New-York tribune., 1879-12-22


SEEKING A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
CAUSES OF THE NEGRO EXODUS FROM NORTH CARO-
LIMA AS TOLD BY A LKADER-NO HOPE IN THE
LAND or FORMER BONDAGE.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUSEl
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-C. A. Scott is a
broadshouldered resolute looking muato. carpenter
by trade and, Judging by appearance Of charac
ter and than ordinary intelligence. He left
Godsboro ~ c.. several weeks the agent Of In
tending emigrans and has Just reached Washington
his return home from Indiana In conversation with
correspondent Of TIE TRIBUNE this evening hs gave
very interesting facts relation TO tho exodus
from his State to the West.
shall tell those people," he said. that have been
undoceived in regard a great many things They told
IL would DO good Indiana that the
try cold and inhos1able and that working people
were better of in tie South than there. found that
colored who went there from
North Carolina already provided with home.
stopped at o colorcd boarding house in IN
dianspos for a few nights and In the evrn-
ing two coored In and said
TO the keeper of tho house that they we're
seeking homes. He told them advertise. Tha adver
tisement put in the payer. and the next day both
were engaged servants. The following day no less
than four other persons called offer these
ployment but they had gone. have IN my pocket or
ders for twenty-five stave-cuters ana fortytwO TO
work in mpes, and for other workmen.
"I didn't much woodland and waste l0nd as we
have I'm North Carolina II was mostly taken up, and
such ieldsl never their equal. No TO squat
there judge. but lots of work do. They have such
droves OF cattle and hors! they BEAUTIES! Not
such little roostcrs have way"
"How did your people first think Of going to In
diana 2" was asked.
"we you see, some OF Us got could read, and
in the paners about the exodus from down the
Mississippi 10 Kansas and began to think Of going
So wrote to Kansas 10 Governor 81. John. and
ha hoct told fha NJ md md
told that there work enough for great many
people. He said that wages paid in money. SO
called meeting and sent and got some more maps.
l wrote and got seventy of them myself. Well two col
ored started Off but their out when they
got Indianapolis, they had 20 make their wants
known and people III Indianapolis told them that II
work and wages were all they wanted they need not 30
further. So they pulled off their and went TO
work, and in short time they had money enough to
back and get their families and so tho Indiana fever
began. was we'll treated in my life in In
diana. Coming through Ohio found old man who
told he had farm big enough for three families He
old work II himself and is willing it. He
says three families nd homes on 1t at and he
has doubt there many more that would find
homes for industrious colored people in Ohio"
Mr. Scott was asked tell something about the
origin Of the movement North Carolina whetherany
white had been down there trying induce coored
people TO leave and whether any political influences
had been mt work In the movement lie laughed, and
said:
There Is nothing to It, attended the very
first meeting held In Goldsboro, aud know all
about It, The fact Island you will find my prophecy
come true-thc colored people will leave North Carolina
they have to walk. I don't think they wise
those who have just come Some OF them had pig
or two and other little truck that they
might have sold II they had taken time, md
then they could have taken care of them
selves Then there would have been Investigations
treferrng TO Mr.. Voorhees, movemcnt). They should
have up OF biscuits and little pork tolast
them on the road hut they bound to leave anyway
You see," continued Mr.. Scott "they say now If we
can get Indiana and stay there year we can
money enough get 20 Kansas and starr IN for our
selves. and If stay here ten years we will never have
cent.
"what is the matter with North Carolinai"
"Well VIC have no chance in the world and the col
orcd people getting desperate. believe there are
more idle colorcd men IN Godsboro to-day than there
are in Washington You tell them TO into the coun
try and work OH farms. and they will tell You you
don't know what you talking about They say
We have free fifteen years, and we are not fit TO
appear on the street in day light They say: We have
been cheated out of wages; we don't know how 1t
is but when the year is up have nothing, and when
we come to nave TO hold our hands before us
TO hide our nakedness. We might as well be vaga-
bonds in town. where We can now and then pick up
an odd job. as work nights AMI days and Sundays
and get nothing for it,"
On being asked to be more explicit Mr. Scott said
The LEGISLATURE. think 1t In 1874, passed an act
called The Farmers Tenant Act that prohibits the
renter from using anything at all from farm until the
rent is paid II he does 1t is pentertary crime Well
farmers there can't get any thing for their crops until
Christmas They can't even pick pea without getting
the written consent Of the Of the land they
have 10 live all the year in debt That is one OF the
causes You see they nothing to live upon aud
iu debt before tue year is out to everybody,
%
they can't get bit 'o medicine Without
the cash Now they might sell little mess Of peas or
ay but they liable TO get thrown INTO the Penlten-
larry If they do aud 1t dscouraees them Well. then;
there's another thing You fifty miles south OF
GodsDcro and ask farmer how mach be wants Tor he
rent of 'onehorse Iarm and he VIII zen you hls price
in cotton with its equivalent in cor You may 20 hity
miles north OF GodsDoro and ask the same question: ana
the reply will be in the same terms exactly We
don't know how II is, but colorea people believe
The srangers have @Trsd spn 10 keeP sss ns
term onehorse farm meant farm OF from tnirty TO
tbirIy-ve acres don't exactly how it is" he said,
but seems mpoSsiple 70 get an intelligent coofed
courthouses are fun, and colored people think they
don't get justice"
freely 40 he would ike but II the Investigating Com
mittee 10 North Carolina they would hear OF some
thing that would open They don't shoot us
DOWN" said he but they manage TO keep us down."
Mr. Scott said lie had received letter from his wife c
day saying tnat she had heard that The whlte men were
preparing buy him up with large snm OF money, and
II they not do 70 put him out Of the way He
had many friends among lhe white people
OF North Carolina. He mentioned The names OF several
friends 10 tnc co'orcd people, men VINO would not oe
induced to go into the ganser % as n d
expenses 10 Indiana.
stories by Mr.. Scott without being Impressed with the
entire honesty OF the man and the conviction that the
only salvation Of his race Is IN getting 10 country
where they set work and get their pay, however
small, IN cash.