The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-01-30
INVESTIGATION PROCEEDINGS
Tho Colored Exodus.

AoAAAVN 1dOCGGU1NCfS
Tho Colored Exodus.
WASHINGTON, JAN 49,
Inc senate Committee, consisting of Messrs.
pnorhees, Vance. Pendleton, Window and
BAR appointed to investigate the causes of
the exodus of colOred people from the South
eIn states. commenced taking testimony
The first witnesses examined were Rev T
e. e; RANKIN pastor of the Congregational
Church In this city, and Thomas /. Thulock,
ASSsIsoant postmaster at Washington, both of
Wnom testified they had no personal knowl-
eoge OF the causes of the exodus, and knew
n9thing OF the widely scattered circular to
t Mica , aneir names were appended, appealing
10 assist freedmen in finding refuge from per-
secutlon, etc., except that they had promised
20 serve as members of the Board of Audit
Tor the Emigrant Aid Society therein refer
red to.
j. w; Cromwell of Washington (colored), q
clerk in the Treasury Department., and q
prominent member of the Emigrant Aid So
ciety, testified the reason North Carolina ne.
sroes left their homes was because they did
hear any of them were induced to go by Indi-
ana politicians.
Judge A. B. Carleton of Terre Haute, Ind,
was the next witness. He testified he is well
acquainted with the people of Vigo County,
and with the condition of all that portion Of
Indiana. There is no present demand for
labor. On the contrary, there is an oversup-
ply, and the feeling of the people, including q
plumber of old colored residents, with whom
he has conversed, is decidedly averse to i'm
migration of destitute colored people, like the
North Carolina immigration in question, and
especially as the general impression is that
ter.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. p.
The Exodus Committee to- day examined o.
3: B. Wall of Washington, President of the
Emigrant Aid Society," He estimated the
number OF colOred men, women and children
already transported from North Carolina
through Washington to the West principally
to iana)between2 500 and 3 900. The original
purpose of the North Carolina agents of these
emigrants was to have them go to Kansas,
but the tide was diverted to Indiana by their
agents perry and Wiliams), on the strength
OF representations by members of the Wash
f9mgton society; based a., on circulars received
to the effect that there was a great demand
for farm labor in Indiana, and that colOred
people would readily find employment there
at excellent wages, together with the best
of treatment, and schools for their chill
dren. etc.
A. N. Clapp, editor of the Washington Ma
tional Republican, and Treasurer of the Emil
grant Aid Society, testified that he had moth
ing to do with the operations, except to act
as Treasurer; such he had received in con-
tributions from churches, individuals and So
cieties about 81 900, and had paid it all out
upon orders from the President.
At the request of Senator Window, it was
agreed to subpoena as witnesses in this inves-
tigation Gov. Hendricks of Indiana j. B.AIay-
nard, editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel;
".
and Joseph Medill, of the Chicago Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %.
The Senate Committee on Exodus today
continued the examination of .. l.. Il. Wall of
Washington, ColOred President of the Emil
grant Aid Society. He believed the exodus
from the South was spontaneous, that it
would continue until the colored people re-
ceived better treatment there, and that then
DRIFT southwark, for the negro loved
the home of his parents, and would
not emigrate without some strong incentive.
In response to Il series OF questions by Sena-
tor Voorhees,, the witness stated that the in
formation received by him as President OF the
society, TO the effect that employment for
North Carolina colOred people could readily
be found in Indiana, was derived from circu-
lars and letters of j. ii. Walker, Mail Agent
at Terre Haute, and several other persons
living in that State, whose names he could
not remember, but whose htters he would
hereafter furnish to the committee, ana from
Perry and Williams, the North Carolina agents
of the emigrantS.
Jas. +. OIIara, prominent cOlOred Repub-
lican of Halifax County, who is now contest
ing his seat in Congress from the Second
North Carolina District testified that he had
held various offices in Halifax County. He
gave very fav Orable account OF the condition
and treatment of cOlored people in North Car.
DINA. In regard to their industrial and politi-
cal status, he testified that, although there
was ut one time some "bulldOZing in counties
bordering on South Carolina, there never has
been any political persecution in counties
afflicted by the present exodus and is none
now in any part of North Carolina.
The witness, in response to Intermediates
as to the cause of the exodus from this State,
said it was the result of the efforts of agitatOrs
going about the country and not a spontaneous
emigration. The less industrious class of col
.ored men-what might be termed the floating
popnlation-were duped by representations
that they would get $3.50 per day in Indiana
and new suit of clothes, together with "Gov-
eminent aid" of some sort as they passed
through Washington; and they were similarly
deceived by false representations contained
in circulars purporting to be issued by rail-