, 1880-01-04
LETTER FROM COL. STREIGHT
One That Explains His Status OF: the
Exodus Question, and His Sympathlea
for the Oppressed.

Exodus Question, and His symPath1es
for the Oppressed.
Ls1ansport (Ind) Journal.
The following letter Clearly and sufficiently e1-
plains itself, and is commended to the attention
Of readers of the Journal, who are also requested
to pass it around:
The Hon. Charles Kallo-sfy ESTEEMED FRIEND:
You have my thanks for sending the Pharos OF
the 18th inst. It is surprising to see how very
ordinary transaction in our private S,,S SMs1 !,
political partisans into a matter Of great
public concern. Tho truth Is, that sent
two colorcd men and their families, con
sistIng Of some women and children, from this
city to my farm in Newton County, where am
needing some farm-laborers. These people had
just arrived here from North Garona 9ta 7 ThGse fe
white men Of Indianapolis that Col. streight IS
stocking his farm p fe th
Indianapolis, both white and black. that sent
these people to work on my fnrn. why not tel
thcm?. have repeatedly advertsed 1or @ 1arm, n,
have sent numbers of them there. gave, them
remuncrntive employment, mud I still Want m
farm @ II bands @ in N Newton County. Yes, tell it to
the people that sent two colored men, with
their families, to my Newton County farm; ana
will add that they Are poor and destitute, but
believe honest md Industrious. -,
Now, friend Kahlo, while am writing. l will
add that have a very kindly feeling for these
dcavoring to escnpe from condition worse than
slavery. It will soon be sixteen years IN Fepru-
ury next since was making my way from the
now persecuting tho colored people was then
called Rebels; and those Rebels had orders from
the commander OF the prison from which had
cscapcd to capture me, but to not bring me back
Nv life was at stake. but human endurance has
limit even when lfo is ut stake, aud this limit
was REACHED when was or On the Pans
mock after terrible day Of crossing difficult
streams, marching, and hiding from the enemy:
Ny feet fo was of worn e out 5oG ~ens oa
hammock River mearly three miles wide;
the ea5e f5 Vas aaRoher
VI without % a boat and on the south side the Rebels
known @ BY the Rebels that I was somewhere
within the space Of country above described,
which was not more than two miles wide and
together with the people both black and white,
with their dogs. hnd turned out to hunt AL day
for my place of .concealment, It seems almost
lance through that terrible day But darkness
put an end TO tho search, and was left to GO con- n
slider the situation Up t9 tbs TINE my dnd podfg p
endcavor to get through tho country undiscoF-
cred. This must now be changed, for WIS IN
great need Of immedate friendly 5;fd assistance
men were my only. choice. L started in
the dark, through the drenching rain, and soon
found tho negro quarters OF u plantation,
and, on entering one Of the cabins, was
welcomed by a good, honest Union man, and
friend, though slave, who had been out all day
with his 1nnster hunting for me. This man, at
the risk Of his lifc took me into his cabin, pro-
cured and cooked bountiful supply Of food,
and permitted me to rest while he Joined his
master the next day in vigorous hunt ior my
the negroes returned to tell what had been done,
and Of thefact that q certain boat, by chance,
might be captured, which would ennble me to
cross the Rappahannock, and thus escape from
my purslcrs. The negroes OF this plnntat1on,
at the risk Of their lives, Joined me in capturing
stream to the river, and returned to their houses
to join in the search for my whercabouts
on tho morrow. By their assistance I
made my way out Of the reach Of tho enc.
my, and my life was spared. The coiored
people now fleeing from Southern persecution
are trying to escape from the same Sc cyl spirit n
that plunged our country into M war; that starved
and tortured to death over 81, 600 Union soldiers;
that hunted escaping Union prisoners of war
with blood hounds; that since tho close OF the
War has murdered tens of thousands Of mon anu
women for entertaining political opinions favor
able to the Union; that has organized rifle clubs
and Ku-K1ux bands TO whip. scourge, and mur,
der Union people. say thnt it is from this evil
spirit that these poor people are trying to escape
and it was from the same demon that made my
cscupe. And now, remembering the fact, 1t any
man supposcs that l have no sympathy for the
refugees, he is not acquainted with my disposi-
tion. for do not intend to be guilty Of ingrati-
tudc, Hoping that the time will soon como
when our National Government will protect tho
constitutional rights Of our citizens throughout
the length and breadth Of the land, remain
most truly yours, a D. 6TRE1GHT.