Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-03-20
AN EXODUS.
The COlOred People Residing In LOuisi-
ana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Some
Portions of Tennessee Emigrat-
ing to Kansas in Large
Numbers.
The Alleged Causes for this Strange
Hegira from the SOuth-DestitutiOn
and Suffering of the Emigrants
at st. Louis and in
Arkansas.

Arkansas.
The exodus or hegira of colored people
from Louisiana, Mississippi and portions of
Tennessee to Kansas, which has been taking
place during the past month or two, has at
tracted public attention in the north as well
as In the south. Such an occurrence does not
come to pass without a cause, but what is
that cause is the question. 1t will be remem-
bered that some time since a number of col
ored preachers and others organized what was
called a cooperative emigration society, for
the purpose of inducing the colored people
residing IN sections of Louisiana to emlgTate
to Kansas or other portions of the northwest,
where they could secure government lands or
obtain employment, and for the reason, as
they stated, that in the portions of Louisiana
referred to the colored men are IN measure
DISTINGUISHED and oppressed by the white peo-
pie; that the whites swindled them IN their
contracts Tor farming, and treated them badly
upon all occasions. Be this as 1t may, the
exodus commenced, and it now has assumed
serious proportions. so much so that 1t is Gre
ating some alarm in the south,
where skilled and valuable labor is greatly
needed, and also In the northwest, where
these colored people cannot secure adequate
employment, and which will fill these west
ern States with armies of paupers. An AP
PEAL commissioner Investigated the subject
in this city, and learned there was consider
able talk had in the country, outside of Mem
phIs, among the colored people, on the sub
ject of emlgrating to the northwest; that
quite a number were preparing to leave for
Kansas at the first favorable opportunity.
Some time since meeting of colored citi-
zens was had IN this city, and the subject OF
emigration was discussed, but no de6ni e
conclusion was arrived at. In May next,
however, convention of cOlored delegates
from the different counties of the State will
be held at Nashville for the purpose of con-
sidering the important subject. 1t is be-
heved, and Is asserted that politicians are at
the bottom of the movement to bring
about an immense exodus of colored peu-
pie from the southern States, so as to re-
duce the number of congressional repre-
sentation, and add to the number
of such representation in the northwest
ern States, so as to give the north Republic
can prepOnderance IN congress over the
Democratic south. The advancement or
happiness of the colored man is q secondary
consideration with these sharp politicians;
the end with them sanctifes the means. The
Nashville american, OF late date, adds the
following information upon the subject of the
exodus from Middle Tennessee
EN- ROUTE FOR KANSAS:
About two hundred negroes, from the
counties of Williamson, Marshall and Ruth
ertord, arrived in the city yesterday morn
ing, and left last night for the land of milk
and honey-Topeks, Kansas. Half of them
went ria Louisville and half by another
route. They represent ted all colors, between
the octoroon and the full blood; all ages,
from ooe month to sixty years. Their bag
gage was done up in dry goods boxes, trunks,
vallses, carpets and newspapers. The entire
company were accompanied by waller
dog" These negroes are, doubtless, attract
ed toward Kansas by representations similar
to those made to the unfortunate colored peo-
pie who have recently created such a sensa-
ton in st. Louis, and of whom a dispatch
from that city to the Cincinnati Com
merciGl, of yesterday, says: THE hegira
OF negroes from the south, en- route for
Kansas, ria st. Louis, has created something
of a sensation here. The arrival of boat
load early this morning attracted large
crowd OF people to the levee, and afforded
the curious, and those interested from other
motives, some opportunity to examine into
the complex phases of the movement. A
number Of southern merchants and southern
men interested In the southern trade were on
hand early in the morning, and mingled with
the dusky passengers to persuade them to re-
turn to the plantations, where they are so
much needed. The proclamation of the
mayor was also circulated to them, and every
effort made to open their eyes to the rough
experience that inevitably awaited them
should they continue In their course. The
negroes appeared to be utterly destitute of
ideas as to their future course. There seems
to be no particular idea of purpose In the
movement, except to get away from the
south. The class of negroes included, Is Tor
the most part, very poor and Ignorant one.
Few of them have ever been off the plsnta
tons of the neighborhoods they have just
left, and they have no more idea nf what
going to Kansas means than they would have
about proposition to take the traditional
voyage ACROSS the Styx. They do not like
the cold weather, however, and as a con-
sequence, a considerable number who have
no money have concluded to accept the offer
OF the transportation companies for free pas
sage, and they i'll accordingly go back at
the earliest opportunity. This number Is not
very large, however, and according to present
indications probably a considerable number
If those who have been for several days Nv
ing In the western part of the city are ready
TO go back by this time, and he return tide
may set Id at any time. 1t is positively stated
from the west that there is no demand for
this class of immigrants IN Kansas. Beyond
an occasional farm hand or herdsmRn none
of them will be able to find employment, and
a very few have enough money to start work
on their own account as farmers. Their
whole life and education entirely unfit them
for a useful career In Kansas"
AN IRRUPTIoN OF PAUPERs.
Under the above heading the st. Louis
Globe Democrat of the fourteenth, contains
the following graphic picture OF the emil
grants: The exodus of negro plantation
hands from the south has got to be a very
serious subiect-serious not only for the
States from which they come, and to KansAs
for which they all start, but to st. LouiG. At,
tention to the wholesale emigration from
Mississippi and Louisiana has beey droo-n
several times in tGis paper, but r ia onIv
within the last day or two to- tba n,stIor
has been forced upon the authorities To
pat the question falr J and suuareIy, st.
LOUIS Is thrt-leeee WIZ the lnhux of thou
sanHs OF negro ann ~, IS who are absolutely
without means Ie negro mind south, and
particularly in ~ ussissippi and Louisiana. ia
crazed with TIE fever of emigration to Kan
sas. IL Is E|orSe than the Leadvllle excite
ment. UutrageOusly absurd as it is, the
cnlloren OF Africa down there, with an ig-
norance as dark as their skins. have some
nov got 1t IN their heads that if they come up
70 o. Louis they Will be transported free of
charge to the fertile plains of Kansas,
and when there the government will
provide them with land, several hundred
dollars, mule and pillow. All they have
to do Is to rake up enough dollars to pay
their way to st. Louis, and it only costs them
four dollars head to come here from Vlcks-
burg. Nlne-tenths OF them arrive here
without cent in their pockets, but in the
innocence of their hearts they inquice their
way to the railway ticket-offices and cooly
ask for pass. Then they learn that they
have been fooled But still they hope
that in some mysterious way they will be
transported to Kansas and all will come out
'hunky-dory. IL will at once be seen,
therefore, that st. Louis is in danger of hav-
ing an unprecedented call upon its charities.
At Cote Brilliant are two hundred colored
people from the south, who managed to find
their way out there In some manner-apd
they are all
FLAT BROKE.
Every day there are new arrivals on the
steamboats,. The other day two hundred