The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-05-07
THE SOUTHERN CoNUNDnuM.

THE SOUTHERN CONUNDRUM.
As Being solved by the VlckSburg Con
Resolutions which Contain tn
balm for the Suffering RAce-An Ex
Governor puts HIS FoOte In .It-Th,
Resolutions Adopted and the Conyen
tlon In Great Good Humor AdIournl
Sine die.
VIcEsBuRa, May G.-The convention re
assembled this morning when the Com
lnittee on Resolutions reported that they
had inquired into causes which have giver
rise to the recent exodus of our coloret
population as far as possible within limited
time allowed, and while these cause are
difTicultto ascertain owing to exceptiona
causes Of all kinds brought to their atten
ton they believe the following toincludc
those which may be considered
approximate: The low price oil
cotton and partial failure of the crop
of the past year, the irrational
system Of planting adopted in some sec.
tons whereby labor was deprived of intel.
ligence to direct it and the presence oil
economy to make it profitable; the vicious
system OF credit iostered by the laws per.
hitting laborers and tenants to mortgage
crops before they were grown or even plant
cd. Theapprehension on the part Of many
colored people produced by insiduous re.
ports circulated among them that their
civil and political rights are endangered
or are likely to be hurtful; false rumors
diligently disseminated that by emigrating
to Kansas the colored people would OBJ
tain lands, mules and money from the
Government without cost to themselves
and become Independent farmers; many
retail country storekeepers engaged in
business OF selling whisky to the laborers
tenants, whereby their morals have been
corrupted, their labor rendered inefficient
and the pleasant relations between them
and their landlords and employers de-
A number of resolutions we're offered,
recommending contract system between
laborers and land owners; that the colored
race shall be accorded practical enjoy
ment OF all rights, civil and political, guar
anteed by the constitution; that the mem
bers OF the Convention pledge themselves
to protect the colored man in the exercise
Of, the, elective franchise; that the unre-
stricted credit system as now practiced,
and liens on crops should be discontinued; |;
that the colored people in this Convention
contradict the false reports about promises
held out to the negro in regard to settling
in Kansas.
Your committee believe that il the views
expressed in the foregoing resolutions are
carried out by the people Of
both races in good faith the disquiet OF our
people will subside. Weappeal to the peo.
pie OF both races in the States here repre-.
sented to aid US to carry these resolutions
into effect, to report to the authorities all
violations OF the laws and all interferenCes
with private rights.
AT the conclusion Of the reading OF the
resolution, ex.Gov. Foote secured the floor
and offered the following in lieu:
WHEREAS, 1t has been publicly per-
asserted in various quarters in
a manner calculated to deeply wound the
Of all patriots that in certain
States OF the Federal Union represented
in this body, as well as elsewhere, the
18th, 14th and 10Th amendments OF the
Federal Constitution and Legislature en-
aCtments from time to time, adopted for
the enactment thereof, have been fagrant-
" violated, and precious rights and i'm
munities, designed thereby to be secured
as a permanent heritage to the most meri-
torious and long-sudering class Of this peo.
pie, have been deliberately disregarded
and set at naught; and,
WHEREAS, 1t has been OF late abundant
~ evident that, owing to causes which We
have not time to infinitely explore, misun-
derstandings and distrust have arisen
which clearly indicate the coming upon us
OF evils OF more serious and detrimental
character than any heretofore expert
enced, evils which 1t is not possible to
avert save by the application OF remedies
OF more comprehensive and effective
character than any heretofore put in use
therefore be it
ResoIred, That the President OF this Con-
yention, and twenty other persons to be
associated with him by the unanimous
vote Of those here assembled, are hereby
appointed a cymmittee for the purpose ol
carving into effect the wishes and objects
to be attained by this Convention, and
that II shall be the duty OF this committee
to nominate and appoint, at as early day
as practicable, a local committee of at least
five members, in each OF the counties and
parishes belonging TO the States represent
ed in this Convention, OF known probity,
impartiality and patriotism and 1t shall
be the duty OF the local committees so ap'
pointed TO watch with unceasing vigilance
over the rights and interests intended by
this plan Of protection to be guarded and
maintained; to considersuch grievances as
shall be broughtto their knowledge aud
provide, as far as may lay in their power
Tor the redress Of the same, and to adop
such legal and proper expedients as they
may Judge necessary for the future pre-
yention Of grievances OF like nature. i
Il expected that these local COMMITTEES
shall correspond with each other freely
and with the committee OF three aOovI
mentioned, touching all matters connect
ed with the great moral or physical inter
ests committed to their care, and in re
gard to the remedial agencies which
NAV be found neediul, from time to time
10 bring into existence. The introduction
nj these resolutions, which was inter
spersed with remarks by the Governor, u
| tie effect that other causes than thos
named in the resolutions introduced b,
the committee existed, and which was tn
prime cause Of the present exodus, cause,
quite breeze.
q, r. Ruby, colored, OF New Orleans
followed Gov. Foote, and warned th
Convention against taking any unwis
course, which Il done would only incP4s
the impetus OF exodus q hundred fold.
Chief Justice Simrall said he knew th
expressed sentiment OF the whites b
saving they would agree to any suggestio
that was was fair and just which might /
offered whereby the present dissatsfa
, tion could be conciliated. We are her
he said, to pledge TO the colored race
, practical exercise Of all rights guarantee
, 10 ths colored man under the law.
] James Hill (colored), was the ne
speaker, He favored the resolutions su
mitted blythe committee, and gave as h
3 opinion that the cause OF the exodus wi