The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-04-24
The Colored Exodus 10 Africa
Will the Movement Grow?

Will the Movement Grow?
ciudnnAtI GsIstis.
Before this article IL read the Liberian
snigrant ship A1or, the African May
flower, as she has been called, will be on
her way from Charleston to Monroyia,
with two or three hundred passengers on
board. We have already called attention
To the emigration fever, which, beginning
in South Carolina, and still raging there,
has spread to various other parts Of the
South. There are said 20 be over 10000
freedmen In Louisiana who have enrolled
their names as desiring to 60 TO the land
OF their fathers. OF course, the great
majority Of these will be disappointed or
at least change their minds but The move.
ment bids fair TO be one Of Importance.
A Charleston correspondent Of the New
York Healds says 1t began when the over.
throw Of the Republican administration
in South Carolina inspired the blacks
with the fear that they were TO be reduced
to a condition which, II not one OF actual
slavery, would be intolerable 10 the late
dietAtors IN politics. Their fears were
not realized, but the colored churches,
which had at first opposed colonization,
favored 1t as 4 sort Of missionary enter
prise, and the enthusiasm became very
great.
Just n year ago the plan took definite
shape through the efforts OF George
Curtis and H. N. Borey, two colored men
Of more than ordinary intelligence, who
were at Charleston az jurors. A colored
pastor approved their plan, and the re.
port spread that q ship was TO sal! TO Ii.
IBERIA on the 18th Of November. Many
poor people came from the country 10
embark. This canardIed TO the forma-
ton Of a real Exodus Association, and
three months later the Azor was actually
bought. She has been carefully fitted up,
and passengers who are stockholders 90
outi Others pay sos for cabin or S35
for q steerage passage. The voyage ia
expected to be made 10 thirty.fye days.
Each emigrant carries three months stock
Of provisions. The objective point Of the
frst party Is Bopura, sixty or seventy
miles north Of Monrovis, In the compar.
atiyely healthy highlands Of the St, Paul
River. Saul Hill, who emiRraled from
South Carolina in 1856 with little or no
property, is now the owner Of 4 fine coffee
plantation in that vicinity. Each head
Of q family Is to receive twenty-five acres
OF land free from the Liberian Govern
ment, and may buy a much more as he
can pay for at fifty cents an acre. A
native African is to guide the settlers
from Monroyia 10 Bopura, and come
clear headed men are their leaders.
George Curtis, one Of the originators Of
the movement; Samuel Gaillare, ex,Sena.
tor from Charleston County, and Clement
Irons, 4 colored merchant OF Charleston,
who carries $4,000 worth Of machinery,
are among the number.
The future must reveal the success Of
the enterprise, but 1t seems to mark the
opening Of a new era in African coloni.
zation. Hitherto the American Coloni.
cation Society has sent over free email de.
tachments, which it fed for six months
after their arrival, thus destroying that
sense Of Independence Of which the Afro
American has generally little enough.
The South Carolinian emigrants 60 out
however, 10 shift for themselves. OF
course many will fail 10 benefit BY the
change, and most will not realize their
expectations, but they will be q great ac-
cession 10 the languishing republic. Lii
IBERIA has not filled the hopes OF its foun.
ders, but then, as Bishop Haven has
shown. her present condition compares
well with that Of New England 6fty.three
years after the landing Of the Pilgrim
Fathers, making due allowance for the
disparity in intelligence and education
between the seventeenth and nineteenth
century colouats. There is little peob
ability that enough will go to effect the
labor interests OF the South, but each
party that sails will strengthen the ties Of
sympathy between the colored races Of
the old aud new continents, and will in.
crease the civilizing and eyangelizing
influences Of the former. Unless the ie'
yer aba,es it is too late 10 attempt 10
check the exodus, bnt it may be directed
and aided 10 a way that shall render 1t
more subseryient 10 the interests oil hui
manly. Gifts Of books aud tools TO out.1
going expeditions may prove to be as ell
iectual ways OF doing good as the sending
Of white missionaries 10 region where
their speedy death Is almost certain. AZ
all events the movement deserves careful
and interested attention, as the Azof will
probably be back within seventy days TO
lake on board a new band oil emigrants'
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