The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-06-03
THE COLORED EXODUS.
The Majority Democratic hepor'-A"o
Minority Republican Report 10 DO
Submitted Hereafter.


behalf of the majority Of the Senate Exodus
committee yesterday submitted the report
After setting forth the amount of labor de-
voted to inquiry, and reporting that witnesses
had been examined from the States of North
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and In
diana, the report says;
We think 1t clearly established from testi-
mony that the following may be said to be
the causes which induced this migration of
the colored people from various points South
to tho Northern States of Kansas and lndi-
ana. The exodus to Indiana was undoubt-
eddy induced in great degree by Northern
politicians and negro leaders in their employ
and in the employ of railroad lines. The re-
port continuing says, particular examination
into the condition of tho colored men in
North Carolina, as disclosed by the testi-
mony of both whites and blacks, Re-
publicans and Democrats showed that the
causes of discomfort among the
colored people could not have arisen
from any discrimination Of their political
rights or any hardships on their condition
The testimony taken showed that they re-
ceived average compensation, and that their
State was equal if not better than tn aver
are in any of the Northern States in which
the exodites were. The closest scrutiny could
detect no outrage or violence inflicted upor
their nolitical rights in North Carolina IL
is also shown that there existed society in
Washington City and in Western cities to
promote the exodus. Every member and
friend Of these societies were Republicans,
whose object in promoting 1t was solely
political, hoping thereby to remove sufii-
cient number Of blacks from the South to
where their votes could aid in turning the
scale in close States in favor of tho Repub-
lican party.
The report next mentions that the ques-
ton ofwages, rents and the share system Of
cultiVating lands were inquired into in all of
the Southern States, and the fact ascertaned
that the rates of compensation received by
the colored people were about as liberal us in
North Carolina. With regard to the land
lord and tenant laws in the various Southern
States and the system growing out of them
adopted by many planters for furnishing
supplies to their tenants md laborers, the
committee found that they were urgently
called for by circumstances in
which the South found itself after
the war. The universal adoption of the
homestead and personal property exemption
laws deprived poor men of credit, and the
landlord class its own protection procured
the passage of these laws
AS to the alleged extortion by landlords
and country merchants Of the south, who
furnished supplies to laborers and tenants,
the committee admit they found that fire.
quently bad and dishonest men would take
advantage of the ignorance or necessities of
the negroes and exact exorbtant prices; but
in Justice to the planters of the South
they felt bound to assert that
this abuse is not frequent.
On subject ofmistreatment of the blacks
in Southern courts Of justice the commit
tee say they have ascertained that in many
districts the courts were under entire Repub-
lican control, and generally there wa. as
many complaints from such districts as from
districts under control of Democratic Off
cials. Taken altogether, the complaints
might be said to be such as are generally
made by the ignorant, who fail to receive in
the courts what they think IA iustice.
The educational advantages in the South.
the committee saw. are Insufficient and far
inferior 70 those OF most of the Northern
States; but such as they are, the same facili-
ties are afforded the blacks az to the whites.
With regard to political outrages, which