Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-02-09
NEGRO EXODUS.

Testimony Before the Senate Committee.
WASHINGTON, February before the
Senate exodus committee, to-day, l.. O.
A. Hackney, prosecuting attorney Tor
the district in which Shelbyville, Ind,
where he lives, is located, testified that
twenty-six colOred emigrants arrived in
Shelbyville on December 18th last, and
the Mayor called meeting OF Council
and provision was made for the destl-
tute. About twenty came aiterward.
These men are still scattered in or about
the town. Witness heard of two or
three other companies coming near
Shelbyyille The county is Democratic,
but the Congressional district is doubt
ful and very close. A meeting of clti-
lens Was held, at which IL was resolved
that the law of 1852. inilicting a penalty
oi 500 on any one who should bring a
pauper into the State, should be en-
forced by the proper officers. Witness
Flowers and Mr.. Harper that there
were to be- $4,000 or 5000 negroes sent
into Indiana before the first OF Febru-
ary. Flowers was there To investigate
the allegations that mob had attacked
the negroes. Witness had seen the al
leged mob. 1t was meeting of fifteen
or twenty men To consider the expedl.
ency Of going 10 the depot to see II
the train lead Of negroes was coming To
Shelbyyille. There is no doubt that all
the Democrats dislike To see the eml-
grants come, and probably most of the
respectable Republicans do also. The
laboring class generally dlscountenance
the movement. The demand for labor
in Shelby county is fully supplied, and
there is even "A scarcity of work.
Cross-examined by Mr.. WindOm-The
meeting or mob referred tO was not COM
posed Of very responsible men, but lot
OF hoOdlums. They were going to the
train tn tell the damned niggers they
could not stop there" Witness dbl not
feel called upon, as Prosecuting Attor.
new, to interfere. lie thought the ne
yroes were being brought to Indiana TOR
political purposes by the Republicans,
but formed this opinion more on gener,
81 reports than personal knowledge.
Milton NJ. Holland, a member of the
Washington Emigrsnt Aid Society, tes-
titled that its object was solely charita
bic, not to promote emigration, but aid
smigrants. No political purpose WAS
connected with il. On their own re-
quest, about sixty emigrants were sent
to Ohio instead OF Kansas. The Society
hal no agents whatever. - far from
the movement being Republican, the
society felt very hard towards the Re
publicans because they had not
contributed much money. lie crit.
cissd the action OF two Cabinet officers
who had subscribed $50 each to the
Irish relief fund and nothing To the col
ored emigranfs. The witness IS clerk
i'm government department
Samuel A. Perry, dark nulstto, testi-
6ed n windom. he Is a resident OF
North Carolina. In 1872, the negroes
began 10 receive pamphlets from man
in Omaha detailing the cheapness otthe
land in that vicinity and some talk was
had about forming a colony To emigrate
West. but il died out. In 1876 the mat
Ter Was revived but died out again, but
lately there had been much distress
among the negroes, chiefly on account
of poor crops and The severity OF the
landlord and tenant and other laws
One hundred negroes got together ami
endeayored 20 ga some Northern capt
talists 10 help them emigrate there.
There was no thought of an exodus.
They forwarded a petition to the Nation.
Al Emigration Aid Society, setting forth
these facts. Perry and a man named
Williams, a. agents, were sent West 10
Look Tor a suitable locstlon, their ex-
penses being paid by the colony. They
6nally reached Greenesstle, where some
rolorei men told them they could do
well in Indians.
They got out lot OF circulars favor
inc Immigration 70 Indiana, and went
bark 10 North Carolina At . camp
meeting they distributed these circulars;
The road law OF North Carolina has had
sbad effect on the colsred people HE
negroes in North Carolina complain o'
ininstice in the Courts. There are tso
grades OF negroes; some have ShlIe
friends, and can get justice. NortheFn .
men who had settled in North Carohns
bad been driven out by bad rsatmep' !.
The ussroes noticed this, bscapss they
nsi3ersd these men their frene&
tl,e of6ces had been taken swsy nom