New-York tribune., 1879-04-08
THE TERROR -STRICKEN NEGROES.
AN EXPLANATION OF THE EXODUS.

AN EXPLANATION OF THE EXODUS.
ST. LOUIS PEOPLE SEND TO CONGRESS WRITTEN
MEMORIAL on IHE SUBJECT OF THE MIGRATION.
lBr TELEGRAPH THE TRTBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, April 7.-Mr. c. II. Tandy, Of st.
Louis, arrived in Washington to-day, bringing
memorial to Congress on the subject of the exodus
of colored people from the South. The following
are the most important portions of the paper:
The undersigned, your memOralists respectfully rep
resent nat within the last weeks there have
by steamboats, up the Mississippi River chiefly from the
States OF Louisiana and Mississippi ana lahded az 81
the United states, not less than 1000, aud composed
y, a1y Of ther chdre This multitude are eager 70 pro-
ceed to Kansas and without exception, so far as We
nave learned refuse all overtures or Inducements to re-
turn South their passage back paid for chem
The condition OF the great majority is that OF absolute
poverty. They clothed In thin and ragged garments
Tor the most part and here have been supported
to extent by public but mostly by private charity
The older ones the slaves OF the South, all
now entitled to life and liberty The weather. from
the first advent Of these people in this northern
snow so that their suferings have been greatly in
creased and there was in their hearts single kind
remembrance of their Southern sunny homes they would
give IL expression now.
We have taken occasion to examine into the canses
they themselves assign for their extraordinary ana un-
expected transit, and beg leave to submit herewith the
written statements of number individuals OF the ref
ucees which taken without any effort TO have one
thing said than another and TO the sense OF
the witness his own languageas nearly as possible Ihe
story is abOuthe same III each instance pTiVauoh
and want from excessive rent exacled for land con,
threats OF violence thomselves The tone OF
statement is that OF suffering and terror Election
10 have been appropriated TO killing the smart men,
while robbery and personal violence IN one form anu
another, seem 10 have run Tue year round
Here follow abstracts of a number of aflidavits.
giving the circumstances of murders committed IN
Louisiana and Mississippi, some Of which have here
tofore been reported in the North, but many of
which have never before been made public. The
memorial continues
We submit that great migration OF negroes from the
South il iJself fact that Overbears all contradiction
the ue south to account FOR It. Here they are in
multitudes: not men alone, but women aud
commcn coITe' Consent CON- leaving their old homes
in natural climate and facing storms aud unknown
them all little said OF hope IN the future Ii Is
all OF fear In the past They are not drawn by tue at
Mississippi ami louisiana. Whatever becomes OF them
they are unanimous in their unatcrable determina-
Those who have come ana gone on TO Kansas must
suffer unto death ear-at all events more than
any oody OF people entitled liberty and law. the
Ses,J ~ psSdhnid ie ncnuailed 10 suffer under free
Government from terror inspired by ROBBERY threats
assaults and murder.
The memorial closes as follows:
We protest against the direful necessities impelling
the exodus ana against the violation OF common light
natural ana constitutional. proven TO be OF
most frequent occurrence IN places named and we ask
such action hands OF Representatives. and our
Government shall investigate TO the full extent the
leading this unnatural state of affairs. and pro-
feet The people from its continuance, aud not only
rect liberty aud life. but enforce law and order.
This memorial is signed by ex-Congressmcn l.. S.
Metealfe, Nathan Cole and Finkeburg ex-senator
John b. Henderson, Surveyor of Customs Gus;avus
ST. Com United States District-Attorney Bliss. ex-
Governor Thomas c. Fletcher, x-Dstrict-Attorneys
John w. Noble, Chester II. Crum and VIM. Patrick
Judge Dillon United States Circuit Court Mayor
Overstoz, J. Milton Turner ex-Mnister to Liberia ;
the Rev. Simon Z. Anderson, james w. Grant and
many others, including tie most prominent citizens
of st. LOWS, without regard to party.