The Russellville Democrat., 1879-05-15
rrIsE LABOR QUESTION,

1 N4Be MlSSlSSlppl AllO9 i-'.ooh VI
 vention which was aeld last week at 4vicksburg was we'll attended by the I wealth and intelligence of the cotton states. The leading cotton planters of the Mississippi valley, including many prominent leaders of the color ed people were present, and manifes- ted a deep interest in the solution of the labor problem.
 1 The general sentiment of the whites is to faithfully carry out the provisions of the resolution. The colored attendants think the result of the convention will be to stop the Eexodus until alter the next election, which will give time to test the sin cerfty of the pledges made by the \ whites.
 The following ane the resolutions submitted ard adopted: -
 1 yIcKsBuRe, Miss, May 6.-There was marked increase Tn the attend ance at the Mississippi valley labor iconyention, which reassemlyletl this morning at 10. O oclock ,gin pursuance ce of adjourn m ent y estefday evening.
 a, The first business claiming the s first business claiming the attention tion. of the convention was the report of 4he committee on resolutions,
 which, through it's chairman, w. L.: Nugent. submitted the following:
 MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee on resolutions beg leave to respect fully. report that they have inquired into the causes which have given rise to the exodus of our colored population, as far as possible within the limited time allowed; and while these causes are difficult to ascertain, owing to the exceptional cases of all kinds brought to their attention, they believe the following to include those which may be considered prox. mate: The low price of.cotton and the partial failure of crops of the past year, the Irrational system of planting adopted in some sections, whereby labor was deprived of intel, :, hligence todirect it and the presence of economy to make it pfofitable, the vicious system of credit fostered by flaws permitting laborers and tenants to mortgage crops before they were l grown, or even planted; apprehen- sion on the part of many colored ! people, produced by insidiousp re ports circulated among them, that their civil and political rights are endangered,. or are to be; hurtful false rumors diligently disseminated, that by emigrating to Kansas the colored people would obtalp land, mules and money from the govern ment without cost to themselves, and become independent farmers;s many retail country store.keepers engaged in the business of selling whisky to laborers and tenants, whereby their morals had been corrupted, their labor rendered inefficient and the l pleasant relations between them and ] their landlords and employers de ] stroyed. It's a matter of astonish- 1nent to your committee that the col
 ored people could be induced to credit theidle stories circulated of a promised land, where their wants would be supplies and their inde- pendence secured without exertion on their part It was going to the extent of ignorance and credulitv to credit them, and yet evidence of un- l doubted character was furnished your committee as to this matter. It is one of the factors in the movement and one winch we cal not now fore east. There are in the state of Mis- sissippi alone 5,5o0,000 acres of land l belonging to the United States now I subject to homestead entry. Any I thrifty colored man in the south can pre- -empt 160 acres of this land at a moderate cost-about eighteen dol lars. Land in Kansas can not be acquired for less. In no part of the hcIvili2ed world can unskilled labor secure larger return by honest toll than among us; but idleness, accom- panied by extravagance, produces
 suffering and want here as elsewhere. " our committee believe legislation over the State should be so shaped as to foster habits ofindustry among the colored people, elevate the stan ldard of social morals, and improve and preserve our common school sy stem. Divers ways have been ex- pressed By parties equally desirous of reaching the same conclusion, viz. {: 1 To ascertain the grievances, and lapply, as far as can be done by us, Iproper redress. If the single pur- pose of all was accomplished, this might be done, but it could only be done with the full knowledge of all fthe facts. The errors have been committed by whites and blacks alike, as each m turn have controlled the government of the states here represented, may safely be admitted. Disregarding the past, burying its dead with it, standing upon the liy- ling present, looking hopefully to the
 future which is before us, your com
 mittee think their duty accomplish ed when they have reported their