NEGRO EXODUS, the name applied to a remarkable migration of freedmen from the southern states of America, in the beginning of 1879, and through that and the suc ceeding year. On April 7 in the year named, a memorial reached Washington, signed by many of the most influential citizens of St. Louis, Mo., including ex-senators and ex-representatives in congress, the mayor of the city, an ex-minister to Liberia. and others without distinction of party, setting forth the following facts: That during the two weeks preceding April 7 there had arrived by steamboat at St. Louis, haying come up the Mis sissippi river, chiefly front the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, as many as 2,000 negroes. including men and women, old and young, with many of their children. That this nuiltitude expressed an eager desire to reach Kansas; and without exception, so far as could be learned, refused all overtures or inducements to return south, even if their passage back was paid for them. That the condition of the great majority of them was that of absolute poverty; they being clothed for the most part in thin and ragged gar ments and supported stay in St. Louis partly by public but mostly by pri vate charity. The older ones in this migration had been formerly slaves in the south: ali related same story as to the causes of their departure from their homes—great privation and want from excessive rent exacted for land; murder of their colored neigh bors; and personal violence threatened against themselves. The memorial was accom panied by affidavits given by the negrocs, relating instances of political and other assassinations, and other cases of personal violence and outrage. This migration contin ued to flow steadily northward. and the colored people already living in Missouri and Kansas were embarrassed by the necessity imposed upon them of affording assistance to the emigrants, in which they were comparatively little aided by the white population of the north, although earnest ealls.bv the press and by public speakers were made in all directions. By the middle of April' it was publicly alleged that certain counties in Mis sissippi, and some river parishes in Louisiana, were being depopulated, so far as the negroes were concerned; also from interior points numbers had fled to St. Louis by rail. It appeared, on investigation, that this movement had been a matter of discussion among the negroes of the gulf states during aeveral years, but the simultaneous character of the migration was not explicable on any general theory. Nor was the reason for selecting
Kansas as the concluding point mile clear. The climate of that state was so severe in the early spring that great suffering occurred among those who reached it; but neither this fact, nor the stories of hardships and dangers which were industriously circulated by those interested in opposing the movement, appeared to have the slightest effect in retarding it. It was alleged that local associations bad been formed in the southern states for the purpose of encouraging migration northward. There was, however, no evidence of any united action by such, associations. It was alleged, also, that the movement had been devised and executed ply !tithe interest Of ceitaluKanswidiad:speculators, and partly by railroad companies. Mass meetings of colored people were held in New Orleans, Vicksburg, and other southern cities, during the spring of 1879, for the purpose of encouraging the negro migration; while meetings of planters and others employing negro labor were convened, at which the dissatisfied negroes were invited to state their griev ances, with is view to redress, if practicable. A colored convention assembled at Nash ville, Tenn. on May 7, at which delegates were present from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, LOtliAlan a, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Caroina, and Tennessee. The whole subject of the condition of the negro rare in the south since the act of emaneipation was considered in a report which was offered and adopted, and a plan to improve this condition was submitted. The following resolution was adopted: "Resolved, That it is the sense of this confer ence that the colored people should emigrate to those states and territories where 111(.3 can enjoy all the rights which are guaranteed by the laws and constitution of the United States, and enforced by the executive departments of such states and territories; and we ask of the United States an appropriation of $500,000, to aid in the removal of our people from the South." By Aug. 1, more than 7,000 needy colored refugees bad arrived in Kansas from the southern states, and the flow continued steadily during the summer. Public attention was diverted from it, however, and as an occasion for popular excite ment it gradually died out. During 1880 but little was heard of the exodus, though the migration continued—not to Kansas alone, but to the older and more thickly settled states, and in bands of fewer numbers, thus avoiding notice.