Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-02-17

Memorial onshs 5NsessslIy Of TnvIt.
Ing Foreign EHlsratton 10 tWePl
Virginia. fsf 3 vi
To His ExsslItney 4, T., Borsaian, Goptrno,
Of West Yirgmid:
UNDERSTANDING that Senate bill for The
encouragement OF immigration, was laid
on the table Of the House Of Delegated Al
the last session OF our Legislature, Il deem
II appropriate to submit 10 YOUR consider.
alton few suggestions upon, this impor.
tant subject, which has. ngtosiea much. .ol
my labor and atieations during thsiaSl
eighteen years, aud in regard to which
have. bad opportunities TO acquire Q reason
able share OF practical experience.
From the year ls46 to 1851, was en-
ployed 10 Western Virginia as agent for
the Trustee Of the Swan estate, embracing
originally several millions Of acres of land,
disseminated over 10 or l6 counties.-
James Swan, aud after him his assignees
and their agents, had at different periods
projected various schemes for the sale aud
colonization OF the most compact and
available tracts, all of which proved more
or less imprACticable, and resulted in fruit
less waste of time aud capital. Such had
also been the fate of undertakings Of the
same nature by other parties; and every
failure OF this kind only contributed TO
increase the prejudicss already prevailing
abroad against Western Virginia, which
were based upon the existence of human
slavery upon her soil, the unsettled eoudi-
tiou Of land titles, and the IRngour and
inertia of all Industrial and social pro-
gress consequent upon these two principal
evils.
These prejudices found to constitute
On iusuFm66nI66le obstacle when entered
thpon The colonization, n . tract Of $40.
Odd 0lRersli Ia 3lotLu county All my ,Sn.
deaEOF4 % attract Setti6ts diteStlS troa
B0rops proved A6ortfSe, and my COLONY.
feomposed noU,of nearly City families, vas
recruited principally among the foreign
population Of Maryland and along the lines
tot public works, where from their vicinity
to -ihiSiSeetIon aof the country they were
enabled to draw q more correct balance
between its disadvantages and its merits,
The conclusion, that the features alluded
to constituted the most formidable il not
the only objections in the way Of foreign
colonization here is confirmed by the TACT
that, in all the works published from time
TO time BY Intelligent aud conscientious
travellers and foreign residents in the
Uuited States, for the use and guidance
Of European emigration, aud which enjoy
an extensive circulation on the old Conii-
neut, ample Justice Ia meted out to the
climate, soil. present aud prospective eIe-
meuts OF prosperity 10 Western Virginia.
All these writer's sgree in clothing our
section of country with every desirable
attraction in the eyes of large class Of
foreigners, who from their worldly cirrum-
stances at home would be expected to be
somewhat fastidiOus 10 their choice of a
change for the better.
II is therefore quite natural, that from
the earliest period Ofmy residence In West.
eru Virginia, looked eagerly and hope.
fully towards the day when "in the conrse
OF human events she would assume among
| the States of the Union that separate and
equal station" to which she is entitled by
the laws of nature and Of public Justice.
That day has dawned at last, its suu has
rigen, and with the protection OF Heaven,
true patriotism aud good statesmAuship. it
viii, we hope, never set again. II deVolves
upon US, who are favored with its AuroraI
beams, Worrhily TO improve the golden
morning hours.
We have the territory, the climate, the
most desirable form Of government, and
We are framing now liberal aud progres
siTe code Of laws. but we have not yet the
Rmount of population adequate to the de-
VelopemenL of our immense doruaut re-
sources. With an area of nearly, q, 900
GquGre miles, our population does probably
not sxcesdteoo 900, while Switzerland, the
European eUnnteEpAtt Of onr mouptAip
Statei subsiStS robust andsthriffy nation
ofS2, 500. 900 souls, on about tWo.thirds OF
that area; aud contains several rural dis,
tricts Of 225 Inhabitants TO the square
mile. ---...-,
i-IL seems to be generally conceded that
lit is expedient to take some steps TO invite
IimmigrAtion into our midst, and at the
present IL appears that We have but little
choice 10 the matter Of It's nationality. II
must inevitably come from foreign shores.
Owing to the decrease of able bodied meu,
and the growing scarcity of labor couse.
queuE upon our destructive civil war, the
population of West Virginia cannot ma
tetihlly increase by aecessions from other
Il States of the Union for many years q
come. Land and capital will be everywhere
10 great disprOportion 70 labor, aud offer
to the latter unprecedented inducements
TO relain.it within reach, especially in the
vast nnd novel 6eld Of indbstFisl enterprise
now being opened by the Contemplated re.
generation Of the Southern States. Oapi.
tai aud enterprise will not be wanting
here, once our natural resources are fairly
displayed, but the cry is for labor.i ,HandI
are wanted on the farm, in the workshop,
In the mine and In the factory. Without
the labor of hands our umbered mountain
wilderness will never yield its treasures
4 Il is idle to speculate, upon public aud ia.
diViduAl prosperity so long as its most in
dispensible aud respectable element is The
rArest thing in the country.
The question now arises: Will the tidl
Of emigration set In toward our yopnt
State upon the single announ emeut tha
ali former Obstacles to It's progress ar,
nov successfully rsmoved2 10 view o
all the circumstances, am not inclInei
to think SO. II will require special effort