Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-11-11
THE GOVERNOR ON IMMIGRATION.

The Message Of Gov. BRowNLow says:
II was our fond hope that, upon herestora-
ton Of peace, the termination Of slavery,
and the establishment Of civil government,
a tide of immigration would set in to this
State from the Northern States and from
Europe; that men of capital and enterprise,
attracted by our mild and healthy climate,
fertile soil, magnificent scenery, pure and
abundant water, would come among US and
aid in the development Of our vast resources.
Two Of the premises on which this hope
is founded will not hold. In Tennessee,
peace is not restored, and civil government,
after the Republican form, is not re-estab-
lished The third, indeed, is doubtful, for
though African slavery is terminated, it is
sought to impose political slavery upon an
other class Of the population. These things
being so, il is not to be wondered that the
tide Of immigration is diverted from Ten
nessee. When faction holds possession of
the State, and abuses the power thus ac-
quired, to war upon the inherent rights Of
the majority, the peace Of the community is
insecure Such government is not civil in
the American sense. II is as obnoxious as a
military despotism. 1t is a state of affairs
from which capital will shrink, and in which
business enterprise cannot exist, and to
whidh no man is inclined to come as per-
manent home. 1t is the great reason that
deters those disposed to settle in this State !;
and those who are looking and hoping for
immigration need not expect it until there is
a new order Of things.
The Governors message ascribes the in
disposition of emigrants TO look favorably
on this State, to the proscriptive spirit exist
ing among the people. This is not true, but
so far as immigration is concerned it might
as well be. The Governor and the Radical
press Of the State herald it over the country,
and notify "the Northern States and Europe"
that it is unsafe to live in Tennessee, unless
certain opinions are held and yet pretend
that they have INDUCED "fond hope" that
men would come and bring their families,
and invest their capital here. None know
better than those who make the charge Of
political intolerance against the mass of the
people Of Tennessee, that 1t is untrue. The
only prescription in this State is that that
rankles in the breast Of the Radicals, and
emanates from the Capitol. 1t exerts a
paralyzing influence upon every interest. 1t
directly and indirectly retards immigration.
No machinery of legislation can promote an
influx of population while the State continues
to be misruled as at present. We regret
to say that we are cognizant Of the
fact that men are deferred from moving to
Tennessee by the unsettled condition OF
things which is understood to prevail, but
let the blame lie at the right door. The
people of Tennessee are not responsible for
it. They are the victims of systematic
SANDER, official and unofficial The men
who affect to lament that immigration is
not increased, would girdle the State with a
wall of fire if they thought that immigrants
would bring Conservative principles with
their capital and enterprise. 1t is not popu-
lation or a general development of the
wealth of the State that they want. 1t is
political power. The vile means they use
to retain that they have lily gotten, excludes
capital, extinguishes enterprise, and will, il
it does not soon cease, exile the better class
of population we already have. Every aci
of the State government and every utter
anee from the leaders who control and give
it tone, speaks trumpet-tongued," not only
against immigration as one Of the means o.
retrieving our impaired condition, bui
against the general welfare of the State.