The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-08-18
THE EXODUS INYESTI.
CATION.
Senator Voorhees, Great Speech
"a on the Importation Of North
-''''a''' Carolina Negroes.
That Portion of the Speech OF Senator
voorhees, Relative to the Moyemeut Into
Indiaaa-Delivered I'm the United
ers States Senate, June 4, 1880.
SENATOR WINDOWS {


understand that I do 80 In q spirit Of absolute
personal good Will aud friendship On, the
18th Of January, 1879, he introduced into this body
the following resolution $1,000
Resolved That with Wow to a peaceful adjustment
Of all questions relating to suffrage, 10 the effective
enforcement Unconstitutional and natural rights, and
the promotion of the best interests of the whole
country, by the elimination of sectionasm from pol
itics committee of Senators be appointed by
the Chair and ged with the duty Of inqurng as
70 the expedisncy and practcaLiIiy Of encouraging
and promoting by aIljpst and proper methods the
partial migration of colored persons from those States
and Congressional Districts where they not allowed
tofeey aud peacefully exercise and enjoy their Con-
stitntona rights citizens into such states
may desire to receive them and will protect them
in said rghs into such Territory or Territories "
the United States may be provided for their and
occupation; and If said committee shall deem neh
migration sxpsdient aud practicable that they report
BIZ bill or otherwise what In their Judgment is the
most effective method Of accomplishing that object;
and that said committee have leave to ait during the
fessss'7ff sa.rIe 81 -.r.f r-l. 81 t..-F ON
PROPOSITION TO ENCOURAGE IT.
Here was a direct proposition for in vestigating
COMMITTEES, be composed of seven Senators, with a
view Of encouraging and promoting the migration OF
coiored persons into this Northern States and Terri
tories 1T the first ever made In either branch
Of Congress- and regarded &C the time a harm
less novelty. On the 7th of February, less than a
mouth later, however, the Senator from Minhesota
addressed the Senate in support OF his resolution
making very elaborate and carefully prepared
speech. In this remarkable speech, he deplorsd what
he styled the shameful failure Of the Government to
indicate citizenship within own borders,
and, assuming that the negro was deprived of his
constitutional rights in the Southern States advised
himto goelsewhere. Anew Canaan, m thsric Ian
gRge of the Bible, proclaimed by the Senator from
Minnesota the ervid Imagination Of the negroes II
they would arise and leave their present hab tations
Moses also promised them in express words by
the Senator to lead them by thousands TO the new
Canaan which he described. He lures them into his
scheme by saying that the privilege of taking from
forty eighty Of good land should be extended
to millions Of colored people, and that they should
have their land in locality suited TO their wants.
treats IL lightly. He says:
'Ift should cost few millions provide The terri
tory for them, who would weigh tha act in the bal
snce against a solution o. H. most Yerplexing and
dangerous problem that men@ces our future
tion the performances of partial but tardy justice
race, and the permanent pacicstion ofthe country?
Again, the Senator says:
"Lst IL be understood that such place Is ready for
them, and the bishops and ministers of their
churches will head the exodus TO the promised land
with songs Of praise and devout thanksgiving TO God
Tor tins mighty dslssrsnce; say they are too
DOUBTLESS the great majority are So but the enter
prising, the intelligent, and the ambitious will fd
Guilty this point, the patriotism and phian-
thropy of the people may be confidently relied upon
to organize and provide the needed funds"
ORGANIZATION OF THE MOVEMENT.
1t will be seen from this passage Of the Senator's
speech Of February 1874 that ne only proposed
select committee encourage the exodus Of the ne
gro but that ne likewise suggested the very plan by
which IL could be best promoted. He declared that
''the patriotism and philan rhropy of the people,"
meaning of course the people Of the North "coud be
confidently relied on TO organize and provide the
needed funds. This the first suggestion, far
as know of the organization Of emigrant aid socie
ties which sprung up rapidly almost immediately
atervard. ~0rganize and provide the needed funds'
These the words Of the Senator from Minpe-
sofa. spoken with reference TO the action Of the
Northern people in their efforts to promote the negro
exodus from the Southern 10 the Northern States,
and they acted upon at various points without
delay. The voice of the Senator needed, as Il
ought 70 be- by his party followers His co1nseIs
cd nv mart ass bafh vrh Ira
and black, and societies were at organized to
''provide the needed funds" One was formed in this
city and in Saint Louis. 1t is a circumstance
be noted and remembered that between Washington
City and Saint Louis the only other emigrant aid
eieties were established in Indiana. "."
-" These societies were secret far
the general public was concerned. Their existence
was unknown except to those connected with them
until the present investigation exposed them. The
great body the people Of INDIAN did know
secret organizations were at work in their midst,
pursuant to the suggestion Ofthe Senator from Min
nesota TO induce negroes in large numbers to come
into the State, and TO provide for the trans
portation of such as were paupers. IL was at first
hidden conspiracy so far as Indiana was concerned,
70 stock the state with worthless black population.
The conspirators-of course do not tina. word
In connection with the Senator from Minnesota
moved about for time in the dark and fancied them
selves from exposure. That the object Of the
conspiracy to assist the republican party and to
secure its aseendeney in Indians, ~ possible. Il:
proof.
GENERAL CoNwAY's MISSION AND TEsTI-
MoNY.
Other results. however, beside the formation of
secret emigranE aid societies Immediately followed
the speech Of the Senator from Minnesota. In the
course of that speech the Senator quoted from and
complmented Rev. General Thomas W. Conway
who seems from his mixed title TO have handled the
Of both spiritual and temporal warfars. And
who IL General Conway The Senator, not content
with quoting him high authority here in the Sem
ate, called him witness before the exodus COM
mittee We there learned the history Of his
with N aft of IL read
his testimony before the committees
Question. Will you please state Whist your
nection has been with the education of the coored
race or your opportunities for knowing its condition
generality A. / commissioner Of the Freedmen g
Bureau by appointment of the President.
superintendent of the Department. Of the Gulf undor
General Banks, in le64; aud when the bureau was
ganizad in 1865 was appointed commissioner for
Louisiana, and also Alabama until General Swayne
was appointed for that State: then I remained CON-
missioner for Louisiana until 1856. subsequently
State superintendent If education for that State
ISL SSs 0f now 'Ons '''"'' - OF n'' years. Up 70
O. Did you live there in 1922 A. lived there in
1872. 1 was there from 1905 to 1868, ten years.
went there officer Of the army. became iden-
titled with interests of the colored people In that
way, and am now, and expect TO be for some time to
come 20
In point of fact General Conway is recognized as
one Of the prominent men in the country
nected with the agitation and promotion Of negro
emigration. When before the committee he stated
that he was then his way "to New Mexico TO pio-
for about hundred thousand of these people
mer with means TO buy land In their OWE behalf
Bearing General Conwsy's conspicuous position on
this subject in mind, let next what his move
ments were almost Immediately upon the delivery of
the speech of February T. 1879, by the Senator from
Minnesota. Within less than month afterwsrd Gen.
sral Conway reached this city for consultation with
leaders of the republican party in regard to the
the negro exodus. he states In his
testimony that he especially consulted
the late Senator Chandler, who WAS at that
time the very able chairman ofthe republican national
COMMITTEES. No one will dispute that Mr.. Chandler,
when alive aud In that position dictated and shaped
the policy and political party
than any other in it. General Conway says that
he warmly and enthusiastically embraced the exodus
movement, thus giving it the full and cordial APP
prevail and support os the official h I'D of the repub
1can party. Thus equipped and strengthened In his
faith and purposes General Conway tells that he
started South by way Of the West. Let Il be remem-
bered that this In March, 1872 &C least six months
before negroes commenced to arrive in Indiana, ans