National Republican., 1880-03-16
VOORHEES, SEEKING LIGHT.
A Broad CLEAN From the Pelican
State.
Prominent Colorcd Louis nnian Gives His
Exporienco-The Causes of the Move
mcnt-Democratic Chain.Gnng Leg
islation-Forco Suppiantedby
Fraud, Intimidation by
Iniquliy, Etc, Etc.
Tho Exodus 1nvestlrntlnr Committee.

The Senate Exodus Committee yesterday
commenced tho examination of John III. Burch,
cOlored ex-senator from Louisiana aud ono
OF tho Republican Presidential electors of that
State in 1876. l1e began his testimony by
stating that the exodus at one time last year
slackcnod somewhat, but since the State clec.
tion In Louisiana last December it has largely
increased. He said the effort made last winter
by tho Democrats IN the Legislature to
pass what was called tho "chain.gang
law" the agitation of this subject and
tho uncertainty of tho status of tho
coIored people under Democratic rule
prevented many from making the usual labor
contracts IN January aud February OF this
year, and that tho result of this is already oh.
scrvable in the largo number of cOored men
who have moved from the planting districts
into the cities and towns lying on tho banks
of the rivers, so as to tako advantage of Oppor
tuuities for transportation to the West This
proposition to pass these chnin-gang laws, and
other measures intended to abridgc their in
dnstral rights, the negroes, lie said, believed
were designed to aud would eventually place
them under system Of pconago, aud hence the
controlling idea with them is to get away
from the State before this is accomplished. lie
grouped tho causes of the exodus under livo
different heads, viz:
First-A fear on tho part of the colored peo
pie Of class legislation against thcm by DJmo.
cratic legislators.
Sccond-rhe fear of interference with their
educational privileges.
Third-Thn uncertainty of obtaining homes
aud insecurity in retaining them.
Fourth-lnterference with their religious
and personal rights; and, lastly, their fear of
disrranchiscment
In celebrating these points he stated that
homes and education have made the immi-
grants to this country the peers of tho best of
I'm Inn, ,tg
homes and education in the Northern and
Western States, and not in tho South. With
the example of the effect which political ostr,,.
cism, social degradation and industrial serf-
dom have had upon the people OF Europe, with
the evidence of their progress and advance
men5 under tho political protection, in
dustrinl equality and educational advantages
afforded by the institutions of the United
States, he thought it not Improbable that
the protection of his people IN all their rights
would produce an effect upon them that it has
produced in the case of the Irish anl German
and English cmgrants that have found homes
and educational advantages and civil and po-
'itical rights in this country. lie believed
that in right and justice tho experiment
should bo tried. 1t would at least stop the cx-
odus of his race which is undoubtedly subject
to the same impulses which founded the
United States and which threatened TO dcpOpu-
late Ireland.
Referring to the great change In the politl.
cal complexion of voters In some parishes with
In the last fcw years rs shown by the election
returns, he instanced Onachita parish, whore
in 1876, from 1000 to 150) Republican and
400 or 800 Democratic votes were cast; while
ut the last election the leading Democratic
candidate polled 1875 aud the Republican
only IL votes. This and similar changes
he said were accomplished by Dcmocratic
county returning boards. From five to
seven police jurors were formerly elected
in each parish as supervisors of election;
subsequently the Democrats passed law
authorizing Governor Nichols to appoint five
additional police Jurors in each parish. Those
appointed were all Democrats, and this gave
the Democrats a majority of police jurors,
or county returning boards, as ho called them,
in 0vory parish in the S:ate with one excep.
tinn; and in this exceptional parish tho Re.
publican majority wore driven away by armed
Democrats. He thought it was not necessary
for the Democrats to use force now 10 carry
elections, rs the legal machinery they have
devised enables them ito count out any ono
they choose"
The witness was ther asked by Senator
VOORHEES, to explain how IL Is that in so many
parishes whore the colored Republicans out
number the white Democrats so largely they
do not defend themselves and prevent the
wrongs it Is alleged they suffer from?
In reply Mr.. Burch stated that when it is
remembered that these white Democrats are
the same people who, when engaged in ro-
belion, it required the expenditure of millions
of treasure, the loss of hundreds of thousands
of lives aud ovor four years Of time to subdne,
and while II Is borne in mind that ever since
tho collapse of the rebellion tina whites have
kept up their military Organization aud ara
many Of them drilled aud trained fighters to-
day, it is absurd to expect tho negro, with
q hoe in his hand" to resist these men.
The witness admitted that affairs were
quietcr now than in 1874, when the State was
undcr Republican rule; that the negroes were
prosecuted more then than now; but quiet per-
secutions ho said, arc being carried on which
result in driving away from their parishes of
representative coored men to much creator
oStant than under Republican rule.
Tho committee adjourned until Wednesday,
when the examination Of Mr.. Burch will be
continued.
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