Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-06-14
Immigration.


is nothing so much needed in this section
now as the settlement amongst us of in
dnstrious. thrifty immigrant farmers. BY
this means, more readily than by any
other, will the vacant lands of the South be
made to yield their annual harvest, giving
life to every kind of industry, enrichlng
the whole country and making the Will
derness blossom as the rose.
We regretted exceedingly that the Lee
oislature at its last session found the means
of the State Treasury too limited and the
condition of the people too impoverished
to consummate any scheme upon the part
of the State for the purpose of encouraging
and promoting foreign immigration. The
experience of agriculturists during the pres
ent season as to the disposition of laborers, as
we'll as the scarcity of reliable, steady farm
hands, shows the Increasing necessity fol
q supply of laborers and industrious cul,
tivators and tenants of our lands During
the past winter thousands of freedmen were
induced to leave the moro northern of the
Southern States under promise Of higher
wages, and it is more than probable the e1-
odus will increase during tho next few years.
These facts make it necessary that some
plan should be adopted to encourage the
Immigration of industrious and reliable Ia
borers and settlers
In Virginia especially, We are glad to see
that the people are not waiting for tho as
sistance or action Of the State. In the
northern portion Of the State the land own
ers are displaying 4 comnendahle purpose
of parceling cut their large estates into
small farms for sale to industrious and Thrill
ty Immigrants. We see from the papers that
within the past few months quite one hun
dred small farms have hecn sold to immi-
grants along the line Of the Alexandria,
Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad. Stimu-
lated by this success and the progress which
has already been made, an organized move
ment is on foot by certain citizens Of Alex
andria, who invite the landhOlders along
the line of the various railroads leading in
TO that city, to meet on the 18th of this
month, in order to interchange opinions and
devise some practical method for the en-
enlargement of immigrants. The circular
which these gentlemen have issued con-
tains several admirable suggestions, espe-
cially that which urges the policy of COM
bining interest with liberality, by offering
small tracts for sale on easy terms and long
credits, with the assurance that should I'M
migrants come, they will be kindly received,
Hospitality treated, and offered every assis-
lance to start them on their farms fairly.
This is as it should be, aud if this Con-
vention of land owners will DO something
more than talk and pass meaningless reso-
lutions. much for the permanent welfare OF
the Old Dominion may be inaugurated, as
we'll as the individual prosperity of parties
interested secured. And we hope the sue
cess which has already attended the efforts
Of these Virginia farmers, and the result OF
their proposed meeting will be such that
our own people will not be discouraged by
the inability of the State to take this mat
ter in hand ; but ny following IN the foot
steps of their neighbors, and even leading
them in the honorable race for prosperity,
q movement will be early inaugurated tC
make known the salubriousness of our eli
mate, the productiveness Of our lands, the
vast extent of our mineral resources, ard
the kindly disposition OF our people to-
ward any who may choose to settle among
us.
Never, probably, in the history of agri-
culture, can so much productive land, stu
ated in every way desirable for permanent
residence, be purchased at rates SO reason
able. Unless this fact can be known, and
the falsehoods as to cur inhospitable and
cruel treatment of immigrants, circulated
have proved equally damaging to Our ma.
terial welfare, are thoroughly exposed, we
will find much difficulty in inducing immi
grants to seek our section. We should not
however, be discouraged by these Difficult
ties. Advices from Europe state that the
immigration to the United States will be
very large during the present year, espe-
ciaIly from the German States, and it de-
ponds upon ourselves whether it chokcs the
already crowded avenues leading to the
part or in whole the advantages of it
It cannot be done without an effort. I'M
migration viii never seek our borders with
out even kindly invitation---our advanta-
ges are naught unless they arc known--our
desires useless unless they are made public.
The productiveness of our soil will remain
only burdenoome tax upon the owner
the mineral wealth of our mountains and
valleys will be hid forever-our water-cour-
ses will murmur in improbable melody
until the end of time, unless we make the
proper effort to encourage immigration,
and with the incentive given by an increase
of population and wealth, energetically en-
bark into those industrial pursuits our
selves, which must lead to certain prosper
ity. and eventually become the lever of our
influence and power in the government of
our country.
Military Government In the Carolinas.
We have never in the past, nor do we in.