Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-02-05
IMMIGRATION-ITS GOOD EFFECTS.

VI
Less than twenty years ago. when there was little
immigration to this country, suffered from deh-
cheney Of food, aud were compelled to import large
quantities of grain from Europe. Since men, hhn'i'
grafton has rapidly increased and agricultural pro-
ducts have increased proportionaly. Now we pro-
iuce a very largo surplus OF grain, ana Europe
whence the immigration proceeds, is affected win
corresponding deficiency. Her field labor has been
transferred to America. The emigrants, it is true
leave fewer mouths at home, but each laborer who
misrates was wont by his work to supply dozen
mouths. The eleven left at home must starve, or
live on shor, allow ance. Very few professional men
merchants or mechanics, or others engaged in proha
he nursuits, emigrate. The farm laborers, and men
,bopt trades or professions, the principal eml-
grants But even when other classes come, they are
often driven to agricultural labor because there
uos, dsmapd for it, and because lands are cheap and
abundant II is the worst paid OF all labor, ana Inc
,ro;ts Of capital and of all other occupations are
chiefly derived from agricultural labor. Until the
ar;.-a,. gets capital Of his own, gets high wages
o , in some trade or profession, the profits OF his
,aho enure chiefly to the advantage of the capitalist
wb, employs him. Horace Greeley was right whei
bs said that these immigrants were worth thousand
,,,.-s n head. "America does belong TO Amerl'
cans" but the possession would be valuecss without
labor to till and improve it. Capital is worth nothing
without labor, for it will not breed. All It's pron's
are made by laboriug men, and the moro abundah'
The labor the more valuable capital becomes. Inc
capital of Europe must diminish in value as emigra'
ton proceeds and that Of America increase proper
,onally Lands and houses and money cease to be
productive when there is labor to create the values
which pay their rents and interest.
Our new States prove that Immigrants naturally be-
take themselves in America, TO agriculture, for the
census shows that the Increased products of agrlcu
,ure do not keep pace with the increase Of popula
ton. Showing that immigrants avoid agriculture
as coon as other occupations are opened up to them
And many OF our old States exhibit an increase Of
population side by side with dininuson OF agri'
cultural products. II it be true. and no doubt It is
that immigrants from necessity, generally Oetak'
themselves to the worst paid, most scrrile but mos
necessary and productive employments-then do they
pay well for admission to our coan,ry-then do the!
realize the maxim, "America belongs TO Americans,
by making America valuable to Americans-an'
Greeley is right invaluing them at thousand dollar
ahead And shall we complain, that after having
served their time az common laborers, they ofel
amass little money and set up business in the East
or buy and improve lands in the West7
Recollect, that as immigration proceeds, Europe
starves and America grows and prospers as never
country prospered before!
Recollect, that with our immense, unsettled terri
tory, We become by encouraging immigration, the
greatest benefactors of the human family, We
should be its surest enemies by discouragng or pro-
hibting it. Let know-Nothings see, in this, that
mercy, humanity, and worldly policy, combine to
stamp with deep reprobaton ,heircruel and proscrp
tive doctrines.