Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-04-03
Tbi, lovely village, am happy to in

muoOutt AA8ttf tgt wv tfeNee'ssa " tSIsNN
and questions Of geaeral concern. AT
the last meeting-Dr. Henry Biggs In
the Chair, aud Col Wave Smith (of the
firm Of Donahu a Smith) acting Secre-
tary-the great Immigration and Land
question came up for debate. Rev. Mr..
Milliken, of the Lagrange High School,
led off in favor Of immigration and the
adoption Of some plan in regard to the
disposition Of lands to emigrants that
would be equal and just to all concerned
making a chaste, impressive extern
poraneous address that showed the prac'
ticed speaker, and would have done
credit to any deliberative body in the
country. Tspeak Of the country as it
was before the war; He was followed
by Col. Smith on the negative side OF the
question, who fairly surprised me with
the strength of the argument that could
be made on that side. He made first.
rate off.hand speech, and clearly proved
to his hearers that were he to turn bis
attention to law, or any other profession
which requires constant public speaking,
he would brilliantly succeed. Mr.. j. ii.
Crabtres replied TO Col. Smith, in brief,
humorous, well-delivered, but somewhat
expansive" speech. Then came the
witty, ironical, satirical, telling address
read by Mr.. j. Coolidge, ostensibly in
the negative, which is given below, and
which, as he read it, was one of the most
striking specimens Of the argument ob'
lioue have ever listened to. Mr..
Coolidge writes well, and reads most
admirably. Mr.. Milliken closed the de-
bate, but the President, DR.. Biggs, after
deciding the question in favor of the
affirmative, went on in few well-timed
and well.considered remarks to entertain
the audience (which was composed in
mart of number of ladies) with lucid
explanation of several Of the leading
plans now being discussed before the
people of the South by Mr.. Everett, OF
London, and Messrs. Marshall and Rich
ardson, of this city, none of which we're,
perhaps, exactly what they should be, or
what was to be desired, but he had no
doubt that plan could be devised which
would be just and equal to all-one that
would be of prompt executions feature
that seemed to be wanting in the project
of the London banker, and which would
be promptly and almost universally
adopted by the Southern people.
On the whole, il was q most interest
ing debate; and it is to be earnestly
hoped that the Lyceum will go on pros
pering and to prosper; that the citizens
generally, and the ladies especially, will
attend, and by their countenance and
support, encourage spirit of emulation
among the young men of the place,
which must, without doubt, result in great
good (not to speak of the capital enjoy
menD to all concerned.
But--not to detain your readers any
longer from good thing-here is some
what condensed report of Mr.. Coolidge's
speech in favor of the beautiful ledge
fields" and lovely dirt roads " OF the
South: tIr 1Etsitl
| Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: l
rise to discuss this question, filled with
horror. Have you for one moment con-
sidered the awful ruin immigration will
hiring upon your To think of bringing
into this prosperous and happy section
pestilential foreigners, ,scourged with ship
disease, and thrown upon us penniless
and famished, to drink and eat our sub
stance. Why, gentlemen, it is the hight
! of ridiculous extravagance, Our oppo-
nents' heads must be as thick as mud to
foist such preposterous question upon
our energetic President. Gentlemen, he
even now bends beneath your unwelcome
load. Do you want to bring untutored
Irish and Dutch right here amongst usY
Do we want our children going about
gabbliug such gibberish as this Msin
Got in himmel nein2" Do we want
them playing in the cutters with oyster
shells, dead kittens and Irish children
Forbid t. We men of bottom Why,
wbat-do you mean to get up here and
saw Won want immigration Why, then,
you want smallpox and. body-lice,
measles and cholera; for they will as
surely come as the emigrants; it is all
, thew will bring; it is all they have got
, left for legacies from tn. centuries OF
noverty which have looked down upon
! them. Gentlemen, how can you feed
this multitude of beggars2 Are you
! going to give them your lands
where they are now waving their golden
sedpe grass so beautifully to the quiet
! breeze2 Would you let them plow and
tear up this dazzling prospect, for the
. purpose of bringing to life fruit and po-
, tatoes2 Would you have them raise
hay. corn, cattle and hogs, when We are
40 near the Memphis market2 If you
would, then give them your lands, and
! these evils will multiply tsnfold. tell
, YOU. gentlemen, you may talk about
stock companies; you may dream OF
rich dividends and count your gains
between the sheets Of your bed /; it's all
; nice and plausible, but do you get those
gains in legal tenders? Notin the day
timel If we should encourage this
foreign element-this proposed continual
stream of emigrauts-they would insist
, upon raising everything before cotton !;
, you could not make them understand that
Il is much the best TO raise cotton for a
living. They could probably sell it for
ten or twelve cents and buy meat enough
! 10 do them at eighteen or twenty cents
, a difference Of eight cents per pound ;
but. as meat is the heaviest, Of course,
we can see at q glance why the advance,
Tr-,o "a r,iCht have our roads fixed II