The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-04-30
Letter from Leading Merchant and
Planter of Jackson on the Exodus
Question.
THE FEELING IN MISSISSIPPI,

THE FEELING IN MISSISSIPPI.
St. Louis Republican,
Jackson, Miss, April 1S-Messrs. Sells Il
Co., St. Louis Your favor of the 9TH received !;
also two papers with extracts marked, all of
which | have carefully noted The Kansas
fever has not reached this section, Immediate
~ surrounding Jackson, to any visible extent
although it Is impossible to ascertain how far
it has reached. All the negroes know something
about it, but will give information from
what source their information is derived, nor
can you get them to express any decided views
upon the subject All Is wrapt in mystery as
to their movements. The western part OF this
county has suffered considerably by their aban-
doning their contracts and moving of with
little or no notice, with great loss To the plan
tiers, and an uneasy feeling exists all along the
river that their hands, now seemingly conten-
ted and working we'll, may at any time aban-
don their crops without any warning or infor-
nation of their intentions, till they on their
way 10 Kansas. The planters along the river
and in sections where the negro get off
without much land travel are becoming great
ly alarmed at the situation, and a movement
is being IL al to call Il convention OF planters,
at which Senat = Bruce. ex-Congressman Lynch
and other representative colored men viii be
specially notified, well as the colored men gen
orally, to see If some plan can not be hit upon to
stop this movement at this season OF the year,
and consult regards supplying the South
with labor from some other quarter. OF
course, the Chinaman is the expectant coming
man. 1t is useless to deny the oft-told tale OF
bulldozing, murder and inhuman treatment of
the negro that Is so widely spread abroad in
the Northern papers, for IL shonld be patent to
all sensible people that the interest of our
country would demand fair and kind treat
ment OF the negro, .yhen the prosperity OF the
cotton raising States Is dependent on that class
of labor We have given the negro laborer
what other section of the world could pos
siblv give as compensation for that labor I. E..
furnish everything and give him one-half he
can produce the laborer only having to fur
nish his own meat and bread and clothing.
Were they thrifty and economical they would
make twice as much the landowner. Can
landowners in the West give them better
chance for a living than they had here? |
have never seen any OF the circulars mention
ed, nor do know of any one that has. | can
not hear of any being distributed in this neigh
borhood. Everything, except the fact that
they are going and have gone, is in the dark.
The idea of their being ill-treated if they re-
turn is ridiculous. for all too anxious
for them to return ii they will do SO and re-
main contented, but the general impression
mere is that it will require rigorous winter
campaign to convince them OF their mistake,
after which, those here may learn TO let well
enough alone. The laborer in and around
Jackson is reported as doing better than in
former years, with disposition to make more
than he spends; II may be for the purpose of
going after the crops are gathered. No idea
can be formed of the present extent of the
movement. J. w. ROBINSON.