Huntsville gazette., 1882-02-11
Ex Congressman Rapier Of Ala.

Ex Congressman RipierO OF Ala.
His success in Iife--What he thinks
of the condition .of the coiored peo-
pic OF AIabama--Cause and effect---
Advocates the exodus movement as a
possible solution of many Grievances.
While visiting the city Of Washington
last week the writer or this article had
the pleasure OF meeting very many dis
tinguished colored men from different
parts Of the country whose names have
familiar sound in thousands OF homes
in this broad land of ours; and he sue
ceeded in gathering some valuable in
formation concerning our people which
cannot but be of interest, however
much we may deplore the sad state of
t ,ingsreporied to exist III some sections
where at least the smile of partial plen-
ty was supposed to make bearable the
many and sore grievances which crush
the life out Of The people. Among he
gentlemen we met was the Honorable
~. L Rlpier OF Alabama. Mr. Ripi9S
Represented his State In the XLIIId
Congress, and made one of the. ablest
speeches in favor Of the passage OF the
Civil Rights bill. After retiring from
Congress he was appointed an Assessor
Of Internal Revenue by the President.
He was appointed Commissioner tor
the State of Alabama to the Worlds
Fair at Vienna in 1878. and was sub
sequently appointed by the President
Collector of Internal Revenue, which
position he now holds, with headquar-
ters at Montgomery.
Mr. .Rapler is the possessor OF exten-
siye landed interests in Alabama, and
aivvesannua employment t,more tn IN
one hundred persons. Besides other
farm products he raised two hundred
and sixty bales of cotton last year,
and thinks be may do better than this
the coming year. He also owns
large cattle ranch in the State of Kan
sas and expects to 60 there in march
for the purpose Of stocking it. He is
evidently a thorough business man,
and we should esteem it one of the
greatest pleasures Of our life to be able
to point to such as he every town and
city in the Uni n. We have now four
or five ex-Congressmen who demon
strate that to be an active politician
ioes not III any way hinder man
from being successful business man.
Of these geutlmen, we may mention
Mr. Rapier Of Alabama, Mr. Lynch
Of Mississippi, and Mr.. Walls of Flor
ida, all Of whom are not only eminent
public men, having the confideuce of
the people, but the proprietors OF vast
acres under cultivation and the en-
pioyers Of large numoers Of men.
these are types Of men that we point
to with pride.
: MI. Rapier declares that the condition
Of the colored people of Alabama is worse
to-day than il was live Yeas ago There
is more poverty, little less Ignorance, and
very discouragiug pr' s pect5 tor the future.
He explains the destitute condition of the
people on tee ground of short crops, small
returns for labor performed, the enormous
prices exacted tor tAe necess sarles of life,
lnd the worn out nature OF the soil under
c i iyation deeI he declares it to be u
fact that tie 50 of Al lsb tml, III many dis
tricts deu5ely popul tted, hardly repays the
tlllage.
Again, he explains away the current OPT :
ION that the colored people OF -Aiaoama d
Jther Southern Sites are rapidly acqul
lng homesteads. Iue opinion is, however,
true, conaitioually. HAe IN iority of these
.lonlesteads ate, by reason Of tue conditions
"a which they are acquired simply posses
SION III re7erson. ruat is to say. the land
| /, yerv poor, the 1lOred man purchases on
| terms Of five years, more OF less; he fluids
The yield insignificant, rs matter of
| course; tue price paid Tor Ills produce eX
,ramely reduced. whlle he pays enorm Jus
taxes to the Slate and County, and luxuri-
ous prices for all artIcl . necessary aud i'll
iispeusable. Coneeauently, When The five
years ezpite the colored man is ulaole 10
| uon1r hi, oh 5atiou on the properly, and
| 1t naturally reverts to b vri III proprie-
| tor BY THIS Very la5ltIIn tte but dis l,trols
| means the colored man loses tue plym suts
| made under the contrlct, tue tt~ IS plId,
nd all the improvements made when lie
| lad high hopes OF perlndnent ownership
III the soil. 1t is needless to say that the
-iast state oi that colored is far worse than
~ 49, -. - SN!i -H' A
.)ief declares that hundreds Of acres thus
revert to its original owners every Year,
aud hundreds uf oolorea men start LIE
new, poorer, lee Ter. and less, hopeful
tLaan i've years AZ reach co.nparatlvo
'oMfort ard prosperity III tue future
IniS aspect OF tue con iltipu OF our peO-
pie cannot but carry sorrow and deep
iret to the breasts Of sympathetic men and
| women everywhere; aud yet VINO knows bat
| that the same condition Of afIirs prevail,
| III many ofner States where prosperity
yaunts Itself to the gtze. hiding bene.E
MS smiles the lnsldIouo clements Of mislort
me want, and wlel Let us nope not
| out the tumlituous numbers that are now
| iylng 1roin the gorgeous prospects Of The
oonth to the dream tnat promises glorious
| frultlon III the far West and the frozen
| North, point to tue veracity Of the iiscour |