The critic., 1891-01-23
THAT EMIGRATION SCHEME.

THAT EMIGRATION SCHEME.
Some light is thrown on the African
emigration scheme by letter from one
THOMAS !. CLAYTON of this city to the
Atlanta Constitution. CLAYTON, itappcars
took exception to the comments made in
the Atlanta papers, and wrote rs follows:
No. 5U5 EIGitTEENrit STREET NORTHWEST
WAsHlNGroN, u. c., Jan. Is.
10 he Editor QtNc Constitution:
| read in the Post of this city, taken
from the Atlanta papers, the following
viz: "Colored Men Shamefully Deluded.'
beg to correct some mistntements rs
regards this company, of which | became
secretary October :, 1890, by becoming
shareholder i'm the company. ! was in
formed at the time that all persons con-
ncctod with the company were to pur-
chase stock of the company. SO all the
agents were instructed To organize societies
with that stated among our people, to be
known as African emigrants to go to
Africa, the land of our ancestors.
They were to pay ~ rs u guarantee of
their good intentions, the dollar to be ac-
credited to their passage, minus fifteen
cents for incidental expenses. Judge r.
:. TIARN Of this city was 90 receive sub
sidy for the company, or, in other words,
secure subsidy on each dollar put in by
applicants to cover the remainder of the
passage money. Also, he was to secure
by subsidy $4,000 needed to start the
scheme, together with the sale of COM
pany stocks in 500 shares, the money to
20 in bank only to be used in transport
ing society members TO Africa, and all
moneys thus realized are in bank to-day.
As far as am aware there is no delusion
being practiced, and Just as soon rs sub
sidy is raised or $4,000, the people will
al st... sfaNa Na..Na .ss.1
Judge THARIN, is now negotiating
for us and says it will sue
coed, Notwithstanding false rumors to
the contrary. The company did not au-
thorize its agents nor any one else to
demoralize labor, but to organize with
view at some subsequent time to go to
Africa-not this year. next year, nor this
month, nor next month; but all depended
on the sale of stock, subsidy and $4,000,
together with membership fees, and when
raised all members would have due notice
and everything work in n systematic way,
not pell nell, as the Georgia papers seem
To give il. If some one has been indis-
Greet and inaccurate in giving the
information, the company is not to
blame. ! am new member in the
company, and never understood that
81 was the absolute passage to Africa.
| understood it to be subsidized by the
sale of stock, etc, and no one is being
duped as far as | am aware, though the
money don't pass through my hands, but
] know of every dollar that has been re-
,cived, and know 1t is on deposit in the
bank. Every one who has paid money,
if they are displeased, can return their re-
ceipts and get their dollar, for there is no
desire to wrongfully hold it. The COM
lany Will some time secure subsidy, the
100000, and passengers, too, despite oppo-
sition and Judases.
beg you in fairness to the company to
publish this short and disjointed letter,
hoping that the truth may be CLEANED
from il, as the company don't wish to
cover up its acts, for they are legitimate
and can stand scrutiny. Yours very truly,
THOMAS J. CLAYTON,
Secretary United States and Congo
National Emigration Steamship Com
pany.
simultaneously with the publication of
this letter, however, the Constitution prints
another which CLAYTON wrote to parties
in Atlanta last November. As will be
seen it does not altogether harmonize with
the above:
No. sos EIGHTEENTH STREET NORTHWEST
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. 81, 1890.
J. W. Palmer and Others, Atlanta, Ga:
GENTLEMEN: Yours of the 18th instant
TO hand, and am directed by the board
ol tHe tHlteu States anu congo SledinSllI
Company to say to you that Rev. THOMAS
PEEKE OF your city is the general agent Of
the United States and Congo Steamship
Company for the States of Georgia, Ten
nessee and Alabama, and he is authorized
20 solicit emigration for the company tC
lie carried to Liberia, in Africa, and othel
points on the west coast of Africa. Arrange
ments are being made TO transport larg,
lots of emigrants at 81 per head from
Savannah. Ga. The four cents to cove
postage and other incidental expenses
A married man at the head of famil,
gets twenty-five acres OF land and singl
persons ten acres. Any further infoma
ton pertaining to this matter will be fur
nished you OH the return of the genera
agent, THOMAS PEEKE, who will, will
other members of the board, visit New
York in reference to ships, emigration
etc. am yours very truly,
Secretary United States and Congo S. S
20.
There is no visible reason to believe tina
CLAYTON is really responsible for tn
wreng which has been done the poor ne
grCes now stranded and destitute in Al
lanta. As has been said before, Til
CRITIC thinks that the swindle was con
sceived by white men, and that the colore
actors in it are merely dupes. The fac
remains however that several hundred
of penniless and homeless negroes are no,
languishing in Atlanta, and as they sti
cling to their scheme of emigration an
refuse all offers of employment, their cor
dition promises to become wretched in
deed.