The Kentucky Gazette

To the inhabitants of Kentucky.

THE distresses of Our fellow men must always excite the feelings of the compassionate and humane: but there is no situation in the human life, which calls so loudly for assistance, as that of the man, who finds himself in a strange country, with but the necessaries of life, to support a large and helpless family. This is the case at this time with hundreds in this State. They have nearly expended their all, in removing their families to this country this fall, and are here in the midst of strangers, without the means of purchasing even bread for their subsistence: the only property which they could dispose of, being a few poor horses, for which they cannot find purchasers, and which add to their distress, by the consumption of that food which is necessary to keep them alive. The poorness of our crop has also made it difficult for those to purchase who have the means; and the increased price of all kinds of provisions, will prevent a great many, from procuring a sufficient quantity, as they calculated when they came to the country on being able to purchase them, as cheap as they have always been bought here before this time. The distresses of these people have been increased, by their finding it impracticable to procure comfortable cabins, to put their families into, untill they can provide permanent places of residence. This complication of difficulties, calls aloud on those who have been longer in the country, and whose situation will compel them to do it, to afford the sufferers relief. Besides the common inducements to acts of humanity, the old inhabitants ought to be strongly stimulated to extend their aid to these people by a recollection of the sufferings they experienced in a similar situation; of the gratitude with which they felt for relief extended to them at that time, and the abhorrence with which they considered the conduct of those, who refused them that relief. The situation of this country is such as to make it the peculiar duty of its citizens, to do every thing in their power to assist emigrants. In old countries, the number of emigrants bears so small a proportion to the old inhabitants, that they can always procure supplies and accomodations of every kind where they are able to pay for them: but the case is so different here, that the new comer cannot now procure either, even with his money, without some assistance. Public policy also requires that every citizen of this State, who must finally be affected by what ever shall have a tendency to increase or retard the population of the country, should do every thing in his power, to make the situation of the present emigrants, as comfortable as possible, as the not doing of it, will be a certain means of checking emigration in future. All these considerations must make it our duty, both as men and citizens, to do every thing in our power for their relief; but there is great reason to fear, that this duty has not hitherto been properly attended to; not so much from a want of the proper disposition to induce us to do it, as from the want of information that it was peculiarly necessary, that it should be done at this time: and also from the want of a proper plan for the doing it with effect. Such a plan is indispensibly necessary, to make the efforts of the charitable and the humane, have the desired effect. Such efforts without system, may relieve the wants of a few, but they will leave the wants of many more without relief; and most probably of the most meritorious class of sufferers, whose modesty prevents them from discovering a distress, to which they have been heretofore strangers. The greater part of the emigrants may be divided into two classes. I. Those who have the means of subsistence, but no place of residence: 2. Those who have neither the means of subsistence, nor places of residence. Those who compose the first class, may receive great assistance from the old inhabitants of the country, by getting information from them, of the most likely places, to procure the necessary supplies of provisions, and habitations; and by their exertions to have such places provided for them: for I believe there is scarcely a farm in the state, on which one or more cabins might not be spared, if the owners would put themselves to a small temporary inconvenience, to serve those who are now so much in need of their assistance. And in this way, great relief may be afforded this class of emigrants, without cost to any body. The second class, will require not only the same relief, but also one of a more substantial nature; but it is a pleasing reflection, that their wants are of such a nature, that there is not a man in the state, who has been here only one year, but will have it in his power, to relieve them in some degree. I would therefore propose, that there should be a committee appointed in each county, for the purpose of giving information and relief to emigrants; that this committee should appoint certain districts, within which, particular members should act; that it should be their duty within their respective districts, to find out the emigrants, and enquire into their wants; that they should solicit the inhabitants near their districts, for subscriptions of such articles, as they can best spare, and which will be adapted to the wants of the emigrants; that after having proportioned the whole quantity of the articles subscribed, among the emigrants, in proportion to their numbers and wants, that they give their orders, on the subscribers for the amount of their subscriptions: and that they endeavor to procure from those who have them to spare, the use of cabins for their temporary reception. I have been informed, that societies of this kind have been found very beneficial in some of the Atlantic States, and I am confident, that the policy and necessity of the measure, ought to operate much more powerfully here than in any state in the union. It is unnecessary to observe that if this plan should be approved of, no time ought to be lost in carrying it into execution; for the season of the year is such, that if immediate relief is not afforded, it may soon be too late to attempt to give it. It is hoped, that in so charitable & necessary a work, the old proverb, that "that which is every man's business is no man's," will not be verified; but that all who really feel for the wants and distresses of the emigrants, will exert themselves, to set on foot, and carry fully into execution, some effectual plan for their relief.

A FRIEND TO THE DISTRESSED.