National Republican., 1880-03-31
THE EXODUS INQUIRY.
A Flood of Light Pouring in on Mr..
Voorhees,.
History OF the Movement in Louisiann--Thc
Old story OF Oppression and Wrong
Democratic Badges n Necessity for
Personal Snfety-False Pre-
lenses of Peace Policy
A Forcible Reply.
A LonIsinna coloreh NInn,s Story.

Tho Senate Exodus Committee yesterday
examined John G.. Lewis, colOred, n resident
Of Nachitochos parish, La, and an ex-membcr
Of the Packard Legislature. In answer to the
general question as TO the causes Of the OK.
odus, Mr. Lewis began by stating that tho col
orcd people in Louisiana have had since 1874
Z" q very uphill road to travel" Asa raco they
arc very Jealous Of tho political and civil
rights recently conferred upon them, and
whenever any Of these rights are Withdrawn
or denied to thom they naturally feel discon-
tented. Their political rights, ho said, had
beon denied them, and this was the prime
cause of the exodus movement. Another
cause was unfair treatment by owners of land
and merchants. Every possible advantage
had been taken OF them, and feeling aggrcVcd
they had looked around for relief, and the
only solace offered is to omigrate. Seeing so
many colored people leaving, 1t was thought
best, lie said, by influential colorcd men, to
systelnat2e tho movement, SO a convention
was called for that purpose and met in New
Orleans in April, 1879.
Referring to the political causes for tho
exodus, the witness said that Louisiana was
Republican II that vote could be gotten out,
and there was no way to revorsc 1t lawfully.
Tho Democrats, however, had reversed 1t un-
lawfully. He then related the manner in
which lie claimed this reversal was accom-
plislod by the Democrats IN his parish Mach
itochcs). He said that in September, 1873, an
organization called the "20S" Association was
instrumental in effcctng this reversal.
They horded the blacks together and forced
them to vote tho Democratic ticket. Badges
announcing that tho wearer had voted the
Democratic ticket were pinned to tho lappols of
their coats after voting, rs q source of protCC-
tiom from tho mob pRtrOlling the streets, aud
these badges were far more potent than the
arm Of the law. They drove from tho parish
Republican leaders for no other reason than
because they were influential aud pop
ular with their friends. The witness
himself was driven away because ho was Or
ganizing Republican club. White men had
to leave their friends, their homes md their
county simply because they were popular with
the negroes and could control their votes.
The witness then read series of Joint
resolutions adopted by the Democratic Legisla-
turo of Louisiana in April, 1877, approved by
Governor Nichols, and which indorsed the
policy inaugurated by President Hayes; prom.
isod the execution of the said policy in Louis
lana; guaranteed tho enforcement of the laws
rigdly and impartally, to the end that vio-
lence and crime might be suppressed and
promptly punished, and promised that the
humblest laborer of either color should re.
ceivc full and equal protection of the law in
person, property, political rights and privi.
lcgcs. These promises of equity, justice and
pTOICCIlOH ny tno LpBlsIHJUTc, INC hllueSSSu Sultl,
had not been kept, and the proof of it, he
thought, was showing itself in tho ovodus
Referring to the inauguration of President
Hayes conciliatory policy, lie said the col
orod people were completely demoralized by
it. They expected tho Government would
recognize Packard rs Governor Of Louisiana
II Packard had been recognized the Nioholl:
government would have disbandcd. As it
was, just rs soon as tho Govern
mcnt withhold its support, tho Packard
Government dsintegrated rapidly, because at
tho seat of tho government where the strife
existed, public opinion and public sentiment
sustained the Democrats
Tho witness thought the exodus would con-
tinuo OH the increase, but that it would not
assume greater proportions to the West than
heretofore, as q great many would go tc
Texas and tho border. In the State of Texas
he said, there are great many German set
tlera, and colored people have moro faith IN
the liberty-lOving German than in the white
people cf Louisiana. In Texas he thought
tho Germans would allow them to vote as they
please, even if they do not vote as the Ger
mans might desire.
The election of Democratic President IN
1850, the witness thought would create con
stcrnation among the coIored people of tho
South, aud they would endonvor to go rs they
went to KGnsas-pcll -mell--anywhcro whore
they felt sure they would be treated better
than in tho South.
In reply TO u question from Senator Vance
the witness admitted that .bulldozing in Louis
lana commenced under Republican Admins
tnton, at timo when they had ii Republican
Governor, u Republican Legislature, Ropubli-
can Judges mostly, and with Il large majority
of the county machinery Rapubican. Since
the Democrats obtained control riots were not
so numerous, but tho witness thought In some
sections, where y Republican majority still
maintained itself bulldozing at the next cleo
tion would be just as bad us ever.
Senator Vance asked Mr.. Lewis whether, If
the negroes behaved themselves, this bull
doing would not stop. Tho witness replied
that, IN the first place, lie thought they did
behave themselves and rs they had behaved
themselves during tho war, aud before they
were emmcipatcd, ny remaining ut home,
working for their masters, he asked the SEN
ator if IL was reasonable to think they would
not behave themselves as freemon2
Without concluding the examination Of the
Witness the committee adjourned until
today,