The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-09-16
THE Co1ORED EMIGRATION.
How Kansas Has Received the COlorcd
Refugees.

Refugees.
WARRINGTON, September l4.-Governol
St John, Of Kansas, writes TO ex-senator
PomerUy as follows:
~ 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 loafng
around the towns and cities Of our State,
that, with q very few exceptions, employ.
ment was readily obtained for them and
they are now selt.supporting, doing we'll
and are happy, and neitherlove nor money
would induce Them 70 return to the South
10 be again subjected to the cruel wrongs
and outrages that have been heaped upon
them Tor years past. OF the six or seven
thousand that have come 10 Kansas, there
Is not to-day over seyenty.tiye receiving
aid from charitable sources.
1--WE have found these refugees to be
sober and industrious, and whenever az
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. Itmay be said to the
credit Of this people that l have yet to see
or hear Of drunken refugee.
"Ihe 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,
simply stateS that which Is absolutely
false: have heard many reports about
flaming chromos being circulated by de.
signing parties through the Southern
States with aview to inducing the blacks
to migrate, but have yet TO see one Of
these chromos, and never expect to see
one, as offered S. to any one who will
send me one of these chromos alleged to
have been so freely circulated among the
negroes of the South, and OF the numbers
who have come here with whom l have
talked not single colored man or woman
has ever seen one OF these chromos, nor
have they ever seen or heard OF any emil
grant agent or other person travelling
through the country endeavoring to in
duce them TO come TO Kansas. But, on
the other hand, they say that the move
ment originated among themselves that
they have had 1t in contemplation for
years, but have deferred 1t from year to
year with the hope that they could re-
main in the South, as they prefer that
country to this II only permitted 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 that they possessed,
lett penniless and breadless and almost
naked, they were forced, in order to pro-
tect themselves and their children, to fee
to the land where they could have hope
Of being free. fGr
These poor people have been charged |
twenty-five cents per pound for the bacon |
they eat, which was worth seven cents;
seven cents per pound for the -four that
they consumed, worth two and one.half |
Genus; forty cents per yard for cottonade,
worth but twelve cents; $40 per acre an
nual rent for land, the fee simple title to
which would be worth but little more, II
any, than that sum. They have been de-
priyed Of the right to vote according to the
dictates Of their conscience; their children
have been shut out from the schools; their
homes have been ruthlessly invaded; they
have had no protection 10 life, liberty, or
property III the courts. This state OF
sfalTs at last eliminated in forcing them
o take this Last desperate step, with the
hope OF bettering their condition. 1t is
he lault of the white rebels of the South
hat these people are leaving that land"
You may at all times rest assured that
Kansas, as "a State, will never do anything
nat WILL cause you or any OF Its true
riends to feel ashamed Of it,