The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-04-30

pare and report to the next meeting such q
scheme on this subject as may be deemed
proper and effective.
T. S. Boinest, Esq, Chairman of the
Committee on Labor and Immigration, sub
mitted the following:
The Committee, to whom was assigned
the duty of reporting upon the subject of
labor and immigration, beg leave to submit
the following paper, the result of their
deliberations:
There can be no concealment of the fact
that we are living under new and altered
condition of affairs. and though there be
an honest difference of opinion among our
citizens as to whether this now system be
to the advantage, or prejudicial to the in
terests of the country and the development
of the resources of the State, interest and
duty alike demand that we face existing
facts in conformity with their stern de-
mands
No question is perhaps more important to
all the material interests of tho State than
that of labor, for without it, of what avail
will be all the improvements in mechanics,
arts and agriculture. Under that ancient
regime, when the old Palmetto State enjoyed
hood-tide of prosperity, there was an or
ganlzatioo and an efficiency which crowned
our agricultural efforts with commensurate
success; but our altered circumstances de-
mand an altered basis of operations. That
| labor is now in q large measure disor-
ganized aud unreliable, and it may be, in
part, attributed to the mistakes of the apri-
culturists themselves, in making the laborer
II partner in the results of his labors, ms
we'll as his suddenly altered condition and
the miserable influence of willy politicians;
what remains to us must be made available
to the greatest possible extent, and what is
then wanting to supply the demand must
| be brought to us from the over-crowded
domains of Europe, whose hands are always
now extended to generous and hospitable
America, asking among lis q home and
country.
Your committee deem it important to the
availability and organization of the present
class OF laborers upon whom we are, in the
| main, now dependent, that there should be.
as far as possible, uniformity of usage in
the matter of compensation to the laborer,
and an equitable and just fulflment of all
contracts.
AS your committee have adverted to the
fact that the present supply of labor is in
| adequate to the demand, the query arises,
how this difficulty is to be met? and the an
swer Is, by the Introduction of immigrants
from abroad. The practical success Of this
remedy is fully established by reference to
what has been already accomplished by the
Immigration Society of Newberry, which,
with capital of few hundred dollars, a
board of unsalaried officers, (save their
agent only a twelve-months existence, and
without State appropriation to back her,
has already introduced near 800 immigrants
into her own and surrounding Counties, and
is now arranging for q mnch more extensive
introduction of laborers during the ensuing
season. The laborers she has introduced
are, with very few exceptions, giving uni
versal satisfaction to their employers, and
the greater the increase in the number of
employees introduced, the more will they
be contented and pleased: and when once
you have gathered together on Carolina's
soil the first few thousand of these skilled
and able-bodied laborers, you will have
formed nucleous which you will have no
difficulty In gathering, to an indefinite ex-
tent, thrifty, Industrious and honest class
of laborers.
To accomplish this desirable end will re-
quire concentration of effort-a union of
all the friends of this measure around one
common centre The Newberry Society is
organized and working successfully; it has
| facilities which perhaps no other organiza-
tion can, for a long time, if ever, secure, and
| it is highly desirable that some arrangement
be made by which the operations Of that
society could be made available to all those
portions of the State adapted to the intro
dLction of foreign labor-a desderatum
which the wisdom and influence of this CON
vention might, with no great difficulty, Sc
cure
The Convention took Il recess from half
past | until p Nj.
The following resolutions were adopted
! BY Col. j. p. Thomas: Whereas, it is
deemed important to put this society into
effective operation at an early period, and
at once to place before its members an OBJ
ject practical and substantial; be it, there
| fore,
ResoIved, That the Executive Committee
be authorized and directed to proceed to
raise the necessary funds, by subscription