Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-04-24
The Aurkrille Guqnirer.
YORKVILLE, 8. c.:
THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL "a, 187
THE NEGRO EXODUS.

which affected the colored people OF this otate
a year ago, and the unsatisfactory results Of
the trial trip Of the Asor to the coral strands
of Afric's sunny cline, would dampen the ar
dor of the susceptible blacks of South Caro-
lima, and for time at least their minds would
rest in quiet so far as all chimerical ideas Of
emigration were concerned. But not so. The
emigration fever which has carried so many
of these deluded people from Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi and other Southern States, has ap-
peared not only in South Carolina, but in
this immediate section, and though it has not
assumed malignant form, it is presented in
a somewhat violent type, many of the sub
jects laboring under the belief that from some
unexplained cause, and by some underlined or
invisible power, they are required to take
their departure from the land Of their nativ.
ity and seek new homes on the bleak prairies
or in the uninviting wilds Of the far West
To contradict the absurd story in circula-
tion among them, and believed by many,
would seem to be an absurdity; yet it is
duty which tie press owes to these people to
enlighten them on all matters pertaining to
their welfare, and it is no less our duty, SO far
as relates to the colored people of York coun.
ty, to properly inform them on this particular
subject. If the opinion prevails among them,
as we are Informed it does, that they are re-
quired to leave their homes and 60 to Kansas
or some other Western State, it is falsehood
put in circulation for base motives by design
ing persons. The most credulous Of the race,
in view of their past experience, ought to be
sufficiently acute to understand this fact
There is neither individual nor governmental
authority that can be brought to bear upon
the negroes compelling them to leave South
Carolina to seek homes in the West Neither
is there is any measure Of oppression brought
against them-in this section at least--calcu-
lated to induce among them desire to leave
their homes, only to meet sickness; want and
starvation among heartless strangers, whose
education and instincts ever have been and
ever will be against them.
The best friends of the colored race on
American soil are the white people of the
South, amoSg whom they were raised, and woe
betide them when they forsake their friends
of lifetime, merely to crafty whimsical
fresk, or what is even worse, in obedience to
the behest of political schemers and trick
sters. Under our State laws, and in the exc
cution of them, the black man is protected in
his rights of citizenship equally with the
white man, and so far as statutory enact
ments can secure protection in this State, his
chances in the battle of life are equal with
those of the white man. Not only is this
true in South Carolina, but it is equally true
in other Southern States. Even in Missis-
sippi, from which many colored people have
recently emigrated and are now in the West
in helpless condition, steps are being taken
for their relief Gentlemen of undoubted
financial standing and respectability in that
State have telegraphed to Kansas City that
all destitute colored people there, rim Wyan'
dotte, who wish to return to their old homes,
will have their fares paid, and all their rights
civil and political, will be guaranteed to
them. Besides this, Senator Bruce, of the
same State, one of the most intelligent col.
ored men in the South, has issued a circular
advising his colored constituents against emf
grating to the West, and counseling them to
remain where they are.
These are facts for the colored people Of
South Carolina to ponder, and if they do not
present the case sufficiently clear to remove
the scales from their eyes, perhaps the fol-
lowing-a specimen of many items Of news
to the same purport from the West-will
have the proper effect:
A Kansas City dispatch Of a recent date
says that large number of negroes from the
South have been landed by steamboats, al
Wyandotte, in an entirely destitute condition,
during the past few days. They are occupy.
ing the churches and public halls of that
place. Many are sick from exposure and
dying. Mayor Shelley, Of Kansas city, tele'
graphed the secretary Of war for an order tor
the issue of rations from Fort Leavenworth
to feed them, and Secretary McCrary replied
that he had no authority to do so, that Con.
gress was in session and that application
should be made to that body. A committee
has been appointed at Wyandotte to look
after the sufferers. The committee has issued
a call to the citizens of the United States for
relief, stating that seventeen hundred entire.
ly destitute colored people are already in
Wyandotte, and thousands more in the same
condition are on the way, and they ask for
immediate aid.
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.