The New York herald., 1875-08-25

negroes evade It's payment careless about IT,
lose their receipts and then their is vigorously
challenged and they lose tn "lIalf the negroes in
Georgia disfranchised for payment OF their poll
tax, was the assertion Of another and jealous repub-
lican, a leading in the party "Many whites do
not pay either" he added shut the republicans do
challenge as vigorously the democrats - number
Of republicans complained OF this law to
though it was wrong. or unfair; but
| think the contrary, il is just and
right Indeed, would go even further In the Sand
wich Islands found law which seemed to excel
lent 1t compels every pay annually 81 poll
tax 81 road tax and 81 school tax making So which is
exacted from every poll Such law could wisely be
adopted in every Southern State and indeed, in all
States And If voter neglects or refuses To pay his
poll tax. certainly he is 1T to east vote BY the
way, a republican IN North Carolina owned to that
remss the colorcd people there paying their
poll tax that II failure pay there forfeited the vote,
twothrds Of the negroes in the State would be dsran
chised.
Aside from this perfectly just reason for dsranchs-
ing voter am persuaded that in Georgia other means
have been used TO the colored vote-means
at all justihabe ln cities, for instance In
Atlanta and Savannah insufficient voting boxes pro
vided and the negro crowded out and pre-
vented from casting their full vote candid planter
whom questioned upon this subject-hc living in n
county which had black majority, but had been for
years ruled honestly, must add by democrats
said, 'we had white republican county officers natives;
we discovered that they corrupt They kept the
county Offices for themselves, but ready
enough to let a negro go to the Legis
ature where the democratic majority left
chance for stealing As We could get no county reform
by arguments or appeals to the negroes who
three and half TO white voter, made up
minds buy the black leaders, who fooled their people
with imitation republican tickets Later bought
also of the white leaders, and others put
in Jail when we could prove corruption against them.
We have had struggle for it, because even of our
own men proved corrupt and We had TO pitch them
overheard But have managed to maintain pretty
good government. In another case told, 'We
always elect democrat the Legislature There is
stealing there, and neither the leaders nor the
corrupt whites care TO go there The struggle the
county Offices In my county and in others do not doubt
there has been ballot box stufhng This unknown
among before the war; and il is of the bad things
that will be here arising Of the order Of
things | don't justify it, and very deeply regret 1t,
introduced will continue TO be practised but
where the blacks in large majority they are the
means of very serious robbery and men apt TO think
that anything ustdable themselves from such
gross misgovernment" In yet another case planter
said TO me ''The republicans began in my county with
union leagues and these became quickly the prey of
vagabond and corrupt whites almost without exception
natives for have had few carpet baggers in our local
politics You could not buy member of the
union league but found could easily buy
the leaders and this did do These leagues are now
almost entirely broken up The negroes have dis
covered the white leaders corrupt but they
stick TO their black leaders some Of whom are sharp,
but generally unscrupuous men,"
give you these statements, because they describe
pretty accurately what has been done in many counties
where the negroes have a majority OF votes The whites
been determined TO keep the local governments in
their hands and they have used means which the
class do attempt to justify except upon the
plea that no other available to save them
selves from the hands OF thieves That the negro
voter has been to an extraordinary degree
the prey OF demagogues and scoundrels,
wherever in the South he has had
considerable majority, doubt who has ex-
amined the question. His ignorant attachment to the
republican and his readiness TO follow black lead
ers who usually easily corruptble, and low whites
who 1atter him, have made him the tool of robbers
That the whites, wherever they can, should protect
themselves by counter frauds is amentable, but
natural l wonder it has not been more universally
practised other States That occasional intimidation
and crowding out at the polls should be pacsed not
at all remarkable under the circumstances. Governor
that these evils could be cured only by division of
parties of the color line which he thought must before
long come about The other means used, however,
have | believe, made actual intimidation
in the last three years except here and there
uncommonly rough and lawless county, where 1t
would be practed upon whites well If the white vote
were divided Georgia has few such counties, where
society is not in pleasant condition. where violence is
frequent and here the negro suffers probably oftener
than the white because he does defend himself But
emigration emptying these counties Of the negroes.
1t a cure. moreover, even in these counties
have been told by republicans OF where the
perpetrators Of violence upon an unonending negro
found the public sentiment their surprise changed
that they thought it prudent to leave the State
believe this better sentiment caused, in part at least
by the fact that planters in such localities their
laboring force removing to other States.
ooLoRED TAXPAYERS
1t may to you that the condition of the negro in
Georgia not happy under all these circumstances.
And yet believe such judgment would be mistaken.
1t difficult hear of instances OF abuse; but the
best conclusive proof that these only sporadic
cases and that general the coored people safe in
their lives and property is found in official report Of
the Comptroller General Of the State, 1874 giving
the character and value of property and amount Of
taxes returned by cooed taxpayers for that year. Tho
number or colored polls returned was s33ls These
aggregate value Of taxable property amount
ing SO l57 1893 which they actually paid $50 7SS
in taxes. They owned 23s 7e0 Of agricultural
land, and city and town property to the amount
OF $1,2OO,115 Now, remembering that these
people were slaves only nine years before; that
they owned when they obtained their freedom in 1865,
absolutely nothing except what they stood in and
that they have only acquired all this property in
years, but lived, spent great deal Of money in
foolish ways and lost do not know how many thou
sands the Frecdman's Savings Bank, think 1t
clearly establishes thatFirst they have labored with
credable industry and perseverance, and second that
they have been fairly protected in their rights Of life
and property by the democratic rulers OF the State
do not think the colored people IN any other State
have visited own half much real estate, or indeed
quarter much these Of Georgia Surely this says