Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-09-17
ALEXAND RIA GAZETTE
EMIGRATION.


The Salem (Mass.) Gazette makes the follow
ing sensible remarks on the subject Of population
and emigration:
"The remarkable and constant excess Of fe.
males over males, although more Of the latter are
born into the world than of the former, may
be attributed to three causes: namely, wars,
commerce to sickIy ports, and emigration; par
ticularly the latter, by which a constant drain
has been made upon our population for many
years Till within recent period the losses
from this source have been incessant, and they
have not yet entirely ceased. Young men, es.
pecialy, Of gosd faculties and enterprising dis.
positions, have been led of 10 crowds, in search
mine 10 the sickIy South-some fertile farm in
the boundless West-or some colliery or canal
route in the great Middle States.
And it is not to young and single men that this
wandering propensity has been confined. Fa.
theirs Of families, who had brought up numer.
Gus offspring in comfort and responsibility, have
been croaked into fit Of alarm, by the cry Of
"hard times," and have removed with family
and property into land Of strangers, tearing
themselves away from all the endearing con-
nexions Of friendship and neighborhood, and
from those habits and associations of business
which can hardly be formed twice in life time.
Manv have discovered their error, when too
late. They have found the avenues to fortune
as firmly barred in South Carolina, Ohio, and
New York, as in the place Of their birth Be
sides, they have found upon the spot men as
competent as themselves for business, who al
ready enjoyed the advantages, SO long and diff
cult in the acquisition, Of established connex-
ions, credit, customers, &c. When this disco.
very was made, it has often been too late to re-
turn. The place which the emigrant left vacant
has been filled by another, and the comfortable
little property, which was efficient to carry him
out and set him up, will not bear re.transporta.
ton.
notwithstanding these difficulties, however,
instances will occur to the mind OF every reader,
Of individuals who have gladly seized the first
! opportunity 10 resume the situations which they
had before willingly left. Pride aud shame
have prevented many others from doing likewise,
and inability has operated on still larger mum.
Der. Others have done as we'll abroad as they
would have done at home, and some, per.
haps, still better. But it is an undisturbed fact,
that the main body of the emigrants have been
those who remained, with the same advantages
aud prospects which they left The proportion.
ate number of failures in business has been proba-
bility more than two to one.
A knowledge Of these circumstances has been
slowly working its way through the community,
and it is not without its advantages. Not the
least of these, we consider, is the unexpected in
crease of population since the census OF 1920 was
taken. Now, tits well known that the stream OF
emigration did not begin to diminish till about the
year 1928 or ga. so that yearly all the gain that
has taken place has been since that time. This
gives result that will starte some OF our croak'
ing friends not little: namely. that our popula'
ton, during the preceding thirteen years, and as
| much within 4Ol, as it did in the ten years from
1890 to 1900, which has always been considered
the golden age Of Salem. And this, too, in spite
of chorus Of lamentations aud representations
of decay and ruin, as loud and Pernicious. Proba
bly, as any town ever endured and lived. Fol
| there is no occasion on which prophecy 10 81
likely to make itself history, as when the inhao
tants, with one accord, set themselves to presage
the downfall Of the place 10 which they reside.
The truth ia, we have shared with our neighbors
in the distress Of the whole mercantile world,
feeling its severity with rather more keeness
than most Of them, perhaps. because our former
prosperity was greater. There is reasons to De-
ieve, however, that the severest part OF the strug
Gle ia now over, and that we may confidently ex
pect for the future that steady and progressive IN
crease in population and business, which the
wealth, enterprise. good education. and moral ha
bits, which have so long been characteristic OF Sa
lem. cannot fail to secure, when not opposed BY
| powerful counteracting causes