National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-01-23
COLORED MIGRATION.
Mr.. WlndOm's Plan TO Denude the
South OF LabOrers.
Ex-Congressman nIeuard (ColorejD to sena-
tor window.

init some points regarding the proposed migra-
ton of colored people from certain portions of
the South, embraced in your resolutions re-
Gently introduced in the Senate.
| Although long residence at tho South and
n careful study of the race problem have con-
WINGED me that neither any ropressve legisla-
tion nor the Intervention of Federal bayonets
can effect permanent and satisfactory settle
ment of the Southern question, yet l believe
that your proposition, to a certain extent, is
calculated to relieve the wants and present
condition of the colorod people at the South.
| favor it on economic grounds and not for
political reasons, for, if 1t bo urged and made
a purely political movement, there is no possi
blity Of its success The time has surely come
when the condition of the negro in the South
addresses itself with peculiar power and earn
cstness to fair.mindod meu of all political
creed5 in this nation regardless of sections.
Surely there has been enough Of political
speculation on the negro, and 1t is high time
to deal with him as man on just, humane and
economic grounds So far as my information
extends think IL quite safe to say that the
Buine proposition to cut down the Southern
Congressional representation as q punishment
for "bul-dozing" does not meet tho hearty APP
proval of the intelligent and thinking cOlored
men in this country. The impression among
some of them is that while Senator Blaine put
in one word for Justice to tho negro at the
South he puts in three for a solid white North
and the continued supremacy of the Republic
can party without the negro.
as legal voters and ful.grown American cit
iZcns, casting nearly q million votes, we claim
La just right to be included aud taken into ac
count in all political questions presented to the
American people.
To favor the Blaine proposition is to nc.
know n bopp fpr hn nt hn Entii
In this do not concur for | believe that u-
creased intelligence, tue possession of more
landed property, and independent political ac-
tion on the part of the negro aud q necessary
growing community of interest between the
two races are elements that are bound in the
near future to solve their problem.
The growth of liberal and independent po
litiCal opinion among the better class of South
crn whites would seem to warrant the opinion
that it is not in the nature of things for the
South to remain solid" beyond the next Presi-
dental contest
Since the Government has shown II lament
able inability to protect the colorod people in
certain narts of the South, they now feel that
they have been thrown upon their own politi-
cal resources and will hereafter naturally divide
and subdivide with the Southern whites on
questions of finance, taxation, internal im-
prOvcments, and other local issues. When this
wholesome division comes each political faction
or party will take care Of and protect its own
adhercnts. be they white or black. This Is
, natural political law, and the South cannot
= prove an exception to the rule lie is foolish
who believes that tho black vote is necessarily
Il permanent appendage to any party in this
country, and time and future experience will
fully demonstrate this.
But now more directly TO your proposition.
| favor ii, as | said, on economic grounds for
the reason that, if adopted and adequate pro-
visions be made to calrysit into practical ef-
fpTf tl,,l ,E
labor at the South which now is forced into
ihleness from the lack gilmore invested capital
, in the various enterprises aud industries cal.
culatod to create increased avenues of employ
= mcnt.
I The migration of these surplus laborers
would lead them TO such points in the great
West and Southwest whcro they could fnd
employment and the means to supply them
70 selves with better ncCessaries and comforts of
T. life, and where also they llght find some more
, powerful incentive TO their aspiring political
ambition.
+ Their migration would also have the effect
b of cutting oil the supply Of excessive labor at
the South aud bring it down to the demand
point. This would resale in q healthier Cundi-
s tiOn of things, aud would rebound to the bon
I eft Of the great bulk of labOrers who must
p necessarily remain.
This proposed migration would also be a
= standing menace to the landowners and plant.
5 ers in the South, who would naturally regard
it as IN agency by which they would suffer
the loss Of valuable labor which could not he
easily replaced. The fear produced by this
| threatened loss of labor would lead these
Southern planters to treat the remaining ne.
groes better and to accord to them all the
rights Of citizenship.
But where and to what State or Territory
shall these people migrate! Shall New Mex.
leo Or Arizona he converted into "roserya.
ton for the surplus negro labor of the south ?
As these are OH the same latitude with the
BLACK Belt" and Of the same climate, they
might be considered us more suitable than any
Western State or Territory. TIE choice, how
Y ever, should be left to tho colored people
t themselves
have always thought IL best for the COL
Ored people to migrate to various points West
j. and Southwest, aud not to any particular
I place, The more they scatter themselves
@ broadcast among other classes of citizcns and
y. races, the faster will they emerge from all the
u evils Of that gross hereditary Ignorance which
o slavery left them as blighting legacy.