r white fellow-citizens
towards them in the South, and by the denial or abridgement of
their personal and political rights and privileges; therefore,

_Be it Resolved_, That a committee of five members of this body
be appointed by its presiding officer, whose duty it shall be to
investigate the causes which have led to the aforesaid
emigration, and to report the same to the Senate; and said
committee shall have power to send for persons and papers, and to
sit at any time.

In obedience to this resolution the committee proceeded to take
testimony on the 19th day of January, and continuing from time to
time until 153 witnesses had been examined, embracing persons
from the States of North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, and Indiana. Much of this
testimony is of such a character as would not be received in a
court of justice, being hearsay, the opinions of witnesses, &c.,
but we received it with a view to ascertaining, if possible, the
real state of facts in regard to the condition of the Southern
colored people, their opinions and feelings, and the feelings and
opinions of their white neighbors. We think it clearly
established from the testimony that the following may be said to
be the causes which have induced this migration of the colored
people from various portions of the South to Northern States,
chiefly to Kansas, and Indiana: That from North Carolina, the
State to which we first directed our attention, was undoubtedly
induced in a great degree by Northern politicians, and by Negro
leaders in their employ, and in the employ of railroad lines.

Examining particularly into the condition of the colored men in
that State, it was disclosed by the testimony of whites and
blacks, Republicans and Democrats, that the causes of discontent
among those people could not have arisen from any deprivation of
their political rights or any hardship in their condition. A
minute examination into their situation shows that the average
rate of wages, according to the age and strength of the hand for
field labor, was from eight to fifteen dollars per month,
including board and house to live in, garden and truck patches,
around the house, fire-wood, and certain other privileges, all
rent free.

These, add