[legendsport]

from the Boston Times, April 11, 1885:

Twenty-five years ago the abolition movement, which was fostered and fed here in New England, helped to push the Southern states into their successful revolution. Twenty-two years after those same states won for themselves the right to continue their slave-holding ways, the government of the Confederacy has seen the light and amended their constitution, manumitting the slaves and finally making North America free of the heinous crime of human bondage.

Church bells rang throughout this city when the announcement was made. It is hoped that the recently freed people of the South will be afforded citizenship and a chance to become contributing members of the Confederate nation.

from the personal letters of Confederate President James E.B. Stuart, April 30, 1885:

... It is my solemn belief that we will best served as a nation if we open the borders with the United States and allow our former slaves the right to emigration. Let them go North as so many of them have wished for the past generation. Our republic will be the stronger for it...

Official correspondence, U.S. President Grover Cleveland to Congress, Columbia, OH, May 27, 1885:

it must be the policy of these United States to allow emigration from the Confederacy of any person, regardless of color or creed, to the U.S. We are a nation of immigrants - our open policy to those of European descent wishing to pursue the American dream can not be altered to exclude those who share a common border. I hereby recommend the establishment of processing stations at the following points along the US-CS border: Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Kansas City, KS. Each station should be able to process at least 1,000 persons per day.