Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-09-25
COLORED REFUGEES.
what rhe Governor Of Kansas Has
SAY Ahnmn Them.

what the Governor OF Kansas Has to
Say About Them
Governor st. John. of Kansas, writes to
a friend in the East as follows:
I desire to assure you that not only
have the refugees not starved but none
have been permitted to suffer for the want
of bread. and instead of their lOafing
around the towns and cities of our State,
that, with very few exceptions. employ
ment was readily obtained for them, and
they are now self-supporting, doing well,
and are happy, and neither love nor mon
ey would induce them to return to the
South to be again subjected to the cruel
wrongs and outrages that have been heap
ed upon them for years past. OF the
G, 900 or 900 that have come TO Kansas
there is not to-day over seVenty-five re-
ceiving aid from charitable sources.
We have found these refugees to be So
Der and industrious, and whenever af-
forded anything like reasonably fair op-
portunity, not only take care of them
selves, but do more They lay by their
surplus means with view to securing for
themselves a home. 1t may be said to the
credit of this people that [ have yet to
see or hear of drunken refugee.
The newspaper or individual who as
serts that Kansas has directly or Indirect
ly been instrumental in originating this
movement on the part of the blacks, SIM
ply states that which is absolutely false.
[ have heard many reports about flaming
chrOmos being circulated by designing g
parties through the Southern States, with
a view to inducing the blacks to emigrate.
But have yet to see one of these chro-
mos, and never expect to see one, as Of
| fered 50 to any one who will send me one
of these ehrOmos alleged to have been
/ so freely circulated among the negroes of
the South, and of all that have come here
with whom I have talked, not Il single
E4nc
of these chromos, nor have they ever seen
| or heard of any emigrant agent or other
person tarveling through the country en-
! deavoring to induce them to come to
Kansas. But, on the other hand, they
say that this movement originated among
themselves; that they have had 1t in con-
| temptation for years, but have deferred
it from year to year with the hope that
they could remain in the South, as they
| prefer that country to this, if only per-
mitted to stay there. But, instead of their
prospects growing brighter, the heel OF
tyranny, from year to year, was ground
down harder upon them, and, at last
when robbed of everything they possess
ed, left penniless and breadless and almos
! naked, they were forced-in order to pro
tect themselves and their children-tC
flee to the land where they could have &
hope of being free.
These poor people have been charged
/ 20 cents per DOuIlu IOf the DaCOH Gn0A
ate, which was worth seven cents; seven
cents per pound for the flour they con
sumed, worth two and half cents A
cents Fer yard for cottonade, worth but L
cents $50 per acre annual rent for lane
the fee-simple title to which would be
worth but little more, if any, than tina
sum. They have been deprived of tht
right to vote according to the dictates O.
their conscience; their children have
been shut out from the schools; theii
homes have been ruthlessly invaded
they have had no protection to life, lib
erty, or property in the courts. This
state of affairs at last eliminated il
| forcing them to take this last desperate
step with the hope of bettering their con
Edition. 1t is the fault of the white rebel!
/ of the South that these people are leaV
ing that land.
You may at all times rest assured tina
Kansas as State will never do anything
that will cause you or any of its tru
friends to feel ashamed of it.