St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1880-06-05
THE EXODUS INQUIRY.

Senator Vance, in behalf of the
majority of the Senate Exodus Com
mIttee, submitted report on the
lst inst, which, after setting fortt
the amount of labor devoted to the
inquiry. says:
We think it is clearly established
from the testimony, that the follow
ing may be said to be the causes
which induced this migration OF
colored people from various Dor
tions of the South to the Northern
States, chiefly Kansas and Indiana
The exodus to Indiana was I'M
doubtedly induced in great de-
gree by Northern politicians and
negro leaders in their employ, and
IN the employ of railroad lines.
Particular examination into the
condition OF colored men in North
Carolina, rs disclosed by the testi-
mony both of whites and blacks
Republicans and Democrats. show
ed that the causes of discomfort
among the colored people could not
have arisen from any deprivation
OF then political rights OF any hard
ship IN their condition. The testi-
mony showed an average compen-
sation in that State quite equal if
not better than the average in any
Northern State to which the exod-
ties were going. The closest scru-
tiny could detect no outrage OF vio-
lence inflicted upon their political
rights III North Carolina.
1t was shown that there existed
societies in Washington CITY and
Western cities to promote the exc
dus. Every member and friend of
these societies were Republicans,
whose object in promoting it was
purely political, hoping to remove Il
stliclent number of blacks from the
South to where their votes could
nd III turning the scale in close
States IN favor OF the Republican
party.
The question Of wages, rents and |
'he Share system OF cultivation were /;
inquired into III all OF the Southern |
States, and the fact ascertained that
,he rates OF compensation received .
~ the coIored people were about rs
LIBERAL rs Ill North Carolina. With
'e9ard to the landlord and tenant
avs III the various Southern States
md the system growing out of
hem, adopted by many planters for
furnishing supplies to their tenants
nd Iaborers, the committee find
hey were urgently called Tor by the
circumstances IN which The S0uth
ound itself after the war. The uni
'ersal adoption of homestead and
'tisonal property exemption laws
Iepnred poor men Of credit. and
he landlord class, for its own pro-
ectlon, procured the passage of
hese laws. AS to alleged exturtion
y landlords and country merchants
I the South who furnished sun
hes to laborers and tenants, the
omm1ttee admit they found that
,eluently bad and dishonest men
'onld take advantage of the ignor-
nee or necessity Of negroes and
zact exorbitant prices; but in JUS
&c to the planters of the South :
hey felt bound to assert that this
buse Is not at all general OF fire. ,
uent,
On the subject of the mistreat- ,
tent OF blocks in Southern courts
Justice, the committee say they
ave ascertained that in many dis
lets the courts were under entire
epubllcaln control, and that gen- ,
ally there We're as many COM
'alnts from such districts as from {
he districts controlled by Demo- I
attic officers. Taken altogether, i
le complaints might be said to be b
lch as are generally made by the i
norant, who fail to receive in the
'urts what they think is justice. Il
Tie educational advantages of t
e South, the committee say, are {,
sufficient, and far inferior to those r
most of the Northern States; but il
ch as they are, the same facilities 8
e afforded to blacks as to whites. f,
With regard to political outrages, Il
iich, the committee say, have Il
rmed the staple of complaint for t,
any years against the people of n