Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-05-18
Emigration.


ma of our day the extensive emigrations now in
progress are destined to exercise permanent and
all pervadng influence fthetide that sets from
the shores of Europe to those of the United States
were the only form of this movement its results
would be brought more within the limits of ra-
tiona conjecture, in relation to the results, but
there are such numerous aff1uents to the great
stream, with some counter currents, that the mind
IS bahed in any attempt to foretell the conse-
quences. The usual relations as respects emi-
grafton between Europe and the U. States
restricted space and under paid labor, contrasted
with cheap land and high wages-enable us to
deduce the ordinary effects from the kind of en-
igration of which the impelling motive is to bet
ter physical condition. The only difference be-
tween former periods and the present. in this res
pect is the more intense desire by which the pop
ulation of Europe is impelled to emigrate. But
within three years an entirely new element has
entered into the emigration movement. The
discovery of gold on the shores of the Pacific
has aroused i'll the human breast every latent pas
sion of avarice The full consequences of this
are not even family shadowed forth by present
results, or inferable by comparison or analogy.
There is no similar conjecture in human affairs.
Wars and religious prosecutions have driven
large masses off into distant countries, and al
though great social changes have resulted by the
fusion different races the circle of these effects
was circumscribed by time and place. But
commercial emigration that embraces people
the widest asunder, geographically and socially
that includes the Englishman, the American,
the Chinaman-people of every latitude and
lineage-disposes the mind to contemplation as
to the tendencies and results ofso singular
social phensmenon.
The mere naked fact, that one hundred and
fifty, or two hundred millions of dollars may be
added annually to the existing stock Of the pre-
cious metals is only one and the least important
aspect of such event as the transfer of 80 much
labor from one department to another of human
s1srI pecns saa s9yeFeass hs effects may
tons of mankind. No such shifting of large
masses of men under the influence of powerful
incentive, assuming the intensity of passion, can
take place without an almost general derange-
ment of human affairs. 1t is already felt, that
the demand for those commodities, and the
means Of transport necessary to feed, clothe and
shelter the large number which have emigrated
to California, has produced serious inconvenience
to commerce; but if Australia draws off in the
same ratio adventurers the means of feeding
them, shipping, &c. how is the ordinary busi-
ness of the commercial world to proceed, except
at an accelerated pace in correspondence with
these new movements and developments?
The arrangements of trade have for their ex-
isting basis that permanency which is founded
on the nearly stationary geographical condition
of the race. A moderate emigration is not in
compatible with general prosperity. for it is not
hostile to gradual improvement But the sudden
transfer of the instruments of production-men,
machinery, capital, art, science, from places of
permanent location to opposite quarters OF the
world, must leave large void in some places as
others are filled, which is destined to exert
great moral, as well as economic influence on the
fortunes OF mankind. To what extent the inter-
ests of society will be affected, is yet in the in
defniteness Of the prospect among the inscruta-
bic things of our remarkable era, but one such
Ell Dorado as California was quite enough in the
same century.-Evenias Neus.