No. 376.
Mr. Schuyler to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Saint
Petersburg, March 30, 1872.
(Received April 18.)
No. 168.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose you a copy of
a letter I have received from Mr. Smith, the consul at Odessa, on the
subject of the contemplated emigration of the Mennonite colonies in the
south of Russia to America, and also a copy of my answer thereto.
The Mennonites first came to Russia from Prussia in 1789, in answer to an
invitation of Catharine II, who gave them land, means with which to
establish themselves, and temporary relief from taxes and contributions,
and promised them religious freedom and exemption forever from military
service. They settled in the south of Russia, in what is now the
government of Taurid, on a tract of land between the rivers Dnieper,
Molotchna, and Tokmok, and in 1855 numbered some seventeen thousand
souls, (males.) The Mennonites are good agriculturists, but are
particularly noted for their plantations of fruit, forest, and mulberry
trees. This culture they have followed with great success on steppes
that were formerly perfectly bare. The Mennonites are intelligent,
industrious, and persevering, in addition are very clean, orderly,
moral, temperate, and economical, as may be judged from their
application. They are excessively religious.
Petzholdt, in his travels in 1855, says that it is his “firm conviction
that Russia cannot show any more diligent or more useful citizens.”
There are schools in every village, and education is universal among
them.
The details of the law of universal compulsory military service have not
yet been decided on, but it is not proposed to exempt any individuals or
classes of the community from its operation.
[Page 488]
I do not think it would be possible to find in Europe any better
emigrants than these Mennonites, and should the whole colony go to the
United States they would rapidly develop into good and useful
citizens.
As I have stated in my letter to Mr. Smith, it is a crime for Russian
subjects to emigrate, and a crime to induce them to emigrate? without
permission. If, therefore, it is thought desirable that these people
should go to the United States, it will probably be necessary for our
Government to assist them in obtaining from the imperial authorities the
requisite permission to emigrate.
I desire also to call your attention to the question of the Menuonites,
as to whether any aid in money can be given them for their expenses.
A petition similar to that given to Mr. Smith was presented by the
Mennouites to the British consul at Berdiansk, and was by him referred
to the foreign office The papers have been sent to the embassador here,
and a reference has also been made to the governor-general of Canada, It
is not supposed that any grants of land can be made to the
colonists.
It is believed here that the Russian government will not object to the
emigration of the Mennonites, but will insist on their restoring the
lands with which they were endowed, and on their paying taxes in advance
for a certain number of years.
I shall take the earliest opportunity to ascertain the disposition of the
government, and will communicate to you at once any information I
receive. Meanwhile I shall be glad to know the opinion of our Government
on this matter, and to receive your instructions.
I have, &c.,
EUGENE SCHUYLER,
Chargé d’Affaires ad
int
[Inclosure No. 1]
Mr. Smith to Mr.
Curtin
United
States Consulate
Odessa, March 7–19,
1872.
Dear Sir: I have lately received a petition
in the German language, signed by thirty-two prominent members of
the German community near Berdransk, begging me to refer to higher
authority certain questions respecting their proposal to emigrate to
America. They state in their petition that they are beads of
families, connected by family and fellowship with about one hundred
colonies, numbering altogether some-hundred and fifty thousand
souls, who are known by their religions views as “Mennonites.” To
avoid military service, which is to them (as to the society of
Quakers) incompatible with religious, principle, they propose to
seek new homes in America. As-they are divided in opinion whether to
choose the United States or Canada for their new country, they have
presented (they say) the same petition to the British consul-By the
new regulations of this country, they state that they would be
liable to military service after ten years.
The questions are as follows:
- 1st.
- May our community obtain in the United States for
ourselves and our posterity entire exemption from military
service, direct or indirect, according to our principle and belief in
the Word of God?
- 2d.
- May emigrants to the United States hope to receive a piece
of fend either as a gift or at a low price, and, in case of
need reckon on an advance or loan of money from the
Government?
- Though their present condition is prosperous, a general
emigration would occasion losses in their land and houses,
and some would be left almost without means, and, by their
brotherly relations one toward another, emigration would
have to be made possible also for the poor.
- 3d.
- For the sake of obtaining satisfactory encouragement and
assurances on the foregoing points, as also for agreeing
upon their place and terms of settlement, would it be
advisable to send (in advance of emigrating) a delegation to
Washington to confer directly with the Government?
[Page 489]
In accordance with their wish, I refer the substance of their
petition to your excellency, and will communicate to them your
reply. The Mennonites are known to be very honest, industrious, and
exemplary people, I believe, and no doubt if once established in the
United States, would make themselves and the country the better.
Very respectfully, &c,
Hon. a. g. Curtin,
United States Minister Plenipotentiary,
&c, Saint Petersburg.
Mr. Schuyler to
Mr. Smith.
[Inclosure No. 2.]
Legation of the United States,
Saint Petersburg, March 29, 1872.
My Dear Sir: In Mr. Cur tin’s absence I
received your letter of the 7–19, with regard to the proposed
emigration of Mennonites, and will answer their questions as well as
I can.
- 1st.
- Compulsory military service does not exist in the United
States. Once only in the history of the United States was
conscription resorted to, and the results of the measure were
such as to render it highly improbable that recourse will again
be had to forced enlistment. Even then it was always possible to
avoid service by furnishing a substitute.
- 2d.
- By the homestead laws of the United States, every actual
settler, who has declared his intention of becoming a citizen,
has a right to receive 160 acres (56 desiatines) of land.
Besides this, land can always be purchased from the Government
or from railway companies at very cheap rates. The standard
Government price is $1.25 per acre.
- The Northern Pacific Railway (among others) offers lands at
long credit and cheap rates, and furnishes work to emigrants. It
will, I believe, also assist colonies in emigrating at reduced
rates. Possibly, in consideration of the large number of the
colony, Congress might be induced to afford them some aid in
going to the United States; or perhaps some of the Western
States that invite settlers might do so. That, however, is a
question to be decided in America.
- 3d.
- It would do no harm, and might be of great advantage, if the
Mennonites were to send a small delegation to America to see
what could be done, and to select a site for the colony.
I shall at once bring the subject to the notice of the Government,
and will send you any information or instructions I may receive on
the subject.
You may communicate this information to the Mennonites, but I would
suggest to you to be a little cautious, as it is a crime for a
Russian subject to emigrate without the permission of the
government, and it is also a crime to induce them to emigrate. In
case, therefore, the Mennonites decide to go to America, it will
probably be necessary to have some diplomatic negotiations to obtain
for them the requisite permission.
I should be glad to have some more detailed statements of the numbers
and condition of these Mennonites. All the authorities that I can
consult here fix their number at less than forty thousand. Will you
please send me a copy of their petition?
There are some Mennonites and kindred religious sects in Pennsylvania
who might, if addressed, take an interest in their co-religionists
in Russia.
I am, &c.,
