Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-13
Emigration to the Southern States,

emigration would result in incalculable
benefits, not only to the South, but to the
whole nation.
II wotAdLessen the nlitdry establishment
IN those States. By introducing a consid-
cradle Northern element into the popula-
ton efthose States suffering from internal
commotion and d~issension, the waves OF
passion and discord would be quoted, cor
rect ideas would be disseminated, and
greater tranquility secured. This i'm
proved condition of things would release
a considerable portion of the standing
army now required to garrison that
section, and which will be required so long
as Southern society shall be constituted as
at present, and, unless something be done
to mend the temper of the Southern peo-
pie, a much larger force VIII soon become
an absolute necessity. In the absence of
powerful missionary Influences, 1t Will be
necessary to hold military control over
that country for an indefinite number of
years, at an immense expense to the gov
eminent. Secure the settlement there of
a considerable number of Northern people
of unquestioned loyalty and liberal en-
timents, and at least one-half of the pres
ent garrison may safely be withdrawn at
once, and the remainder within a brief
space. The garrison at present consists of
about twenty thousand men, and, accord
ing to the estimate oft Secretary of War,
costs the government annually thirteen
and one-third millions ofdollars. Any meas
ure which would reduce this force one-half
would curtail the expenses of the govern
ment six and two-thirds millions of dol
lars per annum. Five millions Of dollars
would, We doubt not, be adequate to put
the experiment into practical operation
and keep it going one year, therefore,
if as successful as we doubt not it would
be, it would result in a saving to the gov
eminent in the single item of reducing the
military establishment with its immense
drain upon the treasury.
II l0ouId increase the revenue By aug-
aae'ting tic products Of tie South. There
is no crop in the country SO productive, or
which serves so largely to swell the value
of our exports, as does the one single item
of cotton when its culture is unobstructed.
The settlement of Northern men in the
region would add greatly to the
productiveness of the cotton lands. A ma
jority of the present inhabitants of the
South labor under almost insurmountable
embarrassments in the cultivation of the
soil. They are without the kind of labor
TO which they are accustomed, being
compelled to rely upon the voluntary ser
vice of a race in which they have no con-
fdence, and which is distrustful of them;
are without proper implements of culture,
and lack the capital requisite to put in chi
tivation the large plantations which still
with Northern energies and Northern
of labor, and possessing the conf
dence Of the freedmen, with the planta-
divided into farms comparable in
size to those cultivated in the Eastern and
Middle States, would work a great revolu-
ion in the cotton culture of the South.
It mould Undue the eD-sLovehoLders q0ith
a more kindly spirit toq0ard the freedmen.
The moral and social influence of the in
5elligent class who might be induced to
emigrate South would be very great, and
result in overcoming the bitter pref
ldiees now entertained by the ex-slave-
toward their former slaves. By
udicious. example, as well as by precept,
hey would contribute largely to a solution
# the free-labor problem
HlgouH encourage free schools. One Of
he primal causes of the rebellion was the
Prevailing ignorance in the rebelliOus dis
riots. Free schools being unknown-the
dominant class having uniformly opposed
verything denominated free from free la
or to free schools-all but the wealthy
rev up in ignorance. 1t has been truly
aid, knowledge is power" The slave
well understood this. They acted
non it. Their children were educated,
yhile every obstacle was placed in the
ray of the elevation of the humber
lasses. "The poor white trash" is an cpl
net which correctly describes the lower ,
but their condition is attributable
!, the influences of slavery. Slavery :
aving disappeared, it remains for men of :
beral ideas to lift the degraded whites !
nd d~isenthralled blacks from the slough !
ignorance and elevate them to the dig >
.ty of true manhood. This can only be I
me by the establishment of free schools, ;
ID these must be under the control of :
ose who have faith in free institutions. +
II 1ould cement the bond of ssnion. In
, other way could the unity of the nation
SO fully secured as by the establishment f,
such consanguinital relations as would 9
suit from Northern emigration to the =.
,uth. The ties of blood thus created +
HAsist al, AG-a4zA+Ai=naamberment, | E
Tho believes it possible to inaugurate civil e
between the East and West2 These c
70 sections fancy their interests to be dis :
and vet there is the most cordial a
cling between them. They are 50 close I
allied by blood, they SO intermingle and c
ltermarry, that no power could make =
lem enemies. This has not been true of
he North and the South. The institution ,
f slavery has heretofore barred the door $
gainst Northern emigration, and the jeal- :
nsy begotten of that curse tended to keep :
he two sections strangers. Slavery being s
cad, its influence need no longer be feared. ,
.et a liberal Northern emigration flow 4,
ito the Southern States, and few years Z
rould elapse before the feeling between
ne North and South would be as fr~aternal :
nd as cordial as now exists between the
.ast and the West.
We hope this matter may receive the :
arly attention of Congress. Let five
of dollars be appropriated to de-
the necessary expenses, and then let
migration agencies be established in each
the principal Northern cities, where free
-ansportation may be procured by parties
cling South for bona Jfde settlement. Let
be experiment betried, and we are sure it
-ould prove ~pecuniarily profitable to the
overnment and morally and socially a
a." "a