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heads in every respect almost, even the constable up to the
governor. We felt we had almost as well be slaves under these
men. In regard to the whole matter that was discussed it came up
in every council. Then we said there was no hope for us and we
had better go.

Q. You say, then, that in 1877 you lost all hope of being able to
remain in the South, and you began to think of moving somewhere
else?--A. Yes; we said we was going if we had to run away and go
into the woods.

Q. About how many did this committee consist of before you
organized your council? Give us the number as near as you can
tell.--A. As many as five hundred in all.

Q. The committee, do you mean? A. Yes; the committee has been
that large.

Q. What was the largest number reached by your colonization
council, in your best judgment?--A. Well, it is not exactly five
hundred men belonging to the council that we have in our council,
but they all agreed to go with us and enroll their names with us
from time to time, so that they have now got at this time
ninety-eight thousand names enrolled.

Q. Then through that council, as sort of subscribers to its
purpose and acts and for carrying out its objects, there were
ninety-eight thousand names?--A. Yes; ninety-eight thousand names
enrolled.

Q. In what parts of the country were these ninety-eight thousand
people scattered?--A. Well some in Louisiana--the majority of
them in Louisiana--and some in Texas, and some in Arkansas. We
joins Arkansas.

Q. Were there any in Mississippi?--A. Yes, sir; a few in
Mississippi.

Q. And a few in Alabama?--A. Yes, sir; a few in Alabama, too.

Q. Did the organization extend at all into other States farther
away?--A. O, yes, sir.

Q. Have you members in all the Southern States?--A. Not in every
one, but in a great many of the others.

Q. Are these members of that colonization council in
communication as to the condition of your race, and as to the
best thing to be done to alleviate their troubles?--A. O, yes.

Q. What do you know about inducements being held out from
politicians of the North, or from politicians anywhere else, to
induce these people to leave their section of country and go into
the Northern or Western States?--A. There is nobody has writte