Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-06-12

that this, with us at the South ia of paran,orr.
Importance. The prosperity of any country Dc
ponds mainly upon proper organization Of it,
labor. Unfortunately FOR US our labor systen a.
the present is utterly disorganized and demoraI'
lied. Never were people so cursed with faitb
lessness and laziness on the part of ITS hireIing
laborers We shall not enter upon 90
investigation of the causes which have led to The
disastrous decentralization farther than to sa
that it is of the results of reversal Of the OH
order of things. Men of worth are no longer
sought for positions of any kind but upstprt
and WRITINGS have obtained possession of posi
tons which should be occupied alone by men ~
integrity and the highest attainments The ola
tests " is he honest, is he capable" have been on
tirely lost sight of, and in their stead the had
EedUeo OF impotence and mendacty have beer
substituted. With such examples what bette
can we expect than fathlessness and laziness nm
the part of labOrers who see virtue and merit nm
rewarded and worthlessness and effronterv at =
premium. The consequence is that We are poorer
to-day than we were two years ago. And tbi.
may be espe ciay said of our agricultural classag
for we venture the assertion Ia not one in fiftyy
of our farmers is not growing poorer day by day
and year by year under our prevailing labor avs
TEN. Nor can such poverty be attributed to =
want of enterprise and energy, for our most en-
terprising and hitherto most successful farmer.
are those who have most signaljy failed. 1t re-
quireS no sagacity nor acquaintance even with
the planest truths of political economy, to per
ceive that this order of things must be reversed
or inevitable and permanent ruin will result, and
that at no distant day.
AS deplorable as this state of affairs is we must
not succumb it is the part of true manhood to
seek a remedy. Our people are casting about
with varying views rs to what this should be
Your committee may be permitted to offer the
following suggestions In the first place =
marked distinction should be made between tie
honest and faithful laborer and him who is not 40
We must take our stand more firmly on the eide
of honesty and faithfulness, and must put
forth more union and strength to discourage and
suppress opposite habits and tendencies. We do
not propose to wage war upon the negro although
| In the main, under the influence of the general
decentralization of the times he has been badly
corrupted, and as class is almost worthless and
unreliable. When one can be found who is faith
full and reliable we must encourage him and make
him feel that his color is barrier to our appro-
citation, provided he possesses the qualities for
which we cof4endng. Nor is it to be supposed
that we are disposed to cover up the faults of our
own race and color. Many of them are no better
than the negroes, and some of them are not as
good. We must be careful not to class such l0z-
zdrOnt with industrious and reliable laborers,
white or black.
We think, in this reactionary movement, the in
PRODUCTION OF foreign emigration is desirable and
necessary, and we are glad to know that this view
is rapidly gaining favor with our people. Foreign
emigration is no doubtful experiment. The HIS
tory OF the former free States, especially of the
Northwest, fully demonstrates this. This kind
of emigration has been the very backbone
of their prosperity and success. Can we Sc
cure this emigration We answer emphatically,
yes. Let us take the proper steps, and tho work
can be easily accomplished. And, first of ALL We
must go into it with liberal spirit, for are in
a condition to offer emigrants as attractive and
substantial inducements as can be found any
where. With the mass of evidence in support Of
this, it is apropos to mention the testimony Of
Horace Greedy, whose opportunities for an
rate judgment these matters cannot be eXcelled.
| He answers to the many emigran' asking his 3D.
vice, that there is no land OF promise more invi-
| ting to those seeking homes with "stout frames
and willing hands" than Virginia, Tennessee and
| the Carolinas. Your committee may be permit
| ted to say in behalf of North Carolina, and es-
pecaly this section of it, that in fertility of SOIL
saubrity of climate, extent and variety of produc-
ton, it is not eXcelled by any portion in the United
States. Our people, though not ostentatious, arc
proverbial for hospitality and kindness to stran-
gers, and With an unquestloned integrity OF char
acter, will extend cordial welcome to the hon
est emigrant will the people of any other
State.
The sentiments of this report, so often pIomul-
gated before, should not pass unheeded by those
whose homes are among us and who have 30 much
at stake IN this important matter. We should be
ready and willing to cooperate with all other in
divduals and associations who place proper APP
probation upon the Importance of this movement
for improving our material condition. Acting
upon these suggestions, with new life infused
when our good old State, relieved from her pres
ent endorsements and depressing influences,
will enter upon new and brighter career of pros
perty and renown.
But we have held meetings, and talked and
written enough. Action is the talisInauC
word. Farmers nd should be men Of action
rather than of words. Therefore we may well
hope soon to more tangible results than any
yet accomplished.
Respectfully submitted,
s. s. SATCHwELL,
D. T. DURHAM,
s. /. FAIsoN,
JOHN D. Powers,
Committee.