The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-13
IMMIGRATION.

The immigration from foreign nations
into this country promises to become as
large as it has ever been. The CONNER
cial revulsion of 1857, says the National
lnteligencer, checked the movement,
and the war suspended it; but now it is
recommended. When it shall reach a
thousand day, as it probably will do
ere long, it will bring with it large in
fiux of capital, and, what is of still more
value, muscle and labor. It's estimated
that each immigrant brings with him,
on an average, 500 in specie, besides
goods. They will soon fill up the vacu-
UNI in agricultural, manufacturing, and
all other labor caused by the war, for
they COME to improve their condition by
industry and frugality. 1t is hardly to
be supposed that many of these immi-
grants will seek a home in the planting
States. They are not likely to engage in
the culture of cotton, sugar, or rice, nor
will they court competition with free
black labor, which, whatever it may be-
come, has been degraded by slavery.
They will, for the most part, proceed
Immediately to the Northwest, where an
immense area is open to them for agri-
cultural and other pursuits, in which
manual labor can be successfully en-
ployed. Forty-acre farms, in healthy
region, will be their inheritance, and
secure for them an Independence.
It was the theory of some Of our
statesmen, twenty years ago, that
slavery would ultimately find its solu-
ton from the pressure of the free white
population of the Middle and North
western States. AS these States become
populous and powerful, from free labor
and division and subdivision of farms,
the population would crowd into the
slaveholding States and gradually OBJ
tain possession of and recuperate the
lands which are unproftably cultivated
by slaves or neglected by their owners.
It was supposed that the African race
while enslaved would disappear more
rapidly before competition with the
energy of white labor than it would do
if made free. War has solved the pro-
blem of slavery, and has thus invited
immigration into the South from the
great Northern hive. When the coun-
try northwest of the Ohio shall have
doubled or quadrupled its present popu-
lation, the Celtic, Teutonic, and Anglo
Saxon races forming these massesl Will
gradually sweep down upon theifiands
south ofthem, and turn them to better ac-
count than African labor can everdo. Sla-
very has no doubt fulfilled its mission, as
the saving is, on this continent. TheAfri-
can race as slaves have aided largely In
the development of the resources OF this
country, and contributed vastly to It's
wealth. The same race as freedmen,
are now to enter upon another era
in their own and our history, and are to
be masters of their own labor, being
subject. however, to all those conditions
which may contribute hereafter, as they
have done heretofore, to the elements OF
success in future competition with the
white race. That they are to perform
very important part in the recuperation
and consolidation of Southern prosper
ity in their new character as freedmen,
there is little doubt. If they fail, how
ever, to improve the capacities of the
country and their own capacities as a
large portion of its population, then 1t
Is quite certain that they will give place,
in time, to the vast influx of energetic
whites who are to people the Northern
80 Nrortb uaetprn States 4r Jfifl