The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-02-13
NEeno kxoprs.
Iavessigssion Of Its Causes what the Col
cred Mem say

Investigation OF Ifs Causes-yF What the Col.
cred Wen say.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23d. The Senate
Committee on Exodus to-day continued
the examination Of o. s. u. Wall, Of
Washington, colored President Of the
Emigraut Aid Society, and also took
testimony from James Il. OHara, a
prominent colored Republican Of Hall
fax county. Mr. Wall, under cross
examination by Vance, as to the basis
for his assertion that North Carolina
vas "a God.forsaken country, with a
soil that would not sprout black-eyed
peas" admitted that he had very little
personal knowledge Of the soil Of North
Carolina, aud personally knew nothing
about the counties from whieh the pres
ent exodus from the South was sponta-
Beous; that it wonld continue until the
coiored ,aeople received better treatment
there, and that in every probability
there would be a return drift South
ward, for the negro Lowell the home Of
bis parents, aud would not emigrate
without some strong incentive. In re-
sponge to a series Of questions by Sena-
tor Voorhees,, the witness stated that
the information received by him, as
President Of tho Society, to the effect
that employment for North Carolina
colored people could readily be found in
Indiana, was derived from circulars and
letter Of J. A. Walker, Mail Agent at
ferre Haute, and several other perBons
living in that State, whose letters he
would hereafter furnisi, to the Commit
tee, and from Perry < Williams, North
Carolina agents Of cmigrants. What
personal knowledge the latter had in
regard to the point at Issue, he did not
know
O'IIara (coIored), tho other witness,
testified nc held Office in Halifax county
for a number Of years as Chairman OF
the Board of County Commissioners,
Chairman Of the Board Of Education
and County Examiner. He has also
been member Of the North Carolina
Legislature and of the Constitutional
Convention; be was one of the Presi-
dential Electors on the Republican
ticket in 1876, and is now contesting a
seat IN the National House Of Repre-
sentatives. lie gave a very fayorable
account Of the condition and treatment
of the colore,l people in North Caro-
lima, but in regard to the industrial and
political status he testified that, although
tlere was at one time some s'bnlIdozing"
in counties bordering on South Care
lima, there never has been any political
persecution IN the counties affected By
the present exodus, and none now in
any part Of North Carolina. Nothing
was more common on election days than
TO see white landlord and colored ten
ant coming to town In the same buggy
and voting different tickets. White
mechanics IN North Carolina had no
prejudice against working with colored
mechanics, and no discrimination was
made against colored people in the
Courts or on juries.
Senator Window remarked at this
point that he had been looking for q
negro paradise, and now he had found
1t in North Carolina
WitAess, in response to the interrog-
atories as TO the cause of the exodus
from tue State, said it was the result Of
efforts OF agitators going about the
country, and not Spontaneous migra-
tom The less industrious class of col
oted men-what 4night be termed the
floating popalation-wer duped by
representations that they would get
81 30 per day In Indiana and a new
suit of clothes, together with Govern
ment aid" of some sort, as they passed
through Washington, and they were
similarly deceived by false representa-
tioas contained in circulars pnrporting
to be issned by railroad companies IN
Kansas and elsewhere. In the course
Of his testimony he expressed his opin-
ion that am intelligent negro in the
South has more to fear from White Re
publicans than from Democrats. He
explained this on the ground that the
Republicans want all the offices them
selves, and if colored men claim divis-
ion, they combine against them. In
this way, he said, he had been counted
out from his election as Congressman
because he had opposed white Repub-
lican's candidacy for nomination as
Sheriff.