The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-20
THE NEGRO EXODUS.
what North Carolina Papers Have to say
of the Movement.

For some days past the press of North
Carolina has made nequent mention Of the
movement of the negroes from that state tO
the West and Southwest. scenes at rail
road stations are reported Of negro men
and women waiting for their trains; of
partBgs Of families; Ofdisappoiniment at The
nOn-appearancc of emigration agents; and
the various causes Of the exodus are dis
cussed. Many OF the papers have the same
view OF the subject. though differently eN-
pressed: and tO give an idea Of the prevail
ing sentiment the following extracts are
published:
The Nashville Arg0naut says; ~ great
many negroes are emigratIng from the east
ern counties Of this state to the South and
West, and without doubt the short crops Of
the present year Will tend 10 largely in
crease the number. We have no doubt a
large majority Of them will soon be anxious
to return to the Old North state, but there
will be no emigrant agent ID bring them
back. We cannot blame the negro for
listening 10 the glowing representations
made them Of these distant states when we
ind white men who ought to have better
sense doing the same
The GoldsbOro Daily Argus hopes "ihat
al the negroes VINO want 20 leave North
Carolina Will do 80, and will DO it at once,
After the lst OF January those lelt behind
ought 20 settle down 20 work for the year,
and learn for once that il is better for this
world and the next To keep "A bargain than
10 break il, even for the sake Of dying in the
miasmatic swamp of Arkansas"
The Tarboro Banner tells that "a very
large crowd Of negroes gathered al The
depot Yesterday 10 see their friends OF 10
Texas. They 90 10 WeatherioFd ta he em-
ployed as servants by the white people,
there being good demand for them.
Twenty all told left" and then relates tine
following incident: Last week, in Whit
akers. while the eNOdusters were waiting
fur de- train which was 10 bear them 10,
they didn't know where. their condition, Dee.
cause Of the long delay Of the train, became
one Of dire want. iiut even though they
were going away, one Of our best farmers
in that section, from whose farm ten og
more families had LEFT, hearing Of their suf-
fering, had his WAGON loaded with PRO
visions and his son a. 20 Win II, ana ied
those who went from his farm, and prOba-
bly, others
Alludin. to this the Wilmington Messen-
ger says: "a good. kind-hearted man, and
his name should be known"
The tIarbOrO SOutherner says that ~
negro woman intended going 10 Texas yesler.
day. but backed out after reaching ,ne depot.
She went in the ears % bid adieu 10 some OF
her relatives and friends. and when the
train pulled out she started 10 get OF. but
was seized by them and forced 10 20,
though with great reluctance, % Texas
with them. The reporter was tOld that
when the train moved OF. she was scream
mg at the top OF her voice. and was trying
10 eXiricate herself from the clutches Of her
friends, but OF no avail
The negroes think they are betterng
themselves, and many North CarOlinans arc
convinced that they are bettering ,Ae rtate
by leaving il. but one "a the migra'ors,
James y. ..opinson, Who went 10 Arkansas,
a few months ago, writes the following let
ter, which appeared in the Wilmingtea star
Tell Mr.. Jonn Evangelist this is the coun
try for truck farming. il he would like such
business but he must bring mOney-if he
has none. stay In North Carolina. Also you
can tell all the rest the same. Now let me
tell YOU "A few words In Mississippi. L0uisi
ana and Arkansas people from North Caro-
lima are faring very bad-that came oa ;a'
emigration movement. ,lIs, remember th,
first crowd :.Om Nilmiugt0n-they wer'
sold Tor i've dollars head By the agent
and Sent 10 Sunny side, ARK. and put iat'
the woods. one hundred agd lorty.eight ol
mO,e OF taem would not work for the pay
dlty cents per hundred pounds Of cotton
Ou te a number ran away soon after arrival
Mr. swan. West Nich0lsoH.J0e Williams an,
family STAYED week or more. TsasS ~n'
remained held a mee'igs ana would no
pick cotton "a. all. Then the gentleman
/ that bought them tried 10 compel them, bu
they would not. and So. about lle o, more
taking their things, le,,. rnen Mr. Martin
the gsn,l5nan that brought them, sued then
and got Judgment, and then gave hona b.
giving upall their thirg-. Then they raise
money aud seat Mr.. swan TO Little Rock 1
see the Goyernor Of that state, Mr.. >wa
was sent back 70 BRING all he could lind I
LitlIo Rock. aud he did 20. The court vii
meet In January"
A special dispatch to The TIMES las
night from Raleigh said: Numerous letter
are being received here from negroes VIII
have gone % Arkansas and othe, pMnts /
the south and YVES. Wi.l lhe exodus move
lsea,. ihese letters, without n single es
ceptinn, tell most mOurnftil stories Of harl
ships and iil-treatment, and advise negroe
here to stay at home. some of the negroe
who emigrated ran away nom their MAJ
ters. and were recaptured and put in ia
for breach Of contract. Others, Il Is repor
ed, are beaten by their masters.