National Republican., 1878-07-11


the pickets were so plainly to be seen that
their uniforms were distinguishable, and
the writer, with his escort, rode directly up
to the outpost confident that he was ap-
preaching the bivouac Of a Union command.
The impression that the night was dark
one may have been, and still be, earnestly
maintained by those who were not awake
after ten o'clock, but it is certain that after
that hour 1t became much lighter. At any
rate, about two o'clock Colonel A. NJ. PoE's
regiment of Michigan Volunteers was de-
ployed in echelon across the country in the
vicinity where the rebel fankers had
been seen, and KEARNEYs division got In
motion without difficulty. The echelon
movement by Colonel PoE's regiment was
executed with precision and served to pro-
tect KEARSEY's line of march.
A PROPER REFUGE FOR THE SOUTHERN
BLACKS.
The Exodus To Liberia, as the emigration
Of the blacks of the South from land Of
oppression is called, is really one of the most
important political indications of the Pc
Rod. The Democratic newspapers Of the
country, from the New York World to the
Charleston Ncrs, oppose it, and the latter
journal is especially active in dissuading
the colored people of South Carolina from
further attempts in that direction. II would
be the duty and the pleasure Of the Repub-
lican press Of the country to join with the
Democracy in any proper effort to check
this movement if if were not for the fact
that it Is known, however much they may
suffer during the voyage and whatever pri-
yations they may be subjected to after their
arrival in Liberia the emigrants cannot fail
to reap benefit from it. They are practi-
cally friendless in the Southern States to-
day, having been freed and then en-
franchised and then deserted by
Northern Abolitionists or Republicans,
or surrendered into the keeping of men
who were formerly accustomed to treat
them as so much property, and who are now
only interested in them because they serve
in the ratio ofapportionment to increase the
representation of the Southern States in
Congress and the electoral college. They
are citizens in so far as they are counted in
that apportionment, and in no other respect,
and the several hundred who have already
sailed from South Carolina are missed, and
their absence regretted, more on that ac-
count than any other. 1t is true that an
additional reason of regret at their de-
parture, that the emigration of the race de-
pletes the laboring element of the South. is
nlen tnRan into hnt 10 10 f,ir 90
presume that this reason is n Sec
ondary consideration, for none of the
Southern States under Democratic rule
have ever done anything to promote
their condition as laborers, or to make them
contented and happy in the walks Of life to
which they are habituated. On the con-
trary, their schools, started in spasm of
cosmopolitan generosity by Northern phil
anthropists and temporarily cherished in
small way by the General Government,
have been closed, in some instances forcibly
and in Others by evasive and doubtful pro-
cesses of legislation, and they have, as race,
been subjected to murder, assassination,
whipping, burning and the most cruel out
rage and injustice. No wonder, then, that
they yearn for freedom elsewhere, and are
willing to undergo fatigue, privation, and
suffering, and even to face death itself in an
effort to free themselves from such sur
roundings. Having tasted the sweets of
freedom once, they are willing to imperil
anything and everything in the fond hope
of q permanent enjoyment Of its blessings.
But we do not think it necessary that the
blacks of the South should choose Liberia
as their only place of refuge. 1t is true that
wherever they may go if they come in con-
tact with the white race they will suffer
more or less from innate race prejudice but
there are localities in the United States, and
if there are not they can be made, where
this unfortunate prejudice will not be cruelty
and murderously oppressiye-whcIe they
would be permitted to enjoy political rights
without danger to their lives and property.
Most assuredly the almost limitless unset
tied region of the Great West, over which
floats the starry banner for which they have
themselves fought, and for the birth of
which their fathers fought side by side with
the white heroes of the Revolution, would
iurnlSn them WIN all tle advantages they
could possibly find in Liberia, and with
out the outlay, inconvenience, and de-
privation required by an ocean voy-
age. They are Americans, black it is true,
but Americans nevertheless, and entitled to
protection as such. If they fail to find this
protection in the section Of their birth, ow-
ing to local causes and prejudices inbred
for generations, they are entitled to seek
other places of residence and to encourage
ment in seeking it If the people of the
South do not treat them fairly, if they can
not get justice at the hands OF their old
masters and the Lawmakers or the execu-
tive authorities of the Southern States,
they need not abandon the land of their
birth they can do what their white fel-
| low w-citizens do under similar circum-
stances: SO West" And the sooner
they go the better for all con-
cerncd. Their exodus from the South
would leave the soil of that to them inhos-
pitable section without tillers. 1t would
weaken the political strength of the ex-
Confederacy in the Union, and they would
stand some chance Of being represented in
| the national councils as we'll ps beinU