000, which was 30 per cent. of the taxable property of the county and 40 per cent. of that of the city respectively. The interest remained unpaid so long that the creditors became wearied with waiting, and brought suit on their bonds. The United States Court gave judgment in their favor, and ordered the County Commissioners to levy a tax to pay the judgments. This order the Commissioners declined to obey, and they were cited before the Court to answer why they should not be punished for contempt. Popular meetings were then held both at Leavenworth and Lawrence, at which the Commissioners were exhorted to persist in their refusal, even if they had to go to prison. The resolutions declare that they were elected on this very issue, with the understanding that under no circumstances would they levy a tax to pay the interest, and it was expected that they would keep their pledge. Some of them publicly declared that they would not obey the order of the Court. The following resolution manifests the defiant attitude of the people:

Resolved, That the tax-payers of Leavenworth County will stand by the Board of County Commissioners in its efforts to compromise the railroad indebtedness as long as they are governed by the wish of the tax-payers as expressed in this motion, and will protect them from personal loss and pay all expenses that are necessary to be incurred in an effort to bring about a compromise of this indebtedness; and in fighting it to the end, if the members have to be sent to jail, the county will compensate them for their time while detained from their business, and if they are compelled to pay any fines, the county will fully indemnify them.

These proceedings, as in all other cases, led to an arrangement.

The decline in the amount of life-insurance policies in the State during the year was $1,180,584, although there was an increase in the number of policies.

The movement, or "exodus" as it was called, of colored families from the States on the lower part of the Mississippi River to Kansas is treated elsewhere in these pages. It is sufficient to show here the manner in which they were received by the people and their condition on arrival. This is briefly done in the following appeal to the friends of the colored people:

TOPEKA, KANSAs, June 26, 1879.

TO THE FRIENDS OF THE COLORED PEOPLE :-The directors of the Kansas Freedman's Relief Association, in view of the present situation, deem it proper to make public this address, and ask the friends of the colored people for further aid in caring for the helpless and destitute refugees.

This is a matter not local to our State, but is one of national concern. It involves the solution of a great question, important alike to the people of the whole country, and if properly met will go very far to work a eure of the ills of the freedmen of the South. If we prove equal to the occasion, and can assist these people who are seeking homes in the North and utilize their labor, those who remain behind will discover a kindlier feeling and better treatment in the South.

In organizing this association we were moved by two controlling motives. The first was one of humanity. Many of them were old and decrepit, and many young and helpless, and with few exceptions were

destitute. They were landed on the river banks by hundreds, in the chilly days of early spring, after a long and tedious journey, fraught with hardships and privations. Many were sick and dying from exposure, and many were suffering for food, clothing, and medical assistance. The simplest dictates of humanity demand immediate and organized effort for their relief. maintain the honored traditions of our State, which Another incentive to meet this emergency was to had its conception and birth in a struggle for freedom and equal rights for the colored man." She has shed too much blood for this cause to now turn back from her soil these defenseless people fleeing from the land of oppression. We have not sought to stimulate or encourage their migration hither. We have always endeavored to place before the colored people of the South the plain facts, hoping thus to properly restrain an improvident hegira, based upon delusive hopes and expectations. We have also sought to impress upon them that other Western and Northern States possess equal advantages for homes for the laboring man. In brief, we have undertaken, so far as lies in our power, to provide for the destitute of these people, who come voluntarily them in obtaining situations where they can earn a the common necessities of life, and to assist livelihood.

among us,

We have made an effort to establish a colony about fifty miles west of this city in Wabaunsee County. Finding that good land could be bought for $2.65 per acre, we are locating about thirty families on forty acres each. This is university land, one tenth to be paid down and the balance in nineteen years at 7 per cent. interest. We have furnished for their use teams and some agricultural implements, built barracks to be used in common, and furnished rations. We also agreed to make the first payment for them. Somo ground has been broken and planting done, but it was too late to realize much this season. This is an experiment, and so far seems successful, but it requires more money than we anticipated. The ultimate success of this colony must depend on future contributions. The refugees have established three other colonies, one in Graham, one in Hodgeman, and one in Morris County. The association is not responsible for these, but they will need assistance.

This association has taken charge of, and aided more or less, about three thousand of these people, and there are still here and on the way from St. Louis about four hundred more. We have received money from all sources, 85,819.70. We have expended and incurred obligations for the whole of this fund. A large quantity of clothing and blankets have been received, and we have a large lot of clothing now on shelter, medical assistance, and furnish transportation hand. What we need is money with which to obtain to such places as will give them employment. This we must have or else relinquish all further efforts at organized assistance to these refugees,

The good people who have already so generously
contributed to the cause have our sincere thanks.
All contributions should be sent to Governor John
P. St. John.

JOHN P. ST. JOHN, President.
JNO. FRANCIS, Treasurer.

P. I. BONEBRAKE, Auditor.

ALBERT H. HORTON, Chief Justice. C. G. FOSTER, U. S. District Judge. JAMES SMITH, Secretary of State. J. C. HEBBARD, Secretary. WILLARD DAVIS, Attorney-General. Board of Directors-N. C. McFarland, T. W. Henderson, and J. B. Jetmore.

KENTUCKY. The question of a revision of the Constitution of Kentucky was submitted by the Legislature to the voters at the election in August, 1879. A majority vote against revision determines the question until it may be again submitted by the Legislature. It is

regarded as one of the defects of the existing Constitution that some of its provisions operate against the progress of internal improvements. The Legislature is not expressly empowered to levy taxes, contract debts, or make appropriations for internal improvements. The consequence has been that a local system of taxation has been adopted for internal improvements, and such numbers of counties and towns in the wealthier sections of the State have levied taxes and contracted debt to make their own improvements that, if they are not absolutely unable, they are at least unwilling to submit to further taxation, should it be proposed under this general provision of the Constitution, to construct internal improvements in those counties in other sections of the State unable to provide the means by local taxation. By reason of this the Legislature has become powerless to levy taxes and contract debt on behalf of the State for improvements in those counties and parts of the State where they are necessary to develop their resources, or elsewhere for the general benefit of the State. That this local system of taxation has reduced the State to this helpless condition is evidenced by the failure of the last Legislature to vote a dollar to repair river improvements. This has led to unavailing petitions to Congress for aid. Another defect is the present mode of organizing the judiciary department.

The receipts of the State Treasury for the fiscal year ending on October 10, 1879, were, with the balance on hand of the previous year, $2,166,192; the expenditures were $2,095,321. Although this presents an apparent balance of $70,870, there was really a deficiency, owing to the amount of outstanding claims unpaid. This was ascribed by the Auditor to a reduction of the revenue tax from twenty to fifteen cents on the hundred dollars, the increase of litigation and crime, the multiplication of courts and asylums for the relief and protection of the unfortunate, etc.

The total amount of the bonded indebtedness of the State, exclusive of the school fund, which is a permanent loan, is $180,394. The ample resources of the sinking fund to pay this indebtedness are as follows:

Net proceeds of the redemption of the 5-20 gold-
bearing interest bonds of the United States,
purchased under the act of March 19, 1873, by
the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund..
406 shares of stock in the Bank of Louisville...
Stock in turnpike roads (estimated) worth

Total resources......

$285,671 72 82,450 00 500,000 00

$768,151 72

The amount of bonds due and unpaid, to wit, $6,394, it is supposed will never be presented for payment, judging from the length of time they have been due, and from the additional fact that the interest ceased on them after maturity. It is supposed they have been lost or destroyed.

The condition of the schools and school system of the State is rather unfavorable. The resources of the school fund are: a bond of the

Commonwealth held by the Board of Education, $1,327,000; bank stock, 735 shares in Bank of Kentucky, valued at $73,500; total, $1,400,500; besides dividends on Bank of Kentucky stock, tax on capital stock of the Bank of Shelbyville, Farmers' Bank of Kentucky, Farmers' and Drovers' Bank, fines and forfeitures for gambling, tax on every $100 worth of taxable property in the State, tax on dogs over six months old (one dollar on each dog in excess of two owned or kept by any bona fide housekeeper, and on each dog in excess of one owned or kept by any person not a housekeeper), and the non-transferable bond for the surplus bearing interest at six per cent. per annum, the whole bond aggregating $345,447.30. The total receipts from all these sources at the end of the fiscal year were $826,426.67, and the warrants paid amounted to $819,887.25. Of the collections, the dog tax amounted only to $965.70, and the tax on billiards to $2,605.57. The total collections only give about $135 to each of the six thousand school districts into which the State is divided, and this is not enough to keep a school in operation three months out of the year.

The number of children of school age in the State is placed at 400,000 whites and 50,000 colored. The per capita has fallen to $1.60 for white and 52 cents for colored children. At the same time about 200,000 white and 25,000 colored children do not attend the schools. The negro tax collected by the sheriffs amounted only to $25,716. Nevertheless, 1,800 schoolhouses have been built during the last eight years, while there are 7,000 school districts in the State. The Superintendent says: "The school-buildings of Louisville alone are worth nearly as much as all the school-houses in the rural districts. Louisville, with a population of about 175,000, expends $250,000 annually on her system, almost one third the whole cost of education to the State. If our people, in the same proportion with those of Louisville, would patronize education, we would expend annually $3,750,000 on our common schools, which would be about seven dollars to the pupil child included in the census, and almost seventeen dollars to every one in attendance at any time during the scholastic year."

At a State Convention of colored teachers held in Louisville on August 27th, a memorial to the Legislature was adopted, in which they

say:

We, the colored teachers of this Commonwealth, in convention assembled, do, after having given the subject our most careful study and attention for the past two years, most respectfully represent: First, that the present colored school fund is wholly inadequate for the purpose of securing to the colored children of the Commonwealth general elementary instruction; that in a great many school districts schools are not held at all, and in many others the pro rata of the school fund is not sufficient to allow trustees to obtain any but incompetent teachers, who squander, as it were, the public money without securing to the children those educational advantages designed by the creation of the colored common-school system. In this connection

we respectfully call your attention to the fact that the average salary of colored teachers in this State is only about $50 per annum, or about one third the average salaries of colored teachers in the other exslave States; and furthermore, the per capita which our fand yields is only about one fourth that given a white child, with a difference of four years in the limit of school age in favor of the white child, while in other States the per capita and limit of school age are the same for the colored as for the white child. Believing that, while this great difference remains, our commonschool system will not only not accomplish the object for which it was intended, but will in time be entirely abrogated on account of its inefficiency, we do most respectfully ask at the hands of your honorable body an equalization of the per capita and limit of school age for all the children of this Commonwealth, as the only true means of securing to every child the necessary educational facilities. Second, that the majority of the colored teachers of this State, by reason of the failure on the part of the State to make provision for normal instruction, are wholly incompetent as instructors. While the other ex-slave States have found it especially necessary to organize and foster, in many instances by State appropriations, normal schools for the education of colored teachers, which amount to twenty chartered colleges and twenty-nine normal schools, we have not a single normal school organized by aid of Kentucky for the same purpose; and while nearly or quite $20,000,000 have been expended on the colored people of the South for educational purposes since the close of the war, a very small proportion of this vast amount has found its way into Kentucky.

The acreage of wheat was larger than in 1878, but there are no means by which to determine its extent. The crop was estimated between 8,000,000 and 9,000,000 bushels. The corn-crop was fair, but suffered in consequence of the damage to the seed, which is left in the field, from the severe winter and the heavy rains late in the season. Tobacco was subject to the same drawbacks and casualties as the corn-crop. Much of it was damaged by wind, hail, and rain. The extent of the damage could be stated only approximately. The crop was much below the previous year. The hempcrop, although it grew out better than was anticipated, was very short compared with any previous crop, and of light fiber and inferior quality. Much of it was caught by the heavy rains after being cut, and consequently considerable of the gluten washed off. In addition, it was discolored by the rains instead of being bright and lively, as Kentucky hemp usually is. The fall crop of grass was finer than any in a score of years, and it compensated for the short spring crop and half crop of hay. The crop of Irish potatoes was short, yet sufficient was raised for home use, and of medium quality. The season was unusually favorable to the growth of sweet potatoes, and the crop was large and of extra quality. The same may be said of the other great garden staple, cabbage. Live stock of all kinds was reported in good and thrifty condition, and unusually exempt from disease. In fact, not a single disease was mentioned in any locality in the State; on the contrary, there was a remark able exemption from those pests, hog and chicken cholera. The bees had a hard time, and many stands perished during the winter.

The drought ran through the entire honeymaking season, and they were unable to lay in their usual store. There had not been one swarm this year where there are usually fifty. The number of idiots in the State is 758. These are supported by the State at an expense of $75 each, making a total of $56,850. An examination as to the localities of the State to which they belong shows the following results: Jefferson County, embracing the city of Louisville, with a population of over 200,000, has only sixteen idiots; while Wayne County in the mountains, with a population of 10,602, has thirty idiots. Again, Kenton County, embracing the city of Covington, has a population of about 40,000 inhabitants and four idiots, while Whitely County in the mountains, with a population of 8,278, furnishes twenty-three idiots. Fayette County, with a population of 26,656, has one idiot, while Morgan County in the mountains, with a population of 5,975, has twenty-one idiots. Daviess County, with a population of 20,714, has seven idiots, while Wolf County in the mountains, with a population of 3,603, has thirteen idiots. Henderson County, with a population of 18,457, has four idiots, while Harlan County in the mountains, with a population of 4,415, has eighteen idiots. Campbell County, with a population of 27,406, has one idiot, while Clay County in the mountains, with a population of 8,297, has twenty-three idiots. least three fourths of the idiots generally drawing pay from the Treasury are in the sparsely settled counties in Eastern Kentucky, familiarly known as the mountain counties.

At

The condition of the State Prison of Kentucky, according to the representations of Governor Blackburn, is truly horrible. The number of convicts at the close of the year was 969, with only 780 cells for their reception. The Governor says:

This terrible state of affairs required, as a necessity, that 378 of these wretched men should be thrust and immured two in a cell, although these cells were but 3 feet 9 inches wide, 6 feet 3 inches high, and 6 feet did not even contain sufficient air to support one man, 8 inches long. These small, dark, ill-ventilated cells and the death-record gives us abundant proof of this fact. From the 1st of January last up to the present time, there have died 74. This is a fearful mortality. victs must endure, we quote from the testimony of Dr. William Rodman, an eminent physician of Frankfort, upon this subject. In a suit of the State against. Jerry South, the present lessee of the Penitentiary, to recover money due the State, the defendant South introduced as a witness Dr. Rodman, who, being duly sworn, testified as follows: "That he had been a physician to the penitentiary for about eight years, and is well acquainted with the cell-houses and workshops. The cell-houses have been as bad as they well of air; they get there 170 feet to two men. This has could be. Each man ought to have in his cell 840 feet affected the health of the men in the prison, and very materially their working capacity." The Black Hole of Calcutta, so abhorred in history, was not much ings crowded together in these dark, unwholesome worse than this. Only think of it: two human belittle dens. To what beastliness may it not lead; yes, to what beastliness has it not already led! Ask those

To show the terrible torments some of these con

1878, returned in March with thirteen of the principal actors. It was generally considered that the disorders there had not grown out of barbarism, or any relapse from the social status. An imperfect organization has resulted from the practical isolation of the people, the unlettered authorities, and the absence of schools and moral example. They need the contact of more advanced communities.

A great excitement was produced in the State by the killing of John M. Elliott, one of the Judges of the State Court of Appeals, by Thomas Buford. The tragedy occurred on the steps of the Capital Hotel in Frankfort on March 26th. Buford had embarked all the property that he owned, together with the whole estate of his sister, since deceased, in a tract of land in Henry County, and, the parties from whom he purchased failing to make a title to the land, a suit was pending before the Court of Appeals for the rescission of the trade, and the repayment to Buford of the twenty or thirty thousand dollars which he had paid on the property. A little more than a year previous, under a decision of the Circuit Court, the farm was sold for the deferred payments still due from Buford-some twelve thousand dollars-and the parties from whom he had purchased became the buyers, bidding in the property for the sum of twelve thousand dollars, thus taking from him, without recourse, the twenty odd thousand dollars already paid, and leaving him a pauper. This decision and sale were appealed to the highest Court in the State, and the decision was rendered on March 21st sustaining the sale, and leaving him to brood over his entire loss of everything. Buford was convicted of the murder and sentenced to hard labor in the State Prison during his life. The case was brought to the Court of Appeals for revision, and on filing the record, a paper in the nature of a protest against any action in the case by the present members of the Court was presented. To this the Court acceded, and the Governor appointed special judges to try the

case.

The election of State officers was held on

August 1st. In preparation for the same, the Democratic Convention assembled at Louisville on May 2d. John W. Stevenson was chosen permanent chairman. The following nomina

tions were made for State officers: For Governor, Luke P. Blackburn; for LieutenantGovernor, James E. Cantrill; for AttorneyGeneral, P. W. Hardin; for Auditor, Fayette Hewitt; for Treasurer, James W. Tate; for Superintendent of Schools, J. Desha Pickett; for Register of Land-Office, Ralph Sheldon.

The following resolutions were adopted:

The Democracy of Kentucky, in convention assembled, reaffirm their attachment to the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States, as the best guarantee for the liberties of the people and their prosperity and happiness.

They rejoice in the fact that it is in their power to recognize that all the States are restored to their political autonomy.

They hereby record their solemn protest that a popular verdict at the polls has been reversed by the action while in the interest of peace that result was acquiof an Electoral Commission, and they declare that, esced in, yet it shall not be held as a precedent for future violations of right and justice. Though thus deprived of control of the executive power in the administration of the Federal Government, they congratulate the people of the country at large that the popular will, expressed at the polls, has secured the supremacy of a Democratie majority in both Houses of Congress. In further expression of our views, we resolve that we have viewed with intense interest the issue between and contemplate with unfeigned anxiety and condemthe Congress of the United States and the President, nation the unprecedented attitude assumed by the Executive in his message rejecting the supplies tendered by the people for the support of their army, upon the wholesome condition that no military force should be used at their elections.

Resolved, That we heartily endorse the position taken by our Senators and Representatives in Congress in coupling with the appropriation bills now pending a demand for redress of grievances by the resoldiers at the polls, the continuance of test-oaths as a peal of existing laws which tolerate the presence of condition for jury service, and the employment of supervisors and deputy marshals to control elections.

Resolved, That in this great issue between the people and a partisan Executive we have implicit confidence their action up to the present, hereby assure them of in our Senators and Representatives, and, endorsing our hearty support in whatever action they may take to maintain the fundamental principle that the military power shall be kept subordinate to the civil, and that elections shall be free from executive interfor

ence.

Resolved, That we approve the action of the General Assembly in submitting to the people the question of calling a convention for the purpose of forming a State Constitution, and we hereby commend the call to the favorable consideration of the Democratic voters of the State.

Resolved, That we approve the measures heretofore adopted to create a general and efficient system of common-school education, and pledge the Democratic party to take such steps as from time to time experience may demonstrate to be wise to so perfect the system as to furnish every child in the State the means of a fair English education.

tion of State officers assembled at Louisville on The Republican Convention for the nominaApril 10th. John D. White was elected chairman. Walter Evans received the nomination for Governor; for Lieutenant-Governor, O. S. Deming; for Attorney-General, A. H. Clark; for Auditor, J. Williamson; for Treasurer, R. P. Stoll; for Superintendent of Schools, M. McIntire; for Register of Land-Office, John H

Wilson.

The following resolutions were adopted:

The Republicans of Kentucky contemplate with pride the history and achievements of the Republican the record it has made, both in war and in peace. We party of the United States. We hold up to the world do not ask that any of it be forgotten; on the contrary, we point to its great deeds, and recall them to remembrance: the suppression of armed rebellion, its unparalleled magnanimity to the overthrown enemies of the Union, the emancipation and enfranchisement of an enslaved race, its determined purpose to honestly pay the national debt, its further stand on the side of honest money, the skill and prudence of its financial management, and its steadfast purpose that justice and right shall be done to all citizens of the United States under the laws, without distinction of race or color or previous condition of servitude.