New-York tribune., 1870-01-03

chief command in one of the Gulf States has
been engaged in making observations ara col
lecting facts regarding certain noteworthy
movements of the elements OF population thaV
have latterly been going on in the South. IL
appears from the notes of the General that
both tho whites and the blacks of the Southern
States have begun shifting very exten-
siyely their localites-the movement of the two
races not being in the same direction, Dut
toward different regions.
The white emigration from the old slave
States lying on the Atlantic coast and stretch
ing to the Mississippi, has attracted the attcn-
ton of the General. There is great stream
of laboring whites moving from these regions
to the West to the lands on the Arkansas and
Red Rivers, and to Texas. At many points on
the Mississippi, the boats have not been able
to put them across fast enough 1t has seemed
of late as though South Carolina, Georgia,
and Alabama would be depopulated of that
element which formed the only link between
the dominant white and the labOring black.
The General says that, short while ago, he
travelled through Eastern Alabama with
large body of white emigrants; and he has
come to the conclusion, after careful observa-
Georgia and Alabama within the year for
Arkansas and Texas. The General accounts
for these movements thus: the white man,
having at last discovered that he must tCort' is
going, with all his household gods, whore land
is cheap and grain plenty, and where he can
Own the SOIL
In regard to the freedmen of the Southern
States, the General has observed that there is
very extensive movement of the coored popu-
lation to the "black belt"-that belt Of cOun-
ties reaching from the Sea Islands, in South
Carolina, westward through Middle Georgia,
Middle and Southern Alabama, Mississippi and
Louisiana. He says that the place of Il g whites
departing from that region will be filed
by the blacks who are moving in that
direction, and whom he regards as
the "only real omigrants" thither. He
believes that if the cOlored people were edu-
Gated so that they could write to their friends
and represent matters to them, there would be
an exodus of these people much greater than
what has yet been seen from the more nOrthery
parts of the Southern States to what he
alternately designates as the "cOttOn belt" and
the black belt." AS it is, the exodus is as
yet limited, though it is none the less certain
and definite. By reason of these movements
now in progress the movement OF the labor
ing white westward and the cOored freedman
southward-the General believes that there
will be great change in the elements of popu-
lation in certain parts of the Southern States.
1t appears to him assured that the status will
be this: the old slave-master will be face to
face with his old slave. now freeman; and
"a nhah thn hel
troll it,
In so far as the observations of the General
indicate facts that have come under his own
notice, we recognize their value and import
ance. In so far as he INDUCES in speculation,
it is not necessary that we should assent to
them all to admit their interest. Some of the
statements have been confirmed in remark
able manner by advices we have received and
news we have published, from time to time,
from other sources. We have had CORE
spondence from the far South alluding to the
westward emigration of the poorer classes
of whites aud the reason generally assigned
for this emigration has been the same
the difficulty which poor men find in
becoming ldndholders in the older
States of the South and the facility with
which they can acquire land in the newer
States of the South West. The Southwark
movement of the colored population has also
been frequently referred to in our letters from the
more northerly parts of the old Slave States Only
few days ago our Washington correspondent
sent us some interesting news from Virginia
on this subject. by this i1 appears that the
active demand for negro labor in the far South
is showing itself by the extraordinary efforts
that are being made to secure colored emgra-
ton from Virginia. There are labor agents there
representing whole communities of planters in the
Gulf States. In the principal cities Of Virginia
they are doing an active business in hiring hands
for the cotton and cane plantations of Missis-
sippi. Louisiana, and Alabama. One of these
agents advertises for negroes by thousands at
from $15 to 1929 so per month; ard in some
cases additional inducements are offered, such
as separate houses, rations, garden patches,
privilege to raise pigs, fowls, ETC., and free
transportation by rail. 1t certainly is not
wonderful if, with such attractions, there
should be a rapid growth of the colOred popu
lation OF the Gulf States, and rapid decrease
in Virginia and other Border States.
The subject, in all its incidents and bear
ings, is one of verylgreat Importance We hope
to obtain such additional information about
it as will enlighten us concerning its cOnse-
quences. Particular pains, We hope, may be
taken by the Superintendent of the forthcom-
ing census to gather all possible facts on the
various features of these movements of popu-
lation.
The domestic drama excels in edifying eX-