The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-28
THE BUGBEAR OF APPROXIMATION.

There seems to be no good reason to
fear that the colored population OF this con-
tinent will colonize the more Southern States.
Ten years have passed since the close of
that war which gave to Americans OF African
descent the full right to remain where they
had been reared, to emigrate to other States
or to leave the country altogether. But while
in the complete and untrammeled enjoyment
of the right of migration, we are not aware OF
any extended migratory movements. The col
ored people who have settled in the North
ern States remain there The negroes of Mary
land, Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri stay
where they were born and where their fathers
and mothers are buried. They appear to
have no desire to change. Some of the ne
groes in the border States are thrifty and even
wealthy. Thousands of them could buy
plantations in Louisiana if they so desired.
Many of them are enterprising and DESTROYS
of lettering their condition. Many of them
are skilled mechanics and capable of earning
good wages in the Southern States. Others
are intelligent and ambitious, and are natu-
rally willing to 60 where men of their race
dispute political supremacy with white men.
Yet with all these motives and the pressure
hard times superadded, there is no notable
emigration from the border States to- those
nearer the tropics.
Georgia is State controlled by the con-
seryative element. The widest dreamer
among the colored men of that State never
imagines the time when his race will again
have the upperhand there. Yet we see the
negroes of Georgia remaining at home, con-
tent to remain where their fathers lived and
died, and they are more quiet. contented and
industrious than they have been for many
years before. Texas is State now ruled by
the white element, but we hear of no migra-
ton of negroes from that State. Their num-
bers are increasing. instead, from year to
year, and they find that the less they have to
do with politics and government the better it
is for them.
Arkansas is redeemed from the thraldom of
political white vagabonds, but we hear
nothing Of resulting migration of negroes.
Tennessee has large and governing prepon-
derance of white voters, and the control OF
the State is wholly out of reach of the wicked
adventures who make of negro voters the
mudsill of their structure; yet we hear OF
very few colored Tennesseeans who cross the
Southern border in search of homes in Missis-
sippi and Louisiana. The State of Alabama,
by the adoption of a conservative Constitu-
ton, isinow thoroughly redeemed from Radical
control and from all danger coming indirectly
from negro votes manipulated by i'm
ported royues Yet, the negroes of Alabama
show no propensity for emigrating from the
State where their white countrymen have SOL
EMMY decreed their civil and political equal
ity and confirmed to them the right of fran
chise without restriction or qualification
The instinct of local attachment and the
home feeling are really stronger with the ne
groes than with our own race. Unlesss tam
pered with, deceived and misadvised, they
are much inclined to stay where they have
been raised. The negro's kinsmen and old
friends are among his chief resources for en-
ioyment When he is far removed from his
old haunts and stamping ground his domi-
nant wish is to get back. The sys-
tematic exertions of the colonial
ton societies of Great Britain and
America during long period only secured the
emigration of few thousands to favored
spot on the shores of their ancestral country.
During the regime of slavery those inegroes
who were sent away from their native land
and relatives were among the most unhappy
of their race. The home feeling is strong
with them, and they have but little OF the
propensity of the average Anglo-Saxon to
migrate whithersoever interest may invite.
Fer these reasons we have but little fear
that, under the Vaccinations and schemes
of any ambitious colored politician, Louisi-
ana is going to be overwhelmed with pre-
ponderant and dominant black majority.
Long after Pinchback has run his noisy, fussy
and pestilent career, the better men of his
race and color will be found still working,
living and prospecting where their fathers
lived and died.