The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-05-22
Western Emiqration.

The Journals of the Eastern and other Sea
b"rd States, have taken alarm at the great
movement of population, towards the new ter
ritorics of the West, which has commenced this
Spring, and are excrting all their influence to
check the flowing tile. Some which have been
most active in proclamng the great induce
ments to Western emigration, are now predict
ing, dcpopulation, and financial revulsou, from
this unusual exodus. If The emigration were sim
ply with view to agricultural cstnbl ishIncnts,
there would be no danger whatever; bu: the
emigration of 1857 is chiefly with view to
speculation in land and town lots. OF the
hundreds and thousands who have gone West
this Spring, ninc.tenths have gone solely to
speculate in real estate, carrying with them,
either the results of their own earnings, or
money borrowed from Capitalists who have q
share in the enterprise. This cannot but lead
to financial embarrassment, in the older States.
The Exodus is now at its highest. The travel
through Pittsburg alone according to the pa.
pers of that city, averages one thousand n day,
at the lowest computation; while along the lake
shore route, it is estimated at from two to three
thousand. And as all of the emigrants, carry
with them, considerable amounts Of capital,
they thus contribute to produce an increasing
monetary embarrassment.
The Baltimore Patriot, in the following cx-
tract offers some good advice to those, VINO
are infected with this Western fever, and con-
trasts the superior advantages of investing la
Dor and capital nearer home:
That the unproductive lands of the older
States offer to cntcrprising men o fairer chance
fnr tobl inv fIop fha apl
richer soil of the remote territories We are per-
fectly convinced, md they act rnshly, or at
lenst without due consideration who seek in
the wilderness to gain that competence they
may much more readily obtain nearer home.
There are as many opportunities for speculation
in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ken
lucky and Virginia. in Iowa, Minnesota,
Kansas or Nebraska, and as respects those So
cnl advantages which add so much to the pleas
urc of house hold, the difference is over
whelming in favor of those who take up their
abode in any of the Old Thirteen, where the
soil is we'll adopted to agricultural pursuits
The time is not far distant when this mania
for emigration to the West will cease. Its spec;
ulative character may render it profitable for
season to those who are carly in the field
and have large sums of money at their COM
mand. But to the Industrious, yet comparative
ly poor man, the cost of opening up new farm
where labor is scarce and agricultural products
cheap, will be found far greater than that of
renovating the badly cultivated soils of the
older States, while the soantier yield finds its
compensation in the higherprice and the near
er market
Already there are numbers of farmers who
have returned from Kansas and Nebraska to
settle down permanently iu the Neighborhood
of their old homesteads or within sound Of a
neighbours voice and of the "church going bell."'
Their enthusiasm has evaporated, they have
in Vulgar parlance 'secn the elephant" and
have become wiser If not better men Still
there are those to whom the life of a pioneer
offers advantages. but these are of that class as
are strong in health and stout Of heart-lean
in psrse, with quiver full Of arrows in the
shape Of q well grown and hardly brought up
family. To SUCH hatheAwilderne offers home,
a competance periaps forfnns . sssy ss~''
HEAVY GAMDLING.-The New Orleans Times
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