National Republican., 1880-03-11
THE EXODUS.
History of tho Movement In Louisiana.

History OF tho MoVomont In LOUISIANA.
The Senate Exodus Committee yesterday ex.
aminrd Mr.. George T. Ruby, colored, editor of
the Now Orleans Ojssrrcr. Mr.. Ruby testified
that he was born in New York city, and has
lived In Louisiana and TexHs for tho past
sixteen years, and that ho was conversant with
the CAUSES OF the exodus, He said cOnven-
tion of cjlored citizanl of Louisiana assembled
in convention in Now Orleans IN April, 1879,
and after n session Of four days ascertainGd
that tho exodus movement originated among
plantation laborcrs and was tho result OF per.
secutions Of the political mobs of 1874.
Organizing as Colonization Council in
August, 1874, IL spread rapidly from parish to
parish and permeatcd the State particularly
the sections known as tho cotton belt where
outrages had been most frequent. The con-
ventiou had definitely learned that 1t enrolled
92,SO0 names in Louisiana, Northwestern
Texas, Arkansas Mississippi and Alabama,
and that $1,000 of these wero represented III
different parishes Of Louisiana. Polit.
ical leaders had nothing to do with
it. The immediate inducing cause of
the New Orleans convention, he sail,
was the outrages committed in Louisiana
during tho summer and autumn of 1873,
and he iuStanccd several outragos that had
occurred in September and October, 1873 one
of which resulted IN driving out Of a parish a
colored preacher named BlOunt, aud two white
Republicans named Breda. This was done,
tho witness said, simply because they wers
Republicans" lIa then produced and read
tho following resolutions adopted at u Demo.
cratic meeting in NatchtocheS in September,
1873:
Rss0lred, That the past conduct aud actions Of
Blouut, Ruby. Lewis and tleir white associates,
who are thu recognized leaders nf the Radical
party In the parish, are intolerable that tho per;
sistsnt efforts Of these people to regain position and
power are n Standing menace 10 tho peace OF our
society, aud regarding them as onemles Of good
government, we arc determined they shall not
Succeed in their nenrious designs to keep alive
hostility between the races.
ReSoIuei 6Tiher, Thar the bold and vigorous dc.
nuuciation of these bad men by tho PcOp'cs Vim.
dictator are entitled to and receive our hearty COM
mcndnticn ana approval.
The witness said that tho "vigOrous donun.
citation" Endorsed by the resolutions included
advice TO the people TO take these bad men
out to tho nearest tree and Chang them. "
The effect upon tho colorel people of the law.
essness which, he said, had prevailed through.
out the State was tn 'incito them to 20 any
whore out Of tho hell In which they live"
1t is ho said, the denial of his political
rights, rather than his physical condition,
lamen table rs IL IL, that Causes this discomfort
among the negroes He admitted that there
was in New Orleans y large and increasing
class among white Democrats, perhaps a ma
jOrity, who deplors tho present condition OF
affairs; but those who entertain this feeling
arc merchants and capitalists naturally
timid, and exert no influence over political
leaders. The rabid men control the party
and they arc in y minority but 50 long rs the
majority are quiescent, aud merely doprecatc
lnwlessnoss, they cannot prevent it.
Mr. Ruby stated that he thought nearly
5000 negroes had emigrated from tho State
most OF whom had goue To Kansas. In the
| sugargrowing sections Of the State better
feeling prevailed, but in other parts the foel.
ing of discomfort is on tho increase aud tho
Indications are that many more will leave in
the spring.