The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-05-09
THE JOURNAL.
OPELoUsAs, SATURDAY, MAX 9, 1868
Migration of Whites

Some of the newspapers of Virginia
appear to anticipate a considerable add
ton to the white population of that State
by migration from Southern sources.
They refer especially to a tendency in
this direction on the part OF South Ca
, rolinians, who are anxious to put them
selves beyond the sweep Of the dark, por-
tcntous shadow of impending negro su-
premacy. Under this impulse a number
of new settlers, it is said, have already
arrived from South Carolina, and a great
many more would come were it not so
difficult to sell the lands which they
abandon in the one State and to buy
lands on which to make their homes IN
the other. In order to abate the last OF
these difficulties, it is proposed that land
ed proprietors in Virginia unite i'll the
offer of liberal and inducing terms to this
class of immigrants.
This migratory movement is as abnor-
NAL as it is melancholy and, though it
may portend still deeper disaster for
South Carolina, it is not surprising. Let
us hope, however, that it will prove to
be only temporary, and that this defect
and unhappy State is destined yet to ex-
perience a situation which will invite
immigration, instead of repelling its own
population. Meanwhile, a few salient
facts, political and statistical, afford a
ready explanation Of the movement.
There is no other Southern State except
South Carolina, unless Florida be one,
In which the numerical predominance of
the negroes is great and decided. There
are four hundred thousand of this popu-
lation in South Carolina against three
hundred thousand whites. Politically,
this disproportion is made much greater
by disfranchisement under the recon-
struction law, and by the frauds of radi-
cal registration the registered white yo-
tiers OF the State being only about forty
six thousand, whereas its registered ne
gro voters are upwards of eighty thou
sand: Those whites who are prone to
emigration by reason of these facts, are
doubtful of the success of a struggle
against such numerical odds. 1t is not
the mere game for political ~ascendenoy
which they are prepared to throw up in
despair. The carpet-bag radicals have
no imprescriptible charter to colored vo-
tiers in South Carolina any more than in
Virginia or Louisiana. The political
status of the negro once out ofthe ques-
ton, it is by no means improbable that
the policy of Wade Hampton and other
South Carolina conservatives, based on
the recognition of identity of interests,
will at length prevail, and that the ma
jority Of the colored voters. and the ma
jority of the white voters, will work har-
moniously together, and form the pre-
ponderant political power in the State.
But all this is involved in a problem of
the future. In the interval, negro supre-
macy, organized by carpet bag radica-
lism. looms up IS a baleful certainty,
disturbing society, paralyzing industry,
depreeiating property, closing every
avenue and suppressing every element
of hopeful and prosperous activity. Hence
this impulse of emigration 1t is signi-
fcant that the emigrants in this case do
not seek homes in foreign countries, in
the West, or in the far North but that
thew turn-towards Virginia, in a some
whit higher latitude. indeed, but where
they may find a Sympathetic public
opinion. a .climateSand a soil not much
different from their own and social ele-
ments, including a considerably colored
ingredient, such as they leave behind
them. They are not repealed by the ne
gro population of Virginia, because they
have. no fear of its predominance there,
numerical, social, and otherwise. This
is q very suggestive fact! 1t should be
well.pondered by all who are interested
in the increase and prosperity of New
Orleans, and of Louisiana at large. 1t is
interested all who are concerned in
The prosperity of this city to preserve it
from the appearance and the fame of ne
gro supremacy under carpet-bag radical
auspices. have already a large nu-
nerical preponderance, and every effort +;
should. be made by those who Fish to
the Heterogeneous and grogAg to Sc
cure an actual and obvious pres yfninance
If this element in municiDM affairs. .
There will be- for. some time come in +
pertain parts of the South sd a tenden i
y to migration as~tbat nj manifested !. 4
n South Carolina. The orthward di- \
ectidn of this atehdenq although it {
POINTS no further than vi sln IL, is in some ]
ense against nature. be spontaneous /,
curse of migration moi frem a warm
Innate and a prod tvs soil to a colder
Innate, and less 6ductive soil, With
n the historic p1od Of the world it has
cen inyariah the reverse. New Or
,ans. and fertile area around it, once
ut Of Shadow of negro supremacy
HBIa Eadical carpet-baggery. ~ y
assuredly
ind population by reason Of the migratory