Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-01-17
closes the door against immigration to the

| Previous to the war 1t was urged tina,
the Northern white men refused to come
South to work beside the negro, because
! the latter was negro and his inferior.
H this be true, he will be less disposed to
come, now that the negro is emancipated
| and made his political equal, and in view
| of efforts to establish his social equality
also. Be this as it may, this political
equality brings with it objections and dan
gers which prudent men do not care to en-
counter. Industrious men will long hest
tate before they will place the earnings OF
their labors at the mercy of tax laws, en-
acted by the representatives OF indolent
paupers. Capital will not seek investment
| when these investments are subject to the
| revenue regulations of a class who seek
property by means of confscation or some
other Legislative robbery. Neither capital
nor laborers will come South with the pros
pect of negro ascendancy.
So long as the rich resources and the
teeming advantages of the South are over
Swallowed by the black cloud Of political
uncertainty and disorganization which now
hides them from view, we will look III vain
for aid so long as the immigrant feels that
he is to locate under negro government ;
that his children must go to negro public
schools; that the negro will sit beside him
in the jury box; will act as policeman,
magistrate and judge over him, and by
means of white Acknowledgement control
the power of the State. he will stifle any
desire he may have to invest in, and cult
vate, the rich fields now lying idle, and turn
his footsteps to sections less favored, to
fields less fertile ard q climate less salu-
brious.
Under Radical policy, therefore, the
South can never be revived. Through
Radical legislation the doors to all this
broad, fertile country is closed. Under
the protection of law, the negroes will not
work themselves, nor will they suffer others
to prosper. They are not only not sup
porting themselves, but stealing the earn
ings Of others more industrious. Our
hope, then. is in the defeat of the policy
of The Radicals, and prevent their giving
over our fertile soil, which bestows upon
industry generous reward, to the negro.
A continuance of the Conservative victories
at the North will soon open the South to
white immigration, and save this section
from financial ruin and political anarchy.
In view, therefore, of Conservative success
in the coming elections, we are glad to see
immigration meetings and societies spring
ing up all over the South. The triumph
of the Constitution, the re- enactment of
just laws the legal reconstruction of the
Union, will bring the question of Southern
immigration practically before the people
of the North and foreign countries. The
advantages which we offer will then stand
forth unclouded by counteracting inhuen-
ces; this section will be judged by its merits.
and our people will be known without pre-
iudice. Let us prepare for this state of
things. In the generous competition which
will spring up all over these Southern
States, let US not suffer by any want of pre-
paration and effortto cause our peculiar and
great inducements to be known and recog-
nized. We have an important work be-
fore US, and we hall with pleasure the fact
that it's inauguration has been superin-
tended by such responsible and Jealous
citizens.
We shall expect report from the com
mittee at an early day, and we believe that
the work to be carved out by them will not
only be practical, but will be accomplished.
At the next meeting of the Society we hope
to see others of our citizens interesting
themselves in this question. Let this Or
ganization, SO auspiciously inaugurated,
grow in strength and importance, so that at
the first movement it's labors can be made
available, it will be in condition to meet any
exigency which may arise. Let us see If
our own shores cannot receive the first
wave of Southern immigration when tho
tide sets in this direction.
Our Military Government.