James McKenzie to Richard Yates

St. Louis. Missouri

24. Sept. 1863

Box 2908.

To His Excellency

Richard Yates Esqr.

Governor of Illinois.

Dear Sir,

I am more than pleased with the kind notice you take of my letter, but after the perusal of your communication, will you permit me to add this. That I think my being here is very opportune to the measures you have put on foot in Great Britain, for this reason. I am a practical Miner and Collier, and could render much aid to the efforts being made in England, in this way, I can write letters specially addressed to the Miners and Colliers of Great Britain, which they could not fail to understand, and get them circulated in publications which chiefly prevail amongst them, whilst your friends would, I dare say, by public meetings, or other means, be doing the best they could to prevail on Miners to leave England & come here.

I cannot but think that their efforts would be much strengthened and expedited, by the publication of my letters coming from an independent source upon the spot. The English miners, are a very independent and thoughtful class of men, & judge for themselves, and I humbly submit, that the effect of a written application, (which it would amount to) or letter or address, would have as much or more weight on their minds, than a speech - the one is heard and partly forgotten, the other is read and pondered over, and it needs something of that character to induce men, good for anything, to break up their homes and remove to a foreign country - but as I honestly believe, & know that they would better themselves, and permanently so too. I should feel it both a pleasure and duty to use all fair and honorable inducements that lay in my power to prevail on them to take that important step - and they would want nothing more than the plain state of the case fairly put before them without exaggeration. There are certain particulars, and

prices with regard to the details of the work, so much more to their advantage than ever they derive in Great Britain, that I have no doubt would have great weight with them and which I should throw light upon.

I think about 3 months would be quite sufficient to thoroughly ventilate the subject and if I had $300 guaranteed to me, besides travelling expenses, I would at once set about it.

There is a letter in the Morning Edition of the "St. Louis Union" that I wrote on the mineral & agricultural resources of Missouri for publication in England, which Col. Broadhead, prov. Marshal General, thought sufficiently interesting for publication here - I send you the paper.

I have written to the President by same post, similar in purport to this letter and must again commend the matter to your own consideration - & am, Dear Sir,

Yours very faithfully

James McKenzie

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McKensie. James.

St Louis. Sept. 24th

Continues to agitate the mining question. Is much gratified by the notice taken of his letters. Wishes to impress upon your Exy the fact that he is a practical miner & can influence the people of Old England. Consequently will be able to render great assistance

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Ex Office 28th Sept 1863.