National Republican., 1880-03-15
VOORHEES, SEEKING LIGHT.
A Story of the Exodus Movement
In Louisiana.
Continuation OF Henry Adams Testimony
Dy Whom and why the Exodus Is OPP
posed-Fnith Doctoring Statement
of Outragcs on Negroes SUBJ
mitted-GraDt Looked Up
to for Dolivernnce.
Tho Exodus Investigation Saturday.

Before tho Exodus Committee on Saturday
tho examation Of tho colored man Henry
Adams was continued. Hc testified that in
500 and 1866 in Dc Soto parish, La, he was
shot at twice by bands of white men, tho
reason given for the assaults being that ho was
trying TO got negroes to leave the parish.
Witness had prepared and submitted long
written statement of outrages that he had
seen committed on negroes whlo no was
travelling about getting information for the
use OF his organization.
Cross.examined by Mr.. voorhees,: Witness
said tho appeal of the society to Congress for
protection TO tho colOrcd raco in 1874 was
made through President Grant. No response
was received, but troops wero soon after sent
down to stop White-LoaSuo outrGgcs; part of
the Seventh cavalry was stationed at Shrovo-
port, and witness was employed by Major
Merrill as a scout at $50 per month, but hc
thought rail-splitting would have beom safer
work; his people lost all hope in 1877, not
because President Hayes was naugnmtcd,
but because their condition seemed hope
loss they had urged President Hayes to aid
them, hut without success.
Mr.. Voorhees, asked witness how he ac-
counted for tho fact that the Republican party
did not use their power for protection of his
race Witness could not account for it unless
the party thought such efforts would bo un-
successful and lot the matter sleop. Tho RG-
publican Governor of Louisiana had been ap.
poalod to for aid, but nothing was DONE Wit
ness thought Kellogg littlo cowarlly. The
Republican Legislatures made laws that
would have done good, but they were not en-
forced. The colOred preachers opposed the
emigration, advising the negroes to hold on
and something might be done by tho Govern.
ment. Witness supposed thoy did not want
to lose their congregations and supporters
The colorcd and white Republican politi-
clans would not allow speeches to DO made
| fjlvoring emigration. Witness had been in
Arkansas and Texas on the society's business,
and found the condition of the negroes in
Texas very bad; he did not wish to tell all his
business; he expected to get killed If he went
back for what he had already said; he paid
his expenses himsolfsn drawing on the COM
mittee; he mado money outside; ho was q
| faith doctor, and sometimes got from S10J to
5000 for curing one case; ho had cured dis.
eases by faith since he was nine years Old,
whites rs we'll as blacks came to him.
| Mr.. Voorhees, don't want to pry into tho
mysteries, but is it faith in you that the pa
| tient has to have?
Witncss-If they have faith to believe that
l can euro them l can. OF course, my faith
| comes from God
Mr.. Voorhoes-so tho patient looks to you
and you look up above2
Witness-If the patients believe 1 can cure
L
God for my faith.
Witnoss thought he had got along better
than most negroes with the whites, OH &C.
cou mt of gaining tho good will of the people
by reason of his curative powers, and ho was
| most successful in treating cases that had
be en- givon up as hopeless by tho medical doc
tors.
Tho negroes favoring emigration had more
trouble from negro preachers and politicians
than from nnv vhn1v alqa A1np,s ,t,J )
for President, and thought the laboring col.
ored men wanted Grant, as did also the
preachers. Those politicians holding office
might speak for sherman, but those who for.
mcrly held office by negro votes, and arc row
out of office, favor Grant or Blaine
Mr.. Vance examined the witness regarding
| the amount that negroes could make by agri.
culture, the result Of which was the final ad.
mission that tho dishonesty of merchants and
planters alone prevented negro cultIvators
| from making plenty of money. Wit
ness would hardly admit that negroes were
better treated under Democratic than under
Republican rule, but thought such result
might be expected, because when the Republi.
cans were in power the Democrats wero tempted
to gain an election hero and there by intimidat-
| ing negroes, whereas now that Democrats have
control they find it easier to merely count out
tho negro votes. Tho negroes have TO pay moro
| taxes now than under Republican rule and
| formerly the whites paid more than now.
| Witness explained this ON the theory
that Democratic officials wero enabled
| by the Ignorance of the negroes to
collect more than was really due from them.
In redirect examination by Mr.. Blair the
witness further explained his method of doc
toring by faith. lie knew nothing of v0odoo
practices; ho cured rising on the skin, aches
aud pains of all kinds and old sores by rub
| bing with his hands and breathing on them;
his skill came to him naturally, and he had
learnod TO make healing salves; he had paid
nothing for his learning, aud would never
charge for his services, but took whatever
patients offered; when he was nine years old
he had cured a toothacho by rubbing the jaw
aud blowing in the mouth.
| Mr.. Blair read part Of tho written statement
submitted by witness containing details of all
kinds Of outrages on negroes and witness said
| it was q sample of the whole.
A copy Of the appeal to President Hayes and
| Congress for relief of tho cOorod race was
read by Mr. Blair, who said ho agreed with
witness that 1t was an Internal outrage that
no reply was ever made TO It.
Witness said tho condition of his race under
the present National Administration was
about the same as before, except that ii was
somewhat worse in regard to casting ballots.
There was no protection In that respect and
the negroes saw no hope, Witness know
Of no outrage by companies of negroes on
white men.