Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-07-14
THE FREE LABOR OF EUROPE.

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the presence of the latter has uniformly con-
signed the entire territory in which it pre-
vailed TO the exclusive control and posses
sion of capitalists, by reason of which ten
dency the free labOrer has always been fore
ed to emigrate TO free states, where the wa
ges of honest industry could begained with
out disgrace.
And whereas from three to four hundred
thousand persons annually take refuge on
our shores, from the prlvations and oppres-
slons of other lands. and who have no other
capital but their industry, their strength and
their virtues, and who enter directly into
competition with the labor of the free states,
in consequence of which the wages of free
labor are depressed, and the social condi-
ton of the laboring man is made TO expi-
ate the vices ofan institution which we de-
plore.
Therefore resolved, &c"
This is an extract from the admirable re-
solutions adopted at the meeting of the FIT
teenth Ward en- Wednesday evening.
A statement which was embraced in a
report made in the present House of Rep
resentatives, in the early part of the pres
ent session, gave the NUMBER of emigrant
from all parts of the world that landed on
our shores during the past year, and the
port where they landed. This statement
showed that very few of these emigrants
landed at any port south of Mason q Dix
on's line, except New Orleans. More than
one half of the number that emigrated from
Europe TO this country last year, landed at
this port. From the commencement of the
spring until the close of navigation, these
hardy pilgrims, who have fled from Euro
pean oppression, presento one unbroken line
like mighty eastern caravan, vending its
way to the free soil of the west. There
they swarm in hundreds of thousands, and
new state springs into busy, busting life,
from the bosom of the wilderness, in a day.
Those who land at New Orleans ascend
the Mississippi, and join hands again with
their brethren who have taken the northern
route.
Why does this living torrent part before
il reaches our shores, to flow both sides of
the slave states, like an infected district, and
reunite again in the free soil of the west?-
Why do not some of the emigrant neighbour
hoods and villages that land here in solid
phalanx penetrate into the Businesses of the
Carolinas, or occupy the cheap lands of
western Virginia! Why is the Cherokee
country of Georgia, unsurpassed for rich
ness and fertility, Stunned by those sons of
toll! Tennessee, with climate unsurpass-
ed and soil to match, presents no attrac-
tons to the laborers of Europe-and why
is all this! What has caused this great an
omaly in the history of human emigration!
We do not mean to say there are no Euro
pean emigrants i'll the southern states but
we do mean to say that there are no Euro
pean farmers, or laborers, who become far
mers worthy to be mentioned.
1t is not necessary to inquire into the
cause of this strange state of things. Here
is the fact staring us full in the face. The
free laborers of Europe, those who are born
and trained to toll, will not live on n soil
occupied by slaves. The descendants of
the Anglo Saxon and Celtic races, though
oppressed by kings and tyrants for ages,yet
retain in themselves enough of the nerve and
grit of freemen to abhor and shun all fellow
ship with slavery.
This living torrent is pouring itself upon
US with accumulated impetus every year.
1t has filled up the last organized territory,
and brought it forth noble state at single
blow, like the birth of the tabled Minerva.
Now where shall it go! Shall it become
like the Egyptian locusts, competing with
every class of labor, and reducing its wages
to the scantiest pittance9 Thus creating
in a degree the evil which they have emf
Ill
the gates of the wilderness, and let the tide
flow out over the boundless prairies of the
stand settle itself upon the glowing spots
of Oregon and the CALIFORNIA;!
But no, say the slave states. The terri
tories of the great west, Oregon and the Ca
lifornias, are for the abode of our peculiar
institution we intend TO plant ne
gro slavery, and from its toll and sweat
shall spring up mighty republic, that shall
overshadow eastern Asia. The free labor
of Europe and of the free states, they add,
is foe TO us already has it forced our in
stltnuon to the verge of extinction in Della
ware, Virginia, and Kentucky.
II will be fatal day for the free labor
of the north and the free labor of Europe,
if the new territories are made slave soil
Then should we be compelled to warn the
generous hearted sons of Ireland who are
now coutending for life against poverty and
starvation, no more land on our shores
The soil for freedom is given to slaves; and
there remains no room for the oppressed
the degraded, and the poor of Europe,
whose ancestors have maintained an unceas-
ing struggle for liberty, unless they will
come here and associate and labor with ne.
gro slaves.
We say to the free laborers OF the north
whether Americans, or lrshmen, or Ger
mans, think well Of these things. If the
cause of free soil triumphs, You triumph
likewise; and all the free but oppressed la
Dor of Europe will breathe deeper and full
er; but if the advocates of slave soil tri-
umph, if this outrage against humanity and
Christianity shall spread itself over the
qroad western world, dark and gloomy will
be the prospect before the free laborers here
and elsewhere.
EMIGRANTs.-Iti is said that number of
Amsterdam merchants are making prepara-
tons to emigraie 10 this country. They
belong to that class whose fortunes were