Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-04-23
Nomadio Character of the Black Pouu-
lation.

The New York EeeniRg Post calls the at
tentior of the political calculators to the fact
tAat great change has been made in the las.
few years, in the distribution of the neproe,
as compared with the census of 1860. An,rt
from those who went Northward. and from
the increased mortality, the more northern of
the Southern States have suffered a lar.,e
loss from the tide of emigration that. sets
southwark.
"With the removal of all restraint tho M
groes have wandered ut will, sometimes tn,
wares the cities. but generally southwar,Is.
Lac whistles show that in some counties in
Virginia the number of laborers has been re.
duced full one half, and throughout the State
the negroes have noticeably thinued out. No
figures are given in Kentucky to show tho
extent of tie exodus from that State, but
there is a general complaint of the loss of la
Dor, and the local Journals say that all the
best field hands are going to the Southern
cotton grounds.
"From States South of Kentucky and Vir-
ginia the negro movements is still southwark.
Within year the two Caroiinas are estima,
ted to have lost from one fourth to one third
oftheir negro population, though the Charles.
ton Meas thinks that only 5000 field hands
have gone from South Caroliua, and these
went, it says. to Mississippi, Louisiana, Ala
bama. Texas and Florida. Still further South,
the Macon Telegraph is Confident that Geor-
gia has lost Onetkird of her negroes, mud
that the loss of North Carolina aud South
Carolina is still greater. The Augusta Com
StfUt'ondiist says, If u correct census should
be taken of the negro population of Georgia
startling exhibit of decrease would be man
liest; aud that zone OF the chief causes of
this decrease is migration to the South and
Southwest Even i'll Alabama, which would
seem. at least IN summer, about as far South
as the most aspiring or perspiring colored la
oorer would desire TO go, there is a marked
scarcity of labor, which the Selma Times ex-
plains by stating that the depletion is due to
the agents who are everywhere offering ex.
traordInary inducements to tho negroes to 90
to Mississippi, Louisiana aud Texas'''
In commenting upon the above the Rich
mond Enquirer very scnsib!y remarks:
This disposition to migrate will interfere
very much with the calculations of the radical
politicians, even could they control the Degro
vote as they hope. As twelve months resi-
dence Is requisite to voting, most of these
roVers will be DISTINGUISHED everywhere: so
that while the States which they have left
Will have the white prepOnderance greatly in
creased, those to which they have gone will
be but little affected. This emigration will
put the States Of Virginia, North Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas,
wholly above any serious interference through
colorcd suffrage, while the whites of South
Carolina, Mississippi aud Louisiana will be
able to maintain themselves without difficulty.
Nor will Texas, which has drawn off so
many of the blacks, be in any jeopardy of
coming under their control, as its white pop
ulatIon exceeds the black nearly three to one.
1t will be seen, therefore, that those who
would organize the black population against
the whites, would engage them in an utterly
hopeless cOntesr'in every State in the South.
They would be outvotcd everywhere, and
would besides forfeit that good will which is
Infinitely more important to them than votes.