The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-01-05
The 99ai1g Arsns.
THE NEGRO EXODUS.
New York SIM.

| Senator Voorhees, says truly enough
| that the Democratic party in Indiana has
everything to gain and nothing to lose by
the movement of North Carolina negroes
to that state. The Immigration of these
unfortunate people is so bitterly opposed
in Indiana that in some places mobs have
| assembled at the stations to compel the
railway authorities to carry them on, and
in these mobs there does not appear to
have been any distinction of party. Indiana
is very close state. and persistent at
tempt by the Republicans, like that which
is now under way, to colonize it with black
voters. would inevitably turn the scale In
favor of the Democratic party. The de-
bate on Mr.. Voorhees, resolution propos-
ing an inquiry as to the cause of the exodus,
disclosed the fact that Kansas has had
more than enough of this pauper immigra-
lion. Even Senator Window. who is called
the Moses of The movement, displayed no
ardent desire to see the black swarm
turned toward his own State On the
contrary, he would show bis paternal at
lection for his deluded proteges by setting
apart reservation for them where they
could be treated as wards of the nation
and be robbed and abused by the agents OF
the Government like the luckless Indians
at present 10 their clutches. But. with
Judge Davis, we do not believe that MI
gratlons from one State to another are
proper subjects of Congressional investiga-
ton. If citizen. black or write, thinks
he can better his condition by removing
from the Aibemarle to the Wabash, he
has perfect right to go, with out having
the national nose thrust into his domestic
affairs. Besides, it is by no means neces-
sary to equip committee with stenograph
0rS fstn ErG md do I'D
spend about q hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, to find out what everybody knows
already. The negroes, as a rule, are con-
tented and reasonably prosperous where
they are. In the cotton States their wages
have this year been exceptionally high,
and they thriyed as laborers have thriven
nowhere else Their rapid accumulation
of property 10 all the late slave States
show conclusiyely that the employers OBJ
serve their contracts, and that the negroes
are protected in their rights The spas
modic rush to Kansas, and the late squirt
to Indiana, are the results Of partisan eff
forts TO get up case against the whites
with which to fire the Northern heart,
They had only to induce the ignorant
negroes 70 move in sufficient numbers to
attract attention, in order to create an
impression that they were i'll treated
in business and bull-dozed IN politics.
This was readily effected by agents sent
among them, and by lying circulars scat
tered broadcast over the country. describ-
ing the West as land of perpetual SUI
shine, and flowing with 'possum fat and
corn whisky. where the inhabitants regard
it as religious duty TO maintain the
negroes in state of luxury uubroken by
the least exertion. That the poor crea-
lures have been sadly disappointed, that
they die off rapidly of disease and want.
and that the large draft upon charity of
the Western communities upon which
they were cast has been found too much
for endurance, are probably no great mat
ters 10 the men who originated the scheme.
They have induced the blacks to move,
and their object is fully attained. The
Senate has only aided the plotters by
ordering such an investigation,