The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-04
SOUTHERN LANDS AND IMMIGRATION

Nothing is destined to play q more effec-
tive part in solving political as well as mate
rial problems in the South than the element
of immigration. Political history is founded
in natural history, and all government and all
law must ultimately rest upon indisputable
social facts. What the South may be in res
pect to internal politics, to industry, produc-
ton and commerce, is to be determined by
what she will be in respect to population.
In this question of population, indeed, all her
hopes pivot; about it all her fears revolve.
The fagitious scheme of negro-radical supre-
macy, devised by partisan selfshness and ma
Lightly, cannot be fought successfully by po-
htical weapons alone To live it down, is the
only way TO effect its utter defeat and perma-
nent suppression. And to live it down, We
must be favored by the preponderance of
needed elements of population. Left in their
normal relations the white people of the
South, the freed blacks, it is true, would not
be source of political danger, and would
more and more contribute, as thousands of
them are now contributing, to the material
prosperity of the country. But all past ex-
perience, corroborated by all contemporary
observation, testifes that political power
the power to make laws and administer gov
eminent for themselves, and for others wholly
different from themselyes-eonfded unquali-
fiedly to such classes, works like poison in
their blood. It demorahzes, it maddens
them. And this is not because they are natu-
rally more wicked, cruel and reck-
less than other people but because
that section of the human family
which, in respect to the awful responsible
ties of political sovereignty, is naturally
weak and incompetent What the Indians
and mongrels of Mexico, and the negroes and
mongrels of St Domingo, entrusted with this
sovereignty, have made Of those countries, a
negro radical dominion, unchecked by the
influx of wholesome ingredients of popula-
ton, would at length make of the South. As
there is obviously no hope of regenerating
st. Domingo and Mexico except through
change of population, it is obviously the part
of wisdom and patriotism in our case to take
measures without delay for interposing such
elements of population as are best calculated
to avert the doom which misplaced political
power has brought upon the countries whose
warning examples are above referred to.
1t is time that all of us, in the cities and in
the rural districts, whether devoted to COM
merce or to agriculture, to professional avo-
cations or to mechanical arts, should recog-
nize in the most practical manner the indis-
pensability of this policy to the salvation of
the South. And we cannot give this recogni-
ton without affording, to the extent of our
ability, instant and substantial encourage
ment to immigration from Europe and from
the Northern and Western States for such
an immigration is absolutely necessary to the
success of the policy.
Of the various immigrant projects which
have been agitated none strikes US as posses
sing more simplicity and feasibility than that
represented by Col. Lee Crandall, of this city.
His plan contemplates the sale of Southern
lands, now idle, divided into suitable tracts,
to immigrants who will engage personally in
their cultivation. He proposes to part with
alternate divisions, retaining the remainder
increased value which it will derive from the
surrounding improvements and the growth in
the vicinity of an intelligent, industrious and
thrifty population. He is not only an agent
between the Southern seller and the immi-
grant, but he is prepared to purchase on his
own account and for men of capital in the
North who wish to avail themselves of the
present cheapness of valuable lands in the
South to make investments Apart from mo-
tives of personal speculation, Northern capt.
talists have an interest in the material recu-
peration and the social health of the South
only second to that of the Southern people
and it is not surprising to learn
that Col Crandall is supported in his enter
prise by such men in the North, who will assist
at once in the ready sale of lands entrusted |
to his agency and in promoting the immigra-
ton which is so greatly desired.