Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-09-03

Chinese are good laborers, wonderfully apt
to learn. docile, obedient, and when kindly
treated, aifectionate and submissive crea-
lures. The Introduction of them is the
surest way to control the negroes and to
render them reliable as laborers. We can
obtain the desired amount of additional
labor cheaper from China than elsewhere,
and at such price and in such quantity as
will not compel our people to sell their
lands at nomi raj prices to Yankee adven-
turers and foreign capitalists, but will en-
able them to retain them in their own
hands.
Unfortunately, however, the condition
of affairs in the country is such the sub
ject cannot receive fair fair investigation
and discussion upon it merits as a question
of labor alone, but must also under scru-
tiny from a partisan and sectional stand
point The North, with the command Of
the vast and daily increasing European i'm
migration is bitterly opposed to Chinese
immigration to the South. because it fears
thereby to lose its great preponderance in
the National Councils. Northern labor,
skilled and unskilled. opposes it on the
further ground that additional labor in the
South will diminish Northern profits.
There has recently been held in Philadel-
lphia a NATIONAL LABOR CONVENTION.
Among others, a committee was appointed
to report upon Coolie labor. The follow
ing is their report, adopted without amend
ment
Mr.. A. 9. Cameron I'LL. }, presented the report
of the Special Committee on Coolie Labor, which
is as follows:
Whereas, Interested and unprncipled capital
lists endeavoriDg to lower the wages of tho
mechanics and laborers of the United States, our
own citizens, by the introduction of Cooie labor;
Hyfnr 1nCP fhn illorc
our institutions, are compelled to incur great
pense towards ed eating themselves and chill
dren. towards the support of government, and
defending human rights for the benefit of all the
world and whereas, CoOlio laborers would be
under no such obligations, and would tn erefore
be able to undersell with their labor that Of our
ciiZens degrade the dignity of the laborer, and
thus lead to q state of pauperism and vassalage
which would imperil it's continuance and the de-
velopment of our true republican principles !;
therefore be it
isesoZoed, That while we appreciate the benefits
to be derived from voluntary emigration, we are
opposed IN toto to the importation of a servile
race to fulfil contracts entered into on foreign
Resolved. That we de and the rigid enforce
ment Of the law of Congress OF 1862, prohibiting
Resolued, That voluntary Chinese emigration
ought to enjoy tho protection Of the laws like
other citizens.
The Convention also laid down plat
form, in which occurs the following
Lesoloed, That land monopoles are at va
rance with the doctrine that " all freomon, when
they form a social compact, equal in rights"
and, if persisted in must ultima tey result in the
subVersion Of free institutions, also the social
and political we'll being of the labOring masses.
70 prevent this calamity. the public lands adapt
cd to agriculture should be given in r asonablo
quantities, to none but American citizens, and
| such have declared their intention to become
citizens. Individual owners Of extensive tracts Of
land should be encouraged to dispose of the same
m al of la RI onfJ1 oil
settlers that they may thus become identified with
the soil. as responsible, intelligent citizens.
Upon this plank Of the platform we have
only time to remark that by means OF ex-
cessive taxation in the South, pretty snb-
stantlal &c encouragement" is given to pri
vate land owners to part with their proper
ty at small prices III the present scarcity of
labor. These things, together with the
tone of the Press generally, show unmis-
takably the feeling of tho Northern people
and the reasons therefor.
But opposition to Chinese immi grutOn
is not confined to the North alone, we find
it here at the South rs well. The Raleigh
Se''iinc! has thrown the whole weight of its
influence against it. In its issue of 9Th
August that paper says it is s. of opinion
that the enterprise cannot prove otherwise
than injurious to tho permanent interest
of the country" and SO far as we have
been able to inform ourselves, the press
generally OF the State hos either shirkcd
the question or is of opin,,n with tho Sen
tntel. Especially is this true of those
papers that are taking prominent part in
this new party movement. The Sentinel
forms this opinion after having for
some time watched the progress of the
movement and noted with no small degree
Of interest the effect that Chinese immigra-
ton has had upon the communities into
which they have been introduced" AS this
is all mere assertion and individual opinion,
we may be pardoned for putting in as set
off the assertion and opinion of gentle
man whose views are entitled to at least as
much respect as those of the Sentinel. I
refer to COMMODORE MATHEW T. MAURY,
whose reputation is cO-extensive with the
knowledge of science throughout the
world. The value of the testimony of such
witness must be my apology for asking
you TO publish his letter in full, though it
has once before appeared in your columns:
LETTER FROM COMMODORE MAURY
LEXINGTON, VA, July 10, 1862
sc. ". GIFT, ESQ.,:
DEAR SIR,-Your letter of the 5th reached me
this morning too late, owing to our mail connec-
meeting of tho 18th.
Chinese labor is much more intelligent, skill
full and effective than negro labor. and consider
the Introduction Of it, under proper regulations,
would be highly beneficial to the South.
"After Jamaica, Trinidad is the largest of the
British West India Islands, and that it did not
pine and dwindle as jamaica has done, is, I am
assured by residents there, chiefly owing to the
Introduction of coolie labor.
"Kindly and properly treated, the Chinese are
the most faithful creatures in the world. have
, boon IN the country, and have paid some atten-
ton to their traits of character. AS domestics
and laborers, gardeners, and cultvators of the
7 soil generally, they are not surpassed by any
other people, From the FIRST that arrive I should
like to have q cook and two house servants
Please let me know how to proceed in order to
procure good ones, and oblige
tsYours trulv