Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-03-14
Letter from Governor Orr on the Sub
ject Of Immigration.
The following letter written by Governor

ject Of Immigration.
The following letter written by Governor
James L.. Orr, will be read with interest:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, SOUTH CAROLINA
COLUMBIA, I'd March, 1866.
Wily TVallach, Esq, Secretary Of the Ger
man Society Of the city Of Neo York:
SIR: have received your circular, dated
goth ult., and proceed to give you the nfor
nation you seek in your queries: !.
l. Nearly the entire population of this
State, and especially tho landowners, ap-
preciate the necessity of obtaining more labor,
not only to till the soil, but to supply the
very great deficiency of mechanical labor,
and, therefore, they are in favor of foreign
immigration.
|. g The General Assembly Of thiso State
meets annually on the 4tl Monday in Noyeu,
ber. No special laws have been passed as
yet to encourage foreign immigration, but it
viii, doubtless, be done at the next session.
a company was incorporated in December
last to promote German immigration to this
States. Gen. John A. Wagen:r, {. native Of
Germany, but for many years a citizen oi
Charleston, was tho active friend OF tue bill
in the Legislature, and he can, doubtless,
give you much information on the subject.
There is provision in the new Constitution
of this State, adopted last September, which
allows foreign immigrants, who come to this
State, the right of suffrage, full and unrs-
stricted, two years after they have declared
their intention of becoming citizens, which
is Of course three years earlier than they
can be natnralized under the laws of Con-
gress. After they become citizens, they are
eligible to all the offices in the State. Scy-
eral of the present Senators aud Representa-
tives inthe General Assembly are foreigners
German, Scotch and Irish. The Lcgisla-
ture will, doubtless, at its next sessioD, pass
some law, e1einpting foreign immigrants
from the payment Of poll and other taxes,
except the school tax, and perhaps that.
3. have no information, whether the com
plny incorporated in December, to encourage
immigration, has been organized, but pre-
sumo It has. There are no private societies
or associations for the protection of imni-
grants. The small number of immigrants
arriving here in The past from Germany, axd
the large German population in Charleston,
whose kindly sym pathies ard Offices were ex.
tended to them, rendered it unnecessary. =
company was formed some seventeen 3ears
ago, and a tact of about 10000 acres Of
land purchased in Pickens District, near the
Blue Ridge mountains, about 200 miles North.
west of Charleston. These lands have been
divided off into small tracts aud sold to Ger
mans, who have improved the lands and
country very materially. They have flour
isbing little tows OF some l,50U inhabitants,
situated about the centre Of the original par
chase. The whole colony will now numbcr,
I resume, some 1000 souls, TIE town is
called Walh.ils, aud DR.. A, E. Norman is
the postmaster. The country is indebted to
the energy and enterprise of Gen. Wagencr,
of Charleston. for founding this fourIshing
colony.
4. The lows of this State give tbs same
protection to the immigrant that is enjoyed
by the native. After he becomes a citizen,
hescan transmit land sbF deed, aiil and inheri.s