By the SO ,iety. and
| people coming here; SUFFICIENT was it chat they
| were here. and common humanity die tated that
| there should be some relief. Mr. Atwood was
elected secretary. Mr. NJ NJ. Holland, of a COM
| mittee appointed at proceeding meeting, SUBJ
| mitted report, stating that
ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS S NEEDED
to secure the necessary railroad tickets; that 1t
| was no part OF their duty to present the cause
| that occasioRed this movement, or to discuss the
| motives OF these emigrantS-it was enough for
| them to know that they were with them In dis
treSs, and needing their sympathy. No ridicule
| by the enemies OF the race or OF the democratic
party press by raising political questions should
deter any friend OF humanity from doing his
| whole duty. Certainly no colored man will be
deferred from doing his duty by reason OF partt-
! san clamor. They recommend that committee
| Of one from each church, Sabbath school, order,
| lodge and society be appointed to make per-
Sona appeal at once to their respective churches,
sabbath schools &C; committee OF fifteen to
| request the Sabbath school combinationn OF the
1sth-street Shiloh and the Union Bethel church
| schools to give concert; committse OF eleven
TO invite Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll to deliver
| lecture upon the exodus; a committee of nine to
make an appeal to the white churches and soce-
ties In the Dstllat; committee OF nine to con-
ferWftl the railroad officials with view to Sc
curing the lowest possible rate OF transporta-
ton. and committee OF twenty lone ladies to
Call upon all good people in their homes and
places OF business. and Solicit donations of cloth
| ing. food and money. TWAS also recommended
that the chairman of the meeting be requested
tAconfer with the ladies OF tie Home rs Chris
tan Association, and select proper persons with
| whom donations may be left; that committee
of seven be appointed, whose duty it shall be to
| attend to forwarding the emigrantS; that the
| meeting unanimously request the ladies of the
city, unGer the auspices Of the WomenS Christian
Association. to take charge of and feed the dis
| tressed people during their stay here. Accom-
panytng the report were the nominations for
| THE SEVERAL COMMITTEES AS FOLLOWS:
| Committee on churches-.the pastor of each
church. On sabbath Schools-the Superintand-
ent of each school. On orders, lodges and socie-
ttes-the presiding officer OF each. On concert
| = Gleaves, H. Jonson, Devaux, Fearing. Min
ton, J.T. Layton, J.H. Payne, VIM. Peel G. An
derson. j. H. Merriweather, Archer Dr. Au-
gusta. Prof. Hunster. Prof. Grant, Holland, W.
Lewis and Gray. On IngersolPs lecture-Dr.
VIM. Syphax, John w. Freeman. Matthews,
Warner, Superintendent Cook, Greener, Worm
ley and L. Douglass. On white churches and
Barbados, Russell, W. A. Smith, L. Cornish
| Bruce, Carey, Archie and Lewis. To wait upon
District commissioners Bodie J. H, Brooks
| c. Crusor, G. H. Peters, Rev. Jos. Reed, Wilkln-
| son, J.W. Simms, Howard and Wall. On trans
portation-Rev. DR.. Cain, J. NJ. Adams, Sol q.
w. J.Walker, Boedin, Messer and Mendenhall.
OF ladies-Mrs. Fleetwood, Kelley, w. c. Mar
SHALL Mason. Estren. Taylor, Jackson, Stewart,
Warner, John Marshall, Martin, Richardson
| Dyson, F. Martin, NJ. E. Patterson, A. Park and
[. Motar On forwarding emigrants-O. s. b.
| " all Ut. ReVS. IIlulk6, Jefferson, Geo.
Martin, Norman, Carter and Stewart.
| Mr.. Wall said the society was opposed to their
coming unless they were provided with means
to help themselves along. He had been in
formed that they would come If they had TO
| walk.
WHAT CAUSED THE EMIGRANTs TO LEAVE THEIR
| OLD HOMES
| In answer to an inquiry by Rev. DR.. Rankin
Mr.. Holland said that he had made canvass of
| those In Dr. Diapers church, and had the names
OF hfty-siN families, some numbering eight and
| others having but one representative. He found
that there was among them general feeling of
uneasinesS and distrust as to affairs in their old
homes, and had learned from them that families
of six had been compelled to work for So per
month. and all rally days were charged against
them at 40 cents per day. Land which would
not sell for IS per acre they We're compelled to
| pay 80 per year rent for. In the case OF one
man he purchased mule thirteen years ago for
S125, and had been paying on ever since, and
now owed $57 on it, He thought that the mere
fact of these people leaving their homes was
evidence that the stories Of bad treatment were
at least to some extent true. They were de-
prived OF the privileges granted them by law,
days of slavery. He denied that the promises
of forty acres of land had been held out to them
and believed the only assurances they had re-
ceived from Indiana were that they should re,
ceive employment at living wages. If he had
the power he would move every colored man
from south Of Mason and Dtxon's line.
| Mr. Howard said he was refugee from Mis-
| SiSS1ppi, and he read an extract from a letter
| recently received from a citizen OF that state,
and continuing said that something must be
done or the government will find the south a
| first-claSS graveyard
DR.. Rankin thought these people already here
| should be assisted, but they should not let it
go out that emgrants would be helped On
Mr.. Wall said the society had taken the pre-
| cautions to send out circulars not holding out
such Inducements, but it had been stated that
an AGENT of the B. & o. railroad, in the interest
Of his road, had Informed the people that on
arriving in Washington they would be a..
| sisted.
Mr.. j. W. Cromwell said that he had heard
| this statement, and he believed that many had
been induced to leave their homes by the agent
Of the B. & o. railroad The speaker was tu
favor Of raising money and sending these people
| west as the funds come in.
| MIR. Norman secuted at the idea Of these
people being induced to leave their homes by
| cause the whites oppressed them.
| REMARKS BY DIR. PURvIS
DR.. c; b. Purvls remarked that he had been
| opposed to the exodus movement, but these peo-
pie should be sent on their way rejoicing II
the B. & o. r. r. had brought these poople here
| 1t was good thing, and he would assist them
al to get away These people are here because
of spot on earth where white man wants a
colored man, not even In Heaven: but DR.. Ran
klns Church was an exception. He would say
to the southern land owners ''If you don't pay
us our wages, do us justice, we will lay the
beautiful south In ashes" There are 60 900 coored
people here, and If each one paid so cents there
| WOulu 10 SOU,UuU-UullUy DIS uluCli DIS Is
asked for. He would like to see what some OF
the born again people would do in this case.
Mr.. Matthews said that he had just come from
the 15th-street Presbyterian Church, and a COL
lection had been taken up there.
DR.. PuryiS moved that an opportunity be given
for subscriptions, and about $50 was subscribed.
Mr. Holland remarked that many had aided,
while others were engaged 1t the Pinafore bust
ness.
A motion was made adding the Ladies Chris
uan Association to the committee.
otto f0f Tho
the report referring to the Commissioners, say
ing that it was their duty to help them; that
| they had right as taxpayers to demand 1t,
| but of course the Commissioners had right to
refuse. The report as whole was adopted.
THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO BE cANvAssED.
w. c. Chase offered resolution that Presi-
dent Hayes be visited and requested to contrib
| ute to the movement. The following was Of
| fered as substitute, accepted and adopted by
| the meeting: That the committee charged with
the duty OF collecting money to defray the eX-
| pense OF transportation of the refugees now in
the city on their way to the west, be requested
| to call upon the President and the heads OF the
| several executive departments and request per-
| mission to canvass their departments for sub
| scriptlons.
Mir. Holland offered a resolution, which was
| adopted, that committee of three be appointed
| to confer with the authorities of Lincoln Mis-
/ II fn ratY ,iccion To