American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-05-03
CHAS. p. GALLOWAY.
q. s. SENATE CHAMBER,


WASHINGTON, April Is, 1879.
Col. w. l.. Nugent, jackson, Miss:
My. Dear Sir-Your highly aP-
precia,ed favor of April 18th has
been received and carefully con
sidered. l note with interest the
Suggestions made relative to the
exodus of the co!ored people from
Mississippi and other Southern
States, aud heartily approve the ac-
ton contemplated ny the thought
fut conservative citizens OF MISSES
sippi in connection Herewith. Th"
sudden movement of Sd large II
number of this class of our citizens,
especially under the present
n,anag cement of the movement, VIII
surely work Industrial embarrass
ment to the States losing this popu
lation, and great property losses
and personal hardships to emigrants
themselves and l thiuk the Cons
ventiOn of citizens suggested III
the public press of the State, to be
held in Vicksburg, to consider and
discuss this question, Is eminentiy
proper, ami promises substantial
and most desirable results to the
members of both Faces of our peO-
pie. The causes prompting this
movement are complex aud multi-
piled but from tie best informa-
ton that l Can obtain the exodus Of
the colored people from the South
is reierable mainly to two cOifsid g.
eiatiOnS-lirst, the feeling ut nne"si
Ness and insecurity among the col
ored classes, 'inging from he un
fortunate race emissions aud SlO>
lence that has sometimes existed 10
certain Southern localities !; aud,
second, from the tact that the color
ell labuIcrS have not in many in.
stanc..s received satisfactory returns
for he pIouiucIS OF their labor.
These causes have been at the
oil igin OF the movement, bus have, j
fear, been stimulated 10 some extent,
10y highly ami rose>coiOred pictures
of the advantages OF Western life
and home. / hold, and have ever
held, that The Interests of the two
races ut the South are So blended
that one Cannot suffer without, in
some sort, IN ties ial.y .atfcc ing the
Oi ber, and there Is no necessary con
Hict of interests between them,
which shuuid render an exodus OF
the laburiag classes CXp-dient or
desirable Ilrc remedy tor me pre-
sent deplorabie AMI huitfui state O!
things is certainly to br found ia
the hands OF our ciiizrus, resident
IN the country and comprised oi
both races. This remedy, il ap>
Piled in II Just and kin,.iN temper,
will cnrrect not only existing e,i'~,
hut open the way for and int,o'incr
bette feelings between ali clas>rs,
and work the beginning al ah ela
of greater prosperity than has eve'
yet been enjoyed by the SoHh.
This Convention of ciIizcns SHOULD
certainly embrace the competent
men of every class of our people. l
suggest that j: should not oUly look
TO measures and action tina,
will remove all causrs of uneasipesS
and insecurity from the minds Of
those contemplating emigration,
whether existing relative to person
Va vi thC out II
should encourage the co!ored works
ing classes to acquire property in
the Southern States-h"mrsteatls
AMI the property interests connects
ed therewiih-thaI shall more close.
ly than ever identify This yenmanry
with the State of their birth and
residence. and thus lay the founda-
ton for growth and cnnf'ntment
among them on q ii, mer asis an
has heretofore Obtained. i iee It
deep and permanent interests in
this question, both il its relations to
my State and my race. and [ shaii
be gratific,l il | can find it prac lea
be to be present AT the Convention
TO he held at Vicksburg. Bur my
my public engagements ana private
business are of such IL nature that
cannot positively cay that can be
present on that occasion. l am,
very truly yours. b. X. BRUCE.