than so much old clothing and provisions. Then they will no
longer be objects of charity or a burden to benevolent people."

The sad stories of this persecuted people had touched the hearts of
the friends of humanity everywhere. Money and clothing came on every
train, and as fast as the association could secure homes for the
refugees they were distributed throughout the State.[137]

A special correspondent of the "Chicago Inter-Ocean" was despatched to
Topeka to report the condition of things there, and to throw some
light upon the great intellect of Senator Voorhees. He reported as
follows:

"TOPEKA, KAN., April 9.--During the last few days I have, in
obedience to your request, been taking notice of the exodus, as
it may be studied here at the headquarters for relief among the
refugees in Kansas. This is the third visit your correspondent
has made to the 'promised land' of the dusky hosts who, fleeing
from persecution and wrongs, have swarmed within its borders to
the number of 25,000. In a letter written while here in December
last the number then within the State was estimated at about
15,000, and since that date at least 12,000 more have come. In
the 'barracks' to-day I found what seemed to be the same one
hundred * * * who crowded about the stove that cold December day;
but they were not the same, of course, for their places have been
filled many times with other hundreds, who have found their first
welcome to Kansas in the rest, food, and warmth which the charity
of the North has provided here. So efficient have the plan of
relief and the machinery of distribution been made, that of the
thousands who have passed through here, none have remained as a
burden of expense to the association more than four or five days
before places were found where their own labor could furnish them
support.

"If that pure statesman of Indiana whose great heart was so
filled with solicitude for the welfare of his colored brethren,
that he asked Congress to appropriate thousands of dollars to
ascertain why they moved from one State to another, will come
here he will be rewarded by such a flood of light on the question
as can never penetrate the recesses of his committee room in
Washington. He need hardly propound an inquiry; he had, indeed,
best not let his great presence be known, f