Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1879-08-15
THE EXODUS.

CainS d communication from the
town Of Washington in this
county, in which the writer sug-
gests that the whites and the
freedmen cali state and coun-
ty convention and send repre-
Sentatives to it to discuss the
subject of "exodu.ting." The
writer says II am of the belief
that an amicable and satisfacto-
ry understanding can be arriv-
ed at between them, and the
exodus excitement will cease"
In this immediate locality the
exodus excitement is at present
running very low, there is no
Kansas talk on the streets and
those favoring it are working
very quietly. The BANNER has
discussed this question to some
extent and we are unequivocal-
ly in favor of all who want to
go to Kansas or elsewhere, 60
ing without the least unneeessa-
ry delay. The leaders of the
exodus movement have to some
extent succeeded in making
their dupes believe that they
are not properly treated by the
white people and are not ac-
corded the social and political
frcsdom which they think them
selves entitled to. Yet in spite
of all this, Washington county
has now two members of the
Legislature, both negroes, and
would have been far better off
without any representatives
whatever, as the colored men
represented no one. We have
also two colored county COM
missioners and two negro con-
stables, a negro deputy jailor
and one or more negro deputy
sheriffs. If this is not having a
full representation We are at
loss to know what is. When a
set of men or people become
dissatisfied with their condition
or surroundings it is very diff
cult for, them to work and give
satisfaction, either to themselves
or those who employ or in any
way come in contact with them
even in a business way.
When the condition of affairs
described obtains, it is undoubt-
edly best for all concerned that
the dissatisfied betake them
selves to some place where they
can enjoy political and social
equality to their hearts content.
Whether or not Kansas be that
place it is not our purpose to
inquire. If the white people
tell the negroes that they viii
starve to death in Kansas they
won't believe a word of it. Ex-
perience alone will teach them.
A few weeks ago the white
people of the Chappell Hill
neighborhood, where there are
as many negroes as in any part Of
this county except the Wash
ington neighborhood, held a
mass meeting and unanimously |
resolved that it was best for all
the colored people who thought |
they could do better to exodust, |
and further that they, the whites, |
would aid and assist them in |
getting away. This action was
not taken hastily or unconsid-
erately; the planters in that
neishborhood have very extern
sive plantations and have GER
:ainly had every opportunity Of
:esting colored labor; they know
% the traction of a mill what it /
S worth and how much reliance
IAN be placed upon it. With
his knowledge they are willing
or the colored people to exodus.
We do not think a convention
If the kind named by the 7eke-
',am's correspondent would re-
;ult in any permanent good. If
he white men and negroes en-
,aged in working up the move
nent together with a number of
o-called leading negroes or pol
ticians could be induced to go
he sensible, hard working ne
,roes mightremain and do some
,ood for themselves. Until we
ret rid of a considerable por-
ion Of the negres now in the
ounty, it will be a difficult thing
o procure reliable white labor.
The BANNER has become so
Ised to seeing its items appro-
'riated bodily by many of its
Exchanges, which appreciate