Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-09
THE COLORED EMIGRANTS. .
Lively Times at the Aid Meeting Last
Night.


LETTER PROM MARSHAL DOUGLASS WHICH
CREATES BREEZE
Ameeting was held at Bethel Hall last evening
in aid of the North Carolina colored emigrants
now at st. Pauls Chapel, South Washington.
awaiting the collection of means to take them
to Greencastle, Indiana. The meeting was
called to order by Mr. o. s. B. Wall, the president
of the Emigrant Aid Society, and prayer was
offered by Rev. W. j. Walker. of Shiloh Rantist
Church. Mr.. Wall explained briefly the object
or the meeting, saying that they were here as
humanitarians, and not to discuss political
questions. They were here to show that at the
capitol OF the nation the colored race had hearts,
and he hoped they would be so orderly as to
make his task an easy one. Mr.. j. NJ. Adams
was elected secretary.
REPORTS FROM THE COMMITTEES
appointed on Friday evening were called for,
and Mr. Gleaves, from that on concert, reported
that they had secured the services of ASbury,
Israel and Union Bethel chOirS and 19th-Street
concert at the Congregational Church on Friday
evening next. The report was adopted. DR..
PurvfS reported progress of the committee to
solicit lecture by Col. Ingersoll Rev. DR.. War
ling, from the committee to wait on white
churches and societies reported over 800 COL
lected-s25 from the Metropolitan NJ. E. Church,
$50 from the congregational, $3.50 from his own
church, and 500 by the Emigrant Relief Club
Rev. DR.. Cain, from the committee on trans
loftation, reported that the lowest rates they
could obtain was 50 per head.
Why THE EMIGRANTs LErT THEIR HOMES.
Mr.. Cleaves denied that these people were
either cowardly or lazy as has been charged
and said that they were not brought here by
any society. They had started for a place
where they expect to earn living with de-
termination to reach some such place or die ON
the road; and he believed that there were
thousands on the road walking tonight for
they were determined Notwithstanding their
attachment to their native place to attempt to
support themselves where they will receive
proper treatment and have the advantages of
schools. &C. He repeated that the sole cause of
the exodus was the bad treatment they had re-
ce1Ved at the hands OF the white people of the
south. Mr.. NJ NJ Holland read letter from G.
F. T. Cook stating that he wished to be one of
200 to give IS each. [Applause.l Mr.. Holland
said he had
LETTER FROM FREDERICK DOUGLASS,
and before reading would express the hope that
no young man would make harsh comments
uponit While Mr.. Douglass differed with them
as to the movement he believed that they should
show their sympathy for these people who are
suffering. Mr.. Holland then read the letter,
which says:
Gent7e,nen:-" In response to your respected
Invitation to be present and speak this evening,
at the meeting called to raise funds in aid of the
colored emigrants now in our city, beg to
state: That while l have in no way encouraged
the tll-advised and 1ll-arranged exodus of col
ored people from the South, and while 1 have
from the first openly and earnestly stated my
objections to it in the most public way at my
command, yet certainly agree with you that
no time should be lost, and no effort omitted, to
raise the means Immediately to help the two
hundred and fifty hungry and pennileSS emf
grants BOW in our city on their way to some
point where homes can be procured for them,
and where they can by their own labor supply
their own necessities. At the same time, can
not but repeat the opinion already often ex-
pressed, that all organized effort at the North
designed to prompt and promote further STAN
pedes of this sort should be discontinued sThese
poor people should not be deluded, and allured
from their homes, especially at this season of
The year, by promises, expressed or implied, of
pecuniary aid. l see no wisdom but much
folly, no good but much evil, in bringing to this
city multitudes of these people under the i'm
preston that when they reach here, that money
will be raised and furnished them to pay their
travelling expenses to the North, or to the West
or elsewhere. There are hundreds and thou
sands everywhere ready to ride on railways and
to visit distant Cities if assured in advance that
and shelter will be provided for them; but this
is not the time for argument. These people are
amongst us. They are hungry, destitute,
manfty are entitled to help; and by all means
they should be helped, and helped Immediately
This much would gladly say at your meeting
this evening If the condition of my health would
permit me to be present"
THE LETTER ATTACKED AND DEFENDED.
Mr. Holland was about to speak, when DR..
Purvis expressed the hope that no young man
would make comments.
Mr. Holland thought he had said harsh COM
ments, and he did not intend to use such.
Voices: ''Was Mr. Douglass ever refugee?
I understand that he once asked contributions
house will receive such letter. 1.-The letter
should be returned etc.
MIR. Holland said that he would not refuse any
letter from Frederick Douglass no matter how
much he differed from him. Mr.. Douglass
name would shine forth on the pages of history
when theirs are forgotten. "A motion was
made amid much confusion to return the letter,
and the chairman raped the meeting to order.l
Mr.. Holland continuing, said he believed in the
exodus. Bulldozing had started it, and he did
not believe in crying down the efforts of any
people to better themselves. White men in
large colonies were going westward, and why
could not the colOred men do the same. He re-
ferred to some papers and even southern repub-
leans charging that these people are lazy and
Mr.. Robert Purvis said that in the letter of his
friend Douglass there were words Of wisdom.
and there was something more to consider in
THIS exodus movement other than their leaving
the South. What will be the effect on the North
should be considered also. You may by sending
these people North spread rampant the spirit OF
slavery In the North, and he referred to an old
law IN Kansas prohibiting colored men from
settling there, and it cannot be said but some
such result will follow this exodus.
Colonel Harlan denied that there was such a
law in Kansas as Mr.. Purvis had referred to,
and the letter OF Mr. Douglass. He did not be-
leve that there was prominent colored man to
be found outside OF this District who opposed
! he movement, and it seemed to him that the
Infection goes here from the White House down
the Avenue.
Mr. Purvis replied that the law referred to
was on the statute books Of Kansas before the
days OF John Brown.
Rev. Mr. Embry, after some trouble obtained
the floor, and said that speech making was det-
rimental to such ameeting, and that the colored
people were in this meeting keeping up their
reputation for being impracticable but philo-
sophicaL They all understood this movement.
and all recognized the necessity IN the cause of
humanity Of aiding these people. He would
give what he was able to give. and hoped there
would be no more speech making saving for the
purpose Of raising the money.
CONTRIBUTIONS AND COMMENTS. .
At this time MeSSrS. Holland, C. B. Puryis
and others, taking baskets called for funds, and
numbers OF those present contributed. Mr. W.
X. Laws said it seemed to him that this whole
scheme was money-making one for how could
man AFFORD to resign a s! 200 clerkship to en-
gage in it. 1t also appeared that there was
some politics about it. He had heard much said
as TO the cause OF education not being open to
these people In the south, and there was plenty
OF educated young men and women (SoHs and
daughters OF these people here) whom they
ought TO send down there TO educate them. 1t
would cost less to send teachers down there to
educate them than 1t would to remove them. As
they had been advised to come here he hoped
they would follow the example OF the Chinese
In Callforn1a and saddle themselves on the neck
OF the aid society. The Irishman raises against
the ChlneSe In California, and he did not know
Dut the irish would raise against these people
Il sent north. AT this point party rose and
sung out: .'Thos. Payne is my name, and call
the house to order" Continuing, PAYNE said
he understood 10