Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-06-25
FACTS n FIGURES
Concerning the Exodus Of Negroes From
the South interesting Statistics.

WASHINGTON, June 22.-Represen-
tative Whitthorne has forwarded a
communication to Mr.. Goode, chair
man Of the house committee on edu-
cation and labor, touching the pro-
priety of the proposed Investigation
into the cause of the recent c0lored
exodus from the Southern States.
After a general review Of the relations
which existed between the slave
holders and their slaves, and an allu-
sion TO the general good feeling exist
ing between the whites and blacks at
the close Of the war. and a statement
concerning the immense loss inflicted
upon the South by the late civil strife,
MI. Whitthone says:
In view of representations made
from time to time that the colored
man in the South is denied his legal
and political rights, that he is de-
prived of just and proper reward for
his labor, and that his life and liberty
are constantly endangered, it is i'm
pOrtant and instructive to test the
truth of the representations outside
of partisan interests. In comparing
the productions of the South since
the war, it is shown them from 1869 to
1878 there has been an Increase of
more than three million head Of cat
tie and swine. In the years preceding
1861 there was produced 27,142,285
gales of cotton, while for the last
eight years there were produced
43,226,53l bales. In 1871 there were
1861 $40 acres Of cotton cultivated,
while in 1878 there were more than
twelve million acres cultivated"
1t is estimated by Mr.. Whitthorne
that more than $500, 000, 900 of South
ern labor products enter into the pur-
chase of merchandise and manufac-
tured goods of New England, New
York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The gross earnings of the railroads of
the Southern States are placed at
S42,927 1874 per annum, and it is held
that all the principal cities and towns
of the South have increased decidedly
in population, and hat there is a con
slant and general growth of manufac-
turing establishments. Statistics are
given showing that while the farm
laborer in the Northern and Western
States is paid at about the rate of 81
per capita Of population, his compen-
sation exceeds $40 per capita
of the population in the Southern
States, and that in a population of a
little more. than 100000 in the
Southern States $97, 907, ia is paid to
the laborer while in a population of
$4,000, 900 in the Northern and West
ern States only $ll4,S92, 1854 is paid.
Looking at these facts" he con
%tinues, " can it be said that the labor
er of the South is not as we'll paid as
the same class in other sections of our
country? Can it be argued that the
labor of the South has been so dis
turbed, that its stalwart men have
been so interfered with, as to compel
one-third of them to abandon their
homes and birthplaces and SO out
rageous is the oppression and danger
that they should stand not upon Che
order of their going, but flee without
thought of the present or provision
for the future? As a domestic and
political problem, and viewed in its
economic light, it is better for
both races of the South that
the colored race should migrate, pro-
vided this migration can be made with
careful thought and consideration.
No one, then, can or will persuade
them to any other course. Free to
move wherever the please, none can
now rightfully object, except in the
discharge of the offices of friendship
and kindness. If you shall recon-
mend an Investigation, as L hope you
will, | trust it will be- in the high
spirit of a search after political and
economic truth, the interests of hu
mainly, and the common good of our
country