Transcription of Governor St. John's
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Transcription of Governor St. John’s Exoduster Correspondence [Image 1] Cain Sartain, Illanarra, East Carroll Parish, Louisiana to Governor St. John, March 30, 1879 To his Excellency, the Governor of the State of Kansas. Dear Sir: Please inform me wheather your State has a State board of emigration organized in it or not. And what inducement dos the laws of your State provide for the facilitation of emigration into your State. Also wheather life and property is secure, the right of franchise respected, public education facilities in the interest of all citizens alike. There is a great number of my race of people in my State, are determined to leave it, for the causes of the insecurity of the above paragraph. They are a poor class of people, and anything like a half a showing they will prosper. Hoping an erly reply, I am [your] most obedient servant. CAIN SARTAIN [Image 3] Wyandotte Kans. April 7” 1879 Gov. St John Topeka Kans Dear Sir; You have of course heard of the great stream of African immigration from the South, pouring in on us here. Yesterday during that terrific hail storm – though only of a few minutes duration, hundreds of poor refugees were without shelter on our levee, except as they helped themselves to lumber in Mr. Walcotts yard. Some of our churches are opened, the Freedmans University buildings & grounds at Quindora are crowded but still they came. We shall certainly be swamped. We are not panic stricken, although the shrill whistle of every boat which comes causes us many anxious thoughts. You know what Louisiana darkies from the cotton plantations are, and I need not tell you of what they expected to find here. Suffice it to say that most of them are penniless, many are sick, and the dead are scattered along the way. The dead and dying you could see at any time when you have to look about you. [Image 4] Many of our citizens, white & colored, rich & poor are doing all they can. And it is a very nice question as to how much ought to be done. We of course want them to “move on”. And now comes the point for the Governor and State to consider: If they remain in crowds, in filth poverty, in actual want, in a very short time malignant and contagious diseases must and will break out. Shall we wait for that calamity which is certain to come unless they scatter? If disease comes it will spread to Kansas City, Lawrence Topeka, Leavenworth, Olathe etc. Our city Wyandotte is already crowded, we are not wealthy, we cannot establish quarantine regulations. We believe as a “war measure”, as a public necessity, the State should aid in solving this Problem. Very Respectifully Yours A.N. Moyer P.S. I shall ask no one to endorse this Shall send it on my own [XXXX] A.N.M. I unite with Mr Moyer in the foregoing. His statements are entirely reliable. This case requires immediate action. R.M. Small [Image 6] Saint Louis Kansas City and Northern Railway, General Passenger & Ticket Department, Office, Corner Third & Chestnut Streets. St. Louis, April 10 1879 Your Excellency Executive Mansion Topeka Kans Kind Sir I learn that there is a large crowd of Colored people comeing in to the city of Topeka with a view of Securing homes in Western Kansas and that they want assistance in getting on their lands if the people of Topeka or State authorities will assist me in the under taking. I will select a good County Western Kansas and get them a Low Rate of Transportation [Image 7] over the Kansas Pacific to the place we locate them I have the Honor of Locating the Nicodemus Colony of Graham Co and this colony is prosperous they we’re poor and had nothing in the Start while at this writing they are in fare Circumstances I am willing to give my assistance in Locating them if I can have my expences clear in locating the Nicodemum Colony. I Received $5.00 for locating Each one, paying $2.00 to the Gov for fileing this will not [Image 8] meet my Expenses but if the Citizens of Topeka or State authorities will take hold of this matter I will go to work in Ernest for all those poor Down trodden people want is a start I can give the Best of References from both colored and white. Please let me hear from you Address W.R. Hill Hill City-Graham Co Kansas [Image 9] April 21, 1879 THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY. Kansas City Mon, 1879. Topeka, Kansas To: Gov. J.P. St John. What action was taken at Meeting last night to provide for Colored laborers I hope [XXXXX] was adopted to Directing them through the agricultural district to help during approaching Harvest of an attempt not to be made to stop the Exodus. Nicodemus should be employed to discourage it at the south before they plant [XXX] in the meantime take care of those that arrive until settled some where I think the people at large will sustain in your [XXX] any appropriate official action [Image 10] I want this embarrassing question answered so I can be informed. P.B. Graot [Image 12] D. Shelton Pacific Railway Kansas City, Mo. Apr. 21 1879 Governor I was in the G.P. office K.P.R. when committee came in to procure trans. for colored people up this [XXXX] Mr Govat strongly protested against them being sent any where until a committee went ahead and arranged for shelter & work for certain nos. at each place. He furnished transportation to a Com. for that purpose & he supposed that the Com. had arranged for the people to go to Lawrence. It is a big problem suddenly sprung on the country, especially on Kansas. I am curtain Kansas will [XXXX] it satisfactorily. I do firmly believe that it is the last move that aided by Providence will result in freeing really the poor african race. I believe that you will grasp the question in its full scope & magnificence & act so vigoursly & wisely that your name will stand alongside Harrison, Giddings, Summers & others as the friend of the oppressed. The whole matter can be adjusted this way. Let the Gov. approach an able committee, men who can talk, magnifically. See this Com. go, one member along each road. Let meetings be called on each town, & [Image 13] let speeches be made, songs sung and then, “who of you who are in business farming or otherwise will employ one able bodied man & find a house for his family to live in?” This way all of these prople could be entitled a home. You could do it. I could do it any man whose soul is in it could do it. I wish my duties were not so arduous. I would so much love to do this which I know is the dear Lord’s work. Yours truly, D. Shelton J.P St. John Governor [Image 14] April 21, 1879 THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY Washington D.C. 21 1879 To: Gov. St. John Telegram sent memorialize Congress for relief of Colored immigrants giving [XXXXX] Conditions [XXXX] & probable results expected [XXXXX] . What has been done by our people thus far, and what assistance is necessary. D.C. Haskell John J. Ingalls The Collect Friends [Image 16] Apr. 20, 1879 Kansas City To Gov J.P. St. John The Citizens of Wyandotte furnished transportation for the Colored people to Lawrence and we as common carrier forwarded them. The Citizens of Lawrence are exercised as to which can be done with them, in my opinion if some procedural plans can be devised to [XXXXX] these people they can be absorbed by communities [Image 17] in Kansas & I have spoken to Citizens of Lawrence that this question of public – interest should be met in a calm, deliberate mannor & that the great north & east should not feel satisfied if Kansas [XXXX] its plenty now failed to provide for a few poor colored people fleeing from real or financial wrongs instead of sending them from pillar to post militant any [XXXXX] destination it would be better to devise some method of distribution that would result [Image 18] in their future welfare in any event I don’t think they ought to be allowed to suffer for if they do it will operate to the disadvantage of the State in the future. P.B. Groat [Image 20] Topeka, Kan – April 21, 1879 Hon. J. St. John Dear Sir Enclosed is the $10. I subscribed to the Freedmen’s Fund last evening. I hoped to see you this morning – to talk of Kansas and United States Citizenship. And the speediest method to make each and both the guarantee of equality – of rights to women – Respectifully Yours Susan B. Anthony [Image 21] P.S. Please acknowledge receipt at Leavenworth Train or oblige - s.b.a. [Image 23] Washington Ave. 2660 St. Louis, Apr. 22 1879 Hon. Gov. St. John – Or Hon. Chief Justice Horton. Gentlemen – I have just received advice that there have been forwarded by Rail from Boston, from a personal friend, 5 bales of Gray Blankets, weighing 7 lbs. each pair, containing 50 pairs in each bale, for relief of the colored Immigrants. Will you please inform me whether wise distribution can be made of them or part of them, under your direction, & give me such suggestions as you can. I infer from the letter received that a private letter of mine was published in Boston, & shall not be surprised if considerable contributions are made.