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

In compliance with resolution adopted at pro-
iiminAry meeting OF tho citizens Of Darlington Dis
trict, held at Florenoe on the 1Ith inst, sn nd
journod meeting, which was largely attended by
tho planters in that vicinity, took place Saturday
Inst for tho purpose OF initiating for the
promotion OF European immigration, aud to hear
the views Of General JohN A. WAaENEn. tho Com
missioner Of Immigration Of this Slate, who had
been invited to attend.
Gn'motton of General ". ". HARLLEE, AIr. D.
7. F.SWILLIAMsoN was called to preside.
General WAoENEn was then introduced, md
spoke as follows
Mr. President and FeltotO- Citizens: I am grate-
full TO you for. tho5priyiIogp Of being prosont on
this occasion, and most sincerely appreciate
somblfng. It is now about twenty years ago, TINT
frat addressed tho public OF South Carolina in fa-
yor OF ono ,uraging European Immigration. II was
which WAS annually spent by the largo planters III
the purchagp OF meats, PROVISIONS, horscs, swine
aud manufactured goods fro.n other parts of tho
competent to supply hersolf Through an additional
industrious and diversified population. But it was
then held dangerous 70 our tnen peculiar institu-
General Assembly applied in vain for charter
for theI society that had established tho German
events hive demonstrated, that was right and
tho opponents OF tho measure wore wrong for
OF tho Europeans that had found homo In our
the State and hor institutions and measures; thoir
industrious and prosperous habits hayo beon ac-
knowledgcd, and the bones OF thoir Rone Lilo bleach
5 has CT exhibited itself Now, however, Oyory objec-
ton must have ceased and our actunl necessities
Of the moment admonish us, that what wns loft
undono in seasGps of prosperity and power,
day OF adrersity :, and weakness. An
overwhelming proportion of our population
il
oven all the other Southern States, excepting ono
besides horson, arc exempt 1t is tho .preponder-
anGe 1t;e Oh tn9 coored popnianon; II ts true the
orty as heretofore, aid the colored Apeople-to
their honor bo it said-aro law-abiding and we'll.
masters But will they bo lot alone9 Do We We not
know that fanatical and sol1sh persons arc oven
now melting them TO opinions and acts Mt variance
Are thoy not taught that thoy will have ths power
and should exercise it, to represent tho State and
make her laws TO suit thcmselyes7 How shall We
am not opposed to the black man. On the contra
y,I want 70 encourage and improve him. I want
to give him schools and every facility FOR his ad
want him to feel that although Of African descent
he is native Of Carolina, that ho should love, re-
we're % and . defend her as his m9theT and the homo
stranger to como between him and his white bro
ther to stir up hatred and contention. I want him
to bis Freedom and the amplest prediction Of the
and power in the old race OF Carolina, to Conserve
shs Hf 1ePf q and
and ianaHcal despoilers. Besides, under the al
tered condition Of things tho operative powor OF
thePresent aboring class OF South Carolina is in
sufficient to develop her resources oven to tho OK
tent OF her former productions. beove hayo
shoWn this conclusiyey on former occasion; more
now, therefore, further enlarge upon. The State
wants greater lnboring force and an increase of
her iI producers: Immigration alone can supply
We get immigration, and what must tho people do
to further the measures which the State he's re-
comfy enacted I am ready aud willing, and my
gy, and c1ortions to the accomplishment Of that
object. In doing this, however, the cooperation
OF all good citizens is necessary, and besides, I
must not look TO the particular interest Of this ono
or that one but to tho necessities and prosperity
OF the people rs, o whole, and thus the question
shonld be viewed by tho people themsclvts. Lot
as II we woro entirely dsinterested ns individuals,
this important matter; and not us we might deairo
IT. 70 So but az it really and practically is dvosted
also agreo upon plhu by which both sthe general
served. s-,--,7. 81 ~, : = III
II wo take into consideration that the whole I'M
migration ia but about 500 coo souls per year; that
about 90 per cent. of that goes to New York; that
New York and the Eastern States; that tho whole
South las heretofore, received only about z per
cent, the rest having gone to tho West; that
and Western ssies with pamphlets asGiiDaa and adVar
tisements. setting forth their groat Inducements,
and and sEatemntically abusing, docrying and tradu.
cnR the South; and that the stream Of immigra-
ton usually follows beaten course wo may form
an approximate idea of the difficulties which We
shall have TO encounter, and OF tho meagre re-
snlts that, even under tho moBt favorable ciroum-
stances, we may expect unless we can offor unu.
usual and extraordinary Inducements. As In all
great undertakings, in this tho initiatory steps
naN Iah -.
difficult After we arc once fairly stsrted-after
limited number OF immigrants hayo found
among pa- pleasant homo and prosperity thoy
thor relatives, their friends and former nuiehbors
Will hear from them and will bo induced TO follow
them. Our planters must hot fail to consider this;
we must lay our plnns accordingly and then va
may build upon o solid foundation. Lot them set
apart portion OF their surplus lands, to bo sold
IL hsrni sma Tracts rs the cheap and
Immigrant laborer, even il they iaYo very
small profits Of him tho first year lot thom hsyo
en- e tG0 general Welfare only and goo
Of uncertain calculation in every respect. Many
win b6 disappointed: but IL is matter Of public
necessity; and therefore il would bo VOL lindeod
society should DO permanently established, to
ss necessary Wy % ils conclusion In tnis manner tho
have my idea how difficult 1t is TO rouse the mass
ot the people to proper appreciation of thoir
ntuation. IL ID Iuo AnYO applications for labor
ers, bnt they aro Indefinite, irresponsible, Vague
and unreliable have registrics OF hundreds OF
tnoueanda OF acrea OF lands, Homo in almost eyery
district OF tho Slate, but in many instanccs-yes.
IN the majority OF cases, tho prices are too high
feoplo ssk Sl5 per aero for their lands whore
have not{ctd public" bhleBH I'M thbr 'ip1niedIato
neighborhood at 81 and 81 per aero. / do not
deny any man tho right to mako tho most OF his
POSSESSIONS but It 10 very fon!ish, whore there is
no market not to mako one by reasonable do
mands, particularly where the property can h-ye
made And all this in tho faeo Of the platform Of
lies tend only 10 mako tho rich rioher, and the
poor poorer, and arc runoua TO the agricultural
commercial nnd social interests OF tho State,
tho Leglsatuto should oHor oYery prac.
ticabo lnducemont for tho division and
salo Of utcooupied :, lands, &c.;,n and in
the faco, moreover, OF tho resolution OF that
great aEitator and Black Republican loader, Phil.
Ups, that large measure or conflscatiob, and tho
division Of tho confscated lands among tho mo-
groes is h,perativeiy demanded, 10 secnro tho
nghta OF the negroes and ths safety Of the nation
and % En tet OF jusce upon the ro6cl oWnors oito
nna. but thcee thsoats may be lido as the wind;
yss no cannot close our eyes TO tho fack that the
pispI4oon syhtonn as gGncral systein can ,scruil
no no tongWt s said, by planters OF iutelligenco,
Snt tho Suiiufes OF cotton cannot securely bo nm.
oeftdhen gJhTge capital, bccauao tho uncertainty
hSNevoas 1n 1n ;sEta1 GGa ~
9lAnda near Charleston 3 planter Yorks 4 ftraS
number OF immigrant laborere on shsroS tsi33S;
great sucoess., But thep let the plnntstIon st
60, II 90 II nust It's poaityo utility wns :Ivsv
doubtful Vas not adhered 10 for 1ts oItrsos3i
nary pr0ftg, bnt became Of fts pSI,fs srnSsi
character and gratifying responsibilities. am 90