Year: 1879




order to reach Kansas, they would sim
ply arrive here at time when the prin.
cipal farming for this season is over and
but little work to do until another farm
ing season rolls round meantime, they
would be compelled to some extent to
lie idle.


The idleness would not only engender
dissatisfaction on the part of the black
man but also on the part Of the whites.
He would be in a condition that it would
be practically impossible for him to sup
port himself, and thus be compelled to
ask for aid from others, which would not
be pleasant for him nor encouraging to
those appealed to.


Another thing should be guarded
against and that is coming to the North
in such large numbers as to render it
utterly impossible for their friends here
to provide means for them to make their
own living promptly; thus taxing the
charities of the North to such an extent
as to eventually bring about an opposi-
tion to their locating in the Northern
States. Nor should any colored man, If
he can possibly avoid it, come to this or
another State in a destitute condition,
but on the other hand, he should strive
to accumulate sufficient sum not only
to bring him to the North, but to sustain
himself and family temporarily until
such time as he could obtain work and
be made self-supporting, which in my
Judgment would not be long.


/ deeply sympathize with the colored
people of the South in their distressed
condition. l know that they have not
enjoyed that degree of liberty that un-
der the constitution and laws of our
country they are justly entitled to. Add
to this fact the further fact that
know from inspection of bills that they
have paid and brought to me in the
handwriting of the merchants of Lou
isiana and Mississippi that the same peo-
pie have been absolutely robbed of their
earnings. have in my possession mer-
chants bills from which find that these
people have been compelled to pay from
20 to Is cents per pound for bacon, 81 to
81 Oper gallon for the porest kind of 3Oc.
molasses, l2s cents per pound for 6 cent
sugar, Is cents per yard for cent do
mestics and other things in proportion,
and only wonder that under such a
stateof affairs that the colored people
have not before this time determined to
fee from people who would permit
such outrages. While have consider
able sympathy for the planters in con-
nection with this exodus and realize the
effect that it would have ON the agricul-
tural interests of the country, but when
have examined these bills and heard
the plain, unvarnished story of those
poor freedmen, when l have examined
their contracts for rent and find that
they paid $40 per acre rent for land that
was worth but little more money than
that, l soon lose whatever sympathy l
may have had for the white planters in
that country.


This whole question relating to the
exodus of the colored people is in their
hands. When they consider that as good
land as they are charging the darkey
from 81 to $40 per acre rent per annum
for can be purchased right here in Kan
sss for $3 per acre, that fact alone, it
seems to me, would be sufficient to im-
press upon them the necessity of making
some change in their system of dealing
with the cOlored men if they expect
them to remain with them. l desire to
say to say to you that Kansas has not
now nor has she had for years past any
immigrant agent or association. We
have fine State here. 1t needs no
other advertisement than to be visited
by the people. We had no notice or
knowledge of any intention Oh the part
of the black people of the South to mi
CRATE from that country until we learned
that boat load or two of them had
landed at the city of St. Louis on their
way to Kansas. Kansas to-day has her
$50, 900 Republican majority and don't
need to increase it; in fact, l am of the
opinion that the cause that led to the
present condition Of things lies right in
the outrageous manner in which these
colored people have been treated by the
landlords and merchants Of your State.


Let them change their mode of treat
mennt and they will soon ascertain that
the exodus from the South in such num-
bers will cease. l shall be glad at any
time to furnish you such informa tion as
l have at my command in relation to
this matter.


Very truly, your friend,


JOHN P. ST. JOHN,


Governor.


Concerning an inquiry made of it by
correspondent, the Jewish South says: