The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-05-22
EUROPEAN IMMIGRATION.
SPEECH oF GEN. JOHN A. WAGNER

been MyIted 70 atteno.
s On mofion of General W. w. HARLLEGi Mr. b.
r WrE11AMBoN was called to preside.
sGsnsrd WAaKNeR was then introduced, and
spoke as falows
1,rS SPresidaats and Feltou- Citizens ] am grato-
M 10 Won br the privilege OF being present on
this occasions and I-.most sincerely appreciate
So,,r Iatriot1sm which has prompted your as,
SsIt iA now about twenty years ago. thae
frK addressed the public OF South Carolina IN Ia
vor al enc 5uraging European Immigration. ~ was
then prevent the outfu1 OF thas lmmense
whjch was annually spent by the large planters III
fi,a Durc6sse nf meats, provisions, horses, SWINE
md mannfactured goods fron other parts OF the
and with which our, State was entlroly
Nnnnafentsto supply herself, Through an adntlonal
ious and diversified population. But IL was
4San held dangerous 10 our then peculiar lnstisu a,
:sssS aSTf for three successive sessions OF the
'Gmernl Assembly applied IN vain for charter
:fnf The society that had establshed inc t Sermal
SssSieidssnt and town Of Walhalla. subsequent
:sssnta5 have demonstrated, that was right anu
az s1nirinei,ts OF the measure were wrong; for
Ssthat tEuropesns that had found nome IN our
Ss.s,,ntains mot one has been found obnoxOuS 20
IA STATE and her institutions and measures; tner
.irdnatrfsw and prospMons habits nave Deen sc-
INV SX sifnoet every field, where Carolina yaior
SfHibited itself Now,, however, every oglec-
t;on mnst have ceased and our actual necessities
~ tne moment admonish us, that what Was left
.nndone IN saasonsr Of. prosperity and power,
must not be- Delayed anY longer In our
day of adyeaity and weakness. AN AN
hasn CHARGED it's statue. There is threatening
aEIstS Q, ,hoii2on Of fSQuth 0arolns. from which
ayen All the other Southern States, excepting one
besides herself are exempt. 1t is the prePonder-
ance of the colored population: 1t ls true, the
,erty as heretofore, and the oolored people
their honor be it said-are law-abiding and we'll
disposed to their native home and their former
masters. But will they be let alone? Do We not
know thst. fanatical and selfsh persons are even
nv mating them to opinions and acts at variance
NH Hth9 rights sand dignity OF the community Z
Gte they not taught that they will have ths power
md se1ercise it, to represent the State ana
mako hersaRHs to suit themselves? how snaL we
protect ourselves against snch con1ngenc,esst tr.
3fy;Twans 10 encourage and improve him. want
foEye him schools and every facility Tor his ad-
YSloanaaM, progress and rational happiness. !
Hant him to feel that, although OF Af7can eescent'
we're and defend her % his mother and the home
OF ms children, and that he should not allow the
stranger to come between him and his white pro
thar4 aT up hatred and contention. i wanthlm
tnkSHe. The full enjoyment Of every night, incident e
% his freedom and the smplest protection OF the
Claw. But I:Mantt TO retain sufficient influence
and power insthe old race Of Carolina to conserve
the rights Of property, OF public and private
security, and as q safeguard against 1agrarlsn1sm
andfsnstioI .despoilers. Besides, under the al.
tcrad dcondison Of things the operative .powor oi
tksptessmt faboring class OF South Carolina ls IN
safGi6nt todevalop her resources, even to the ex-
tsdaS' of hdt former productions believe have
shown this concluAVely on . former occasion; more.
snoE; therefore, further enlarge upon. The State
wants grester laboring force and nm increase o.
shar produc@s.l Immigration alone can supply
this want! sFhe question then occurs, how shall
ne getdmmigraion, and what must the people &c
to f1rthe the measures which the State has re,
Gently enscted2 2 am ready and willing, and my
official duties require OF me, to apply all Icy ener
py and exertions to the accomplishment OF that
Object. In doing this, however, the cooperation
of all good citizens is necessary, and BESIDES,
or that one, but to the necessities and prosperity
ofthepeopte es q whole, and thus the question
!. should be viewed by the people themselves. Lei
Us exsmfpe then together, calmly and reasonably
; tins important matter; and not as We might desr!
il to be- but as it really and practically is, olVestee
OF every private consideration, and then We may
4 also agree upon plau by which both sthe genera
good and your own particular interest may De
~ n wa take into consideration that the whole i'm
migration is but about 800 600 souls per year; thai
bout so per cent. of that goes to New York; thai
df these so per cent about TO per cent roman II
1eW: York and tho Eastern States; that the whole
u.
}ant::, the rest having gone to the West; tha1
Europe is full Of agents Of Northern assoclatlons
Ind Western States, with pamphlets and adyer
Esements, setting forth their. great induce
Ss so5 tSas Ss s1ss% Of FIN mmsa
lion usually follows beaten course, We may form
In approximate idea Of the difficulties which we
khalf have to encounter, and OF the meagre re.
kults that, even under the most favorable circum
Stances, we may expect, unless we can offer unq;
usnal and extraordinary Inducements. AS In al
great utertakings SO in this, the initatory steps
are the most laborious-the beginning is the most
dificnlt. After We are once fairly started.afte!
a limited number of immigrants have found
amoielGss q pleasant home and prospe -ity, they
themselves will become so many agents tor u.s.
their relatives, their friends and former neighbors
vii hear from them and will be induced to follow
them. Our planters must not tall TO oonsider tnls
we nnnst Inv our plans accordingly, and then VIC
NAV build upon solid foundation. Let them SCI
spsrt portion Of their surplus lands, to be sold
in emalf tracts to the immigrant, cheap and on
liberal ters;. let them offer liberal wages to the
immigrant aborer, even they nave very
small profits Of him-the first year,, let them have
an eve to the general welfare only, and ignore
their individual immediate gain. This Is matter
OF uncertain calculation In every respect. MANY
will be disappointed. but it is q matter OF puDhc
necess and therefore it would DO dsrc,
society should be permanently established, to
work and assist this great movement for years, II
necessary to its conclusion. In tcls manner the
people win become generally Interested. Very lew
have any idea how difficult it is to rouse the mass
Of the people to proper appreciation OF their
situation. II is true have applications for labor
ers, but they are indefinite, irresponsible, vague
and unreliable. I have registrics of hundreds OF
thousands Of acres Of lands, some in almost every
district Of the State, but in many lnstancesyes,
in the majority Of cases, tine prices are too high
People ask SIS per acre for their lands where
have noticed. public; sales in their immediate
neighborhood at 81 aad 50 per acre. do pos no
possessions but it is very foolish, where there ID
po market. not to make one by reasonable de-
msnds. particularly where the property can have
no value for years to come, unless the market is
made. And all this in the face Of the platform OF
t;ae tend only to make the rich richer, and the
,,oor noorer and are ruinous to the agricultural
ppornmereial and social interests Of tho State,
the Legislature should offer every prac,;
cabe ndueement f0T anas .he ae S'Son ond a9a ia
s sale 90 rooTeoyer. of the resolution of that
lo.t o se;tator and Black Republican leader, Phil
Eeas sbst large measure Of confscaton, and the
x;s;on of the coufiscated lands among the ne
oroes ia imperatiyely demanded, 10 secure sne
tights Of tho negroes and the saleSy sno ost
I,sd p R these threats may be idle as the wind
vet we cannot close our eyes to the fact tnas .nt
Sisntst;on system, as general SYSTEM can ple'
tSss tie culture Of cotton cannot securely De nh
astaEsn dart BY arge capital because the nnsssinlntY
would render the results ,bst one Of the
have BEEN mear Ghareston planter works
number Of immigrant laborers on snares %aS,,
ereat success But then let the Plantatlon
20 f 4 90 It must Its positive utility was always
Doubtful It not adhered TO Tor r. ts
Character % ana gratifying responsibilities. am go