Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-02-01

1t is hardly necessary to present the TACT OF
our poverty to impress the Importance of
immense labor to put our State in the high
road of prosperity, but we wish to direct
inquiry as to the means of raising our peo-
pie from almost Indulgence to a material in
dependence.
Our Legislature has re-assembled, and
| among other matters which have been
brought to its attention is the States means
for educational purposes. The report upon
that subject is too explicit to need COM
ment. The method of making available
what remains Of that fund is question to
be solved by the wisdom of the General
| Assembly.
The great want of our State is labor and
we must recollect that one class only will
not answer Our Legislators may we'll pom
der the ways and means by which supply
of agriculturists, mechanics, miners and
other laboring population, may be brought
into every part of the State, particularly
into that which is under its Immediate con-
troll We have only to look to the policy
of the West in this direction, and the great
results may be seen at a glance. Liberal
grants have been made to actual settlers,
and in a few years whole districts of coun-
try, where not an inhabitant dwelt, have
become populous, and the lands which re-
NAMED have risen in value from fOurfold
to twenty times the original price. This
policy, started by the State, would satisfy
individual landowners, not only of its gen
eral benefit to the State, bnt of its greater
productive interest to them He who has
five, two or one thousand acres of land,
four-fifths of which now lies uncultiyated
and wasting from his grasp by enormous
taxation, will see the wisdom of selling, at
even nominal prices, one-half of what he
owns, when in so short time the remain
der will be So greatly enhanced in value.
To obtain proper results, first let legisla-
ton be wise and liberal, and then let the
present population realize the necessity for
change on its part from a course which
apparently leads to Il speedy gain, but which
as surely and more rapidly carries its fol-
lowers to pecllnlary rnln.
Now is most favorable moment to turn
immigration into our State. The whole of
Europe is threatened with war, and the in
dustrious and thrifty farmers and mechan-
les of every European State will seize with
avidity the opportunity offered of IL free
home and exemption from military con
scrirtion. Our climate is genial and sa-
luxurious, and the variety of its temperature,
together with the great diversity Of soil
and productions, ofcrinducementsb by which
immigrants from every region may be
drawn to our midst. From the seacoast to
the mountains the viue-grOwers of France
and Germany may enjoy homes as inviting
as any their native lands afford; the hardy
Scott, from either the High or Lowland,
may find a counter part to his own country,
excepting i'll natural advantages, i'll which
our State is incomparably ahead. The
Irishmau, discontinued at home, may here
realize the liberty he thinks is denied him
there, and will receive remuneration for
his labor nowhere else offered.
We appeal to our law makers to take this
subject i'll hand, and with wisdom AMI en-
erGy SO to iegislate as to insure a rapid in
iux OF moral and industrious population.
/ But while they are striving to improve the
material prosperity of all, let lis here ex-
press the hope that the State may not stig-
Matte itself by being forgetful of, or indif-
ferent to, past patriotism but that she will
foster that greatest virtue, without which
people can be neither great nor good.