The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-01-11
TIE ENTIRE NEGRO POPULATION

one-fitth Of
THE ENTIRE NEGRO POPULATION
of the county, or more than 5000 persons
has gone and the fever is still spreading.
There has been nothing like it since the
days of Pharoah and the situation may well
occasion the deepest anxiety for the future.
In the Ridge section Of the county, extend
ing from the Lexington boundary to this
place along the line of the Charlotte, Column
bia and Augusta railroad and east of this
road to the Aiken county line, embracing a
stretch OF territory twenty-fOur miles long
and four to five miles wide, il is estimated
that at least fopr-ffths of the negroes have
joined the exodus. The townships most
affected by the movement are Shaw, Ward,
Norris and portions of Mobley and Pickens.
Some of the most extensive plantations in
this section, on which large numbers of
negroes were formerly employed, are now
without one colored laborer and the out
look is gloomy enough to cause widespread
dismay. The reports lhave not exaggerated
single feature Of this unparalleled move
ment; entire settlements have been depop-
ulated, and the public roads leading to
Augusta have resounded day and night for
the past week with the shutting tread of a
picturesque aud motley caravan.
THE CAUSES OF THE EXODUS,
There has been but little difference in the
statements of the exodus people as To the
causes which have led to their departure.
The inVariable complaints have been that
the negroes enjoy no political rights; that
they cannot vote at the elections and ifthcy
do vote that their ballots are not counted
that they have no representation in the
government and that their rights are in the
keeping of hostile political party.
Another complaint is that the rent of land
is so high and the price of provisions 50 ex-
orbitant they cannot make living. "FOr
ten years, as they express it, eve have tried
to make money and have not been able to
do so. We are poorer now than when we
began, we have less-in fact we have moth
ing. We have not lived extravagantly
we have exercised all the economy we knew
how to use aud we are going further down
hill every day. There is no help for US
here, there's no Use in trying to get along
under the old conditions any longer, aud 50
we have just determined to 20 some
where else and take new start. !"
Another cause of the exodus is general
dissatisfaction at the passage of the
stock law which the negroes claim to
be the straw that broke the camels back,
To this case more than any other combine
ton OF circumstances may be attributed the
determination OF the negroes to carry out
the exodus scheme without DELAY. They
claim that their wishes aud necessities were
not consulted, that they were not asked or
allowed to sign petitions against its passage
that the law passed in spite of the protests
OF the larger part of the people of the county.
ana that under its provisions they would
hnd 1t impossible to exist, Upon the flesh
OF few ill-favored hogs they Depended for
their supply OF meat, and the little milk and
butter they could get from their cows helped
to keep the wolf from the door, These sun
plies taken from them, they did not see how
it was possible to get along, and SO thew
concluded 70 go unto land" described TO
them as flowing with milk and honey"
Most OF the negroes in the section of coun-
Try rom which theexedus was made worked
under tenantry system. They rented land
and worked it on their own account naving
stipulated amount of cotton for every acre
OF land under cultivation.