Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-04-16
Now Settling Down ON Kansas-HOW 1t
was FOrmed-The Part Played by
the Topeka COlOred Colonization
Society A COld.BlOOded
Political Scheme,
Aided and Allotted by United States
Senator who Pretends to Humanita-
rian Motives, but who Is Really
no Better than Lying Lycur.
gus p. Jones.

anu CuS lOllOWlnR Opinions, 6XpreSS0Q Dy
IN conversation to-day with a correspondent
of the Tribune, touching the underlying
causes and the probable results of the present
negro exodus from the south, will be read
with the interest which the Importance of the
subject and Senator WINDOWS familiarity
with it awaken:
what is the origin of the exodus?'' asked
the representative of the Tribune. docs it
spring from among the colored people them
selves, or is it device of their friends in
Washington and the north to improve their
condition."
81 am confident" said the senator in reply,
"that it originated wholly among themselves
at the south, and that it was not inspired or
stimulated by any outside influences. The
movement is a touching and powerful protest
against oppression and wrong; spontaneous
expression of despair from people whose
condition is too intolerable for longer endur-
ance. In some parts of the south these peo-
pie have for years been the victims of a
despotism more cruel and relentless than was
ever endured by the citizens of any other ma
ton pretending to be free. Entitled to all
the rights and privileges of American citizens,
and yet prosecuted, whipped, murdered,
driven from their homes, and subjected to
the most Infamous barbarlsms if they pre-
sumed to exercise the dearest rights of
citizenship, Is it surprising they have
resolved to leave their wretched homes.
nor hope for the future, and brave any peril
and deprivation rather than repeat the TER
rors and sutferings of the past? 1t is posi-
BILE that political expressions alone would not
have driven them to this act of desperation;
but when cheated out of the results of their
labor, deprived of the chance to earn living
and threatened with practical slavery, they
can see no terrors on the untried plains of the
west at all comparable to the hopeless
Wretchedness OF their present condition.
EXTENT OF THE MOVEMENT.
''How far does the movement spread
among the colored people?"
IKE feeling which has produced the exo-
dus from Mississippi and louisiana pervades
the cotton States, butts more intense IN those
localities where the prosecutions and cplres-
sious have been greatest. Since my resolu-
ton of inquiry was sublshed, some three
months ago, | have received great many
letters from all parts of the south, and they
uniformly express the one desire, viz: to get
away from their present homes and go to
some place where their lives, liberty and
property will be secure, and where their con-
stitutional rights will be respected. l am
sure this feeling is very widespread, and that
it Is daily becoming stronger and more de-
termlned. In many parts of the south emf
grafton societies have been formed for the
purpose of preparing for a general exodus
where they can find the means and the OPP
portunity to go"
SIS the present exodus from Mississippi
the result of a concerted plan which extends
TO other parts of the south?"
"No; | think there is no concerted plan
and no general organization among them for
this purpose. A common wretchedness and
despair has created common desire to go,
which in some places has found expression In
a general stampede such as that on the lower
Mississippi river. while in others it is evinc
ing more discretion in the organization of the
local emigration societies to which l have re-
ferred.'
SIS this movement on the part of the col
ored people inspired by any partisan political
motive or purpose?"
''None whatever, so far as | know. l have
no doubt the accession of the Democratic
party to power in all the southern States, and
in both houses of congress, has stimulated it
very considerably. The negro knows that
the solidi6cation of the south, and the revival
under the new name OF home rule OF the
old secession doctrine of State sovereignty,
means either his extinction or his entire sub
jugation to the will of his old masters. He
knows that for the present the scepter has
passed from the hands of his friends in con-
gress, and that during the two years of
Democratic ascendency no effort will be
spared to tighten his chains and reduce him
to still more servile condition, if this be
possible. He hears rumors of intended
changes in State constitutions, and of the
repeal Of United States laws which were
passed for the protection of his liberty and
the enforcement of his rights; and
he thinks the time may not be far distant
when the auction block will be again REIN
stated as one of the institutions of the south
Indeed, he has already seen it reinstated in
come localities, where the services of colored
men have been sold for certain period of
time for the liquidation of debts, real or fc-
titious, and they are unable to see why, If a
man may be sold for six months or year, he
may not be sold for life"
EFFECT UPON THE SOUTH.
"What effect will the movement have upon
the condition of affairs at the south, both pu-
liticai and industrial?''
THAT is a difficult question; but, as have
very decided opinions with regard to it, l will
venture to state them very briefly. Assum-
ing that the movement is to go on, as it GER
tainly will unless checked by a better treat
ment of the colored race, its first effect may
prove detrimental to the industrial interests
of the south, but its ultimate results will be
very advantageous. The migration of
small percentage of the black population
from those districts where they are now most
numerous would remove from the whites the
fear of negro rule, which they regard as
the direst evil that can befall them, and to
prevent which they have organ
lESu upOD IIlO GOIOI llu6. IL Is III THESE
districts that the White Liners, the Ku-
Klux and the Night Riders have piled
their shocking barbarisms for the purpose of
terrorizng the colored citizen, and thereby
preventing him from exerc sing his political
rights. If this dread Of negro rule was
withdrawn by the exodus of portion of the
colored people, the color line would soon
disappear from the politics of the south, be-
cause there would be no inducement to main
tain it, and with its disappearance political
parties would reorganize upon other issues,
and the negro would soon become an impor-
tant factor in the party politics of that sec
ton. This would go far to restore peace and
order at the south, and thereby to invite the
capital and enterprise of the world to come
in and develop its almost unequaled re-
sources. Capital and enterprise will never
90 there so long as the lives and property
and political rights of her industrial classes
are as insecure as they are at present. 1t
would therefore eventually prove a great po-
htlcal and industrial advantage to both races
at the south"
"What would be its probable effect upon
the sectional antagonists which now disturb
the country and menace its future peace and
prosperity?"
I'm my Judgment it would do more than
all the means ever proposed to remove sec
tionallsm from our national politics. | regard
this movement of the black race is a provi-
OSullut OpSninS bAS way lOE Iue sOIullOH VI Il
problem which has thus far proved too mach
for American craftsmanship"
''Do any of the white people of the south
agree with you on this suhject?"
II have had several letters from them in
dorslng this view and expressing the belief
that IN the distribution of the colored race Is
the only hope of the south as well as of the
negro. This opinion is by no means confined
to Republicans IN that section. One of the
gentlemen who thus writes was a member of
the last national Democratic convention. OF
course this sentiment does not exist to any
considerable extent among the Democrats of
that section. The prevailing sentiment of
that party at the south is that the negro
should remain as a basis of representation
and the servant of his former master, and be
content with whatever conditions the domi-
nant race choose to impose upon him.
what is proposed to be done by the Emil
grafton aid society, of which you are presi-
dent?''
THE society is purely benevolent one.
1t is believed that if the movement be gov
erned by wise counsels and regulated by pru-
i i nj l. n