Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-03
Immigration and the Chamber oi
lomlncrcc.

/
Commerce.
Fplrons LEDGER The Chamber OF Com
merce should be very careful In adopt
ing or giving its sanction 10 any specu-
Iafire scheme OF immigration. II me-
chsnics or laborers are desired, the only
thing necessary TO procure them ia 70
start factories or some kind Of works.
Lei il be known BY ten lines OF an adj
yertisement that one hundred hands are
reouircd 10 work in cotton factory,
twenty hands in tannery, thirty hands
in a coopers shop. and SO on, aud you
will have them all here in a few days
without the aid Of IN immigration Com
pany. The way TO bring skilled or simple
labor here, and make Il permanent, Is to
start works. Thats all and nofhing
else piu do d. IL farmers are desired
from England or elsewhere, the lmmi-
grafton Managers who invite them
should purchase lands for their ac-
com modation and settlement. HAVING
frat obtained clear deeds 10 the prop
erty from land owners, they could sub
divide IL into farms or lots to suit the in
migrants, selling to them on reasonable
terms, and guaranteeing them security
in their tenures. This would be matter
Of private business between the immi-
grafton Company and the immigrants,
which the Chamber of Commerce, as
nublic body, has no business 10 take
hinder its. special wing. The Chamber
will be acting outside of the principles
Of nolitical economy If it lends it's sane
Ion Al anv narticular Immigration Com.
pany. Let there be as much competition
rs possible 10 i'm migration schemes and
let those who want patronage secure 1t
by offering the best inducements TO I'M
migrants, instead of palavering the
Chamber Of Commerce. IArLEk'
While we have no objection to the
Chamber Of Commerce favoring any
scheme of immigration, or the same
thing being done by any other organize,
ton or private enterprise which may be
practicable, we concur with our corre-
spoudent in the main idea he suggests,
that the foundation must first be laid at
home. We have lands for farmers, and
these should be provided aud offered at
extreme low rates. The inducement
should be as great as possible, since the
reward we look to is in building up the
country, filing it with good, indus
trious and law-abiding white population,
who will have liberty as well as ourselves,
aud thus enhancing the value Of adjacent
lands, increasing our security against
despotism, and contributing in all re-
spects to our material prosperity. 1t is
not the price, we want from them, but
their presence and aid as producers and
friends, that we may all prosper together
But as to immigrants to the cities more
especially, the first thing to be done In
order to induce settlement is to initiate
manufacturing and mechanical enter.
prises. Do that, and Immigrants will
come in in large numbers with the tide.
This we have demonstrated, with the and
Of our intelligent correspondents, over
and over. Nothing else is wanting to
the rapid growth of our cities in the
South, but to become home manufactur'
ing and producing. If our enterprise
and capital, such as it is, was
directed in that way, instead of being
devoted by millions to building up
means of carrying products before we
have them TO sell, we should lay fouad-
alton at once which would make great
ness sure. Population would come as a
aood, sufficient to stife the fires OF
Brownlow's hell itself For the cities,
that is our remedy, to bend oufenergies
to manufacturing industry. And we
believe there is no other sufficient. 1t
will not in the least hinder our
present commerce or business, but,
on the contrary, augment 1T IN
every respect. The fact has been dem
onstrated everywhere throughout this and
all other countries. And immense cities
have been made with nothing else.
Great Britain is only a vast manufactory.
But we, having never done anything but
make cotton and sell it, can do nothing
else, It would seem. Will none take hold
of this important matter of building up
in the only efficient and sure way Is
Memphis enterprise to be ever limited to
the small perquisites and the little cotton
that sticks to our fingers in passing
through If we were to 60 to work and
make everything which we consume at
home, and send no more money away to
buy what we can make as cheaply here,
we should be rich tomorrow.