The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-24
wHAT IMMIGRATION Is DOING FOR THE
SOUTH.

there were 3O5, 557 foreigners In the slave
States ct that time; and that PTS, 600 came to
the country during the preceding ten years.
1t also appears that the foreign immigration
into the slave States is now greater than that
OF the whole country in any year prior TO 1892
Thus, from 1920 TO 1925 tho number for the
entire Union ranged from five to eight thou
sand only. In 1890 the number of immigrants
had gradually risen to $4,000; and in 1882, it
reached 45,2s7 This is less than the South
received in 1847, and probably for every year
since directly from Europe, to say nothing OF
those W 90 South after landing in Northern
cites - 1847, no less than 81 900 foreigners
landed in Southern States, and in 1852 about
the Same number. These are the only returns
we have before US; but the probability is, that
the number is on the increase with the devel-
opment Of industrial enterprises in the South.
We have no means of sscertsining the num-
Der Ct NOrtherners who emigrate South, or Of
tho foreigners who land in Northern cities, but
who find their resting place south Of Mason
and Dixon's line. OF both these classes the
numbers are doubtless considerable. 1t should
be remembered that the Northern ports are
directly in the way from Europe TO the South
ern States, while the Southern ports are out Of
the way to any free State, and off the cheapest
lines Ct travel It follows from hence, that
when man emigrates directly from Europe to
the slave States, his object is, in all probabili-
ty, to remain there; while his landing in g free
State is no evidence Of his intention to settle in
one.
The Northern emigration to the South he's
only Just commenced but increases rapidly
with every passing year. Those who have
| given this matter bat little consideration are
apt 70 esteem it lightly; but any one who will
examine into the causes Of it, cannot fail to
regard it as one of tho great movements of the
sge, whOse consequences, at no remote day,
will Gst0nish not merely the conservative but
the most progressive minds in the country.
If the accounts of travellers and explorers
can DO relied on, the Western Territories OF
Kansas and Nebraska arc, for the most part
cold and sterile regions, which, at the distance
| Of two or three hundred miles beyond the from
tiers of Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota, rise to
an elevation of thousands Of feet above the
level Of tho sea. The rich and genial region
Of which wo have heard SO much recently, is
only some two hundred and fifty miles wide,
bordering on the States of Missouri and Iowa
while beyond, the country becomes q cold
barren table land, destitute of trees and of nu-
tritious grasses. Such is the concurrent &C
count given by Fremont and Emory, and their
scientific explorations are confirmed by the
thousands OF emgrants TO Oregon and Califor-
MIA, who have traversed tho intervening region.
There may be fine lands in the northern parts
Ct Minnesota and Nebraska but the inhospi-
table climate will deter all but tho hardy Nor
wegians, SwodOs, and, Of course few Yankees
from Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
The organized free States of tho West are
rapidly filing up with people, who are telling
the forests, cultivating the prairies, and build
ing cities, with unparalleled rapidly; and the
DAY cannot be distant when even Iowa. Wis
consin, and Minnesota, will number their in
habitants by millions; and the emigrant, like
the dove cent forth from tho ark, will find no
land for the sole of his foot.
The Territories of Utah and New Mexico
are little better than arid deserts, with a few
habitable spots, Ike the osses in the grca. Sa-
hars of Africa. They can never be populous,
and must remain neglected, while moro desira-
bio regions invite settlement The greater
portions of Oregon, Washington, and Califor-
MIA, are in ike manner barren, and it is only
a small portion of them that can ever be dcsi-
rablo except for the gold they contain But,
whatever be their value, their remoteness and
the expense of reaching them are great obssa-
cles in the way of emigrants.
The tide of European immigration is con-
stantly increasing; that from our own North
crn hive must constantly grow stronger and
yet the vacant lands in the FREQ West arc as
rapidly diminishing in quantity. Is will ali
soon 90 into private hands, and rise in value
proportioned to the free and energetic popula-
ton which must derive subsistence from it.
What must be the consequence of this state
of things! Is it not evident that tho current
of immigration, checked in its Western course,
will overflow the imaginary line of Mason and
Dixon? In fact has it not already done SO /;
and are we not now in the midst of great
social revolution, nOiseless, but resstless in its
course?
Not only Western Virginia. but several of
the northern counties of Eastern Virginia, ore
daily receiving accessions to their population
from New England, New York, Pennsylvania,
and from Europe. The new settlers have pur-
chased the WORKOUT fields of the shareholders,
and are making visible Improvement in the
face of the country. In ono county fairfax
near Washington, we hear that the Northern
| immigrants, chiefly from Western New York,
are almost as numerous as tho native popula-
ton and the improvement which they have
effected in the course of ten years is the theme
of universal remark. In Western Virginia,
where Slavery has only nominal existence,
VIC learn that Northern and German emigrants
are pouring in daily. In Maryland, there were
,2SS foreigners in 1850 which is more than
half the number of the slaves; and the proba.
bihty is, that at tho present moment the num-
Der of the former equals that of the latter. In
Missouri, the foreign population amounted, in
1850, to 72,00O and the slave population to
$1,000; ct the present time, tho number q
the former largely exceeds the latter, and is
rapidly superseding it in al industrial employ.
ments.
We observe that the inhabitants of Virgins
and Maryland who were born in other State:
are almost entirely from the North; while Mis-
souri, though exhibiting a considerable North
ern population, appears to have been peopled
chiefly from the South. But Southern or slave