The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-17
THE sIIIArIGRATION QUESTION.
Views of Genera. ..Live oak" walker

We find in the Atlanta papers the following
report OF some recent remarks OF General W.
8. Walker, Of South Carolina, before tho Geor-
gia State Agricultural Convention in favor of
the bill for the encouragement Of immigra-
ton:
Mr.. PreSident-This convention is composed
Of the representative men of the State of Geor-
gla, upon the subject Of agriculture 1t is fair
to- assume that they represent the experience
OF the farmers of the State upon the labor
question which is now under discussion, and
ii any fact has been elected, it is that in the
opinion OF nine men out OF ten on this floor,
the labov upon which the very existence of the
State depends is unreliable. No more weightv
or momentous question could be submitted for
the consideration Of men Of all classes, than
the remedy for an evil so vital.
In my opinion, the most efficaciOus remedy
will be found in immigration.
40 be- weak .ls to be dependent, with individ-
uals and with nations, Immigration will give
us strength both Of numbers and wealth. With
strength will come political influence and re-
cogultlon and the respect of Federal and State
Governments.
In the census of 1864, it appears that the
total number OF immigrants to the United
States, from the year 1919 to 1860. was 4. 600
600. OF this the number absorbed by the
Northern and Western States was sc per cent
and by the Southern but IS per cent, or the
ratio OF 81 to |. In round numbers. while the
South received about 100000, the North had
an acquisition Of 35O0,000. Each immigrant
brought on an average per head 300 in gold
This made the increase Of wealth. from this
source 2, about fifty millions for the South, and
three hundred and fifty millions to the North.
At the commencement OF The Revolution,
the most powerful State Of the Confederacy
was Virginia, and the population of the two
sectlons was about equal. Irl the year 1870, it
United States will be 42,0OO,OOO. of which we
will have but IL 00O 900 and the North 80, ,OOO, Coo
with such great and continually increasing
dlsproportlon OF population, must it not have
been merely question of time as to how soon
the more powerful section would force upon
the weaker political dogmas which lad as
sumed the vehemence of religious as we'll as
political belief?
Ia the trying circumstances in which we are
placed, we should snatch every ray OF conso-
latlon, and apply every source Of philosophy
we can can CLEAN &c from our disasters. A genuine
fact. that this disproportion of acquisition Of
foreign labor must hereafter cease. think it
may be safely predicted that, within two or
three years, a large amount will flow to the
cure it.
There is room for vast increase. The State
OF Massachusetts contains about 100 lnhabi-
tants to the square mile, with comparatively
uproductive soil, and under an inclement sky
The State OF Georgia is capable OF support
ing larger population per square mile. II
she were as thlcky settled as Massac chusetts.
she would have population Of over 5000 600.
she would contain 25, 00O,0 600 inhabitants.
But we are met with al objection by mall,
though highly respectable class, who do not
want an adulteration of our blood with for
trine OF stag nation and political death. If
were rossible to carry it out it would entail
eternal weakness. and dependence. We're it
practicable TO build Chinese wall Of exclusion
Fro fInr oyNl Tho
Southern States, in from twenty-one to twenty
five years the population of tho North and
West would number about 10000, 900, while
the white popula ton of the South, exclusive of
Kentucky, Missouri and Maryland, would be
about 10000 600.
The fears Of this highly respectable react.
ionary class are really unfounded. Trans
plant Northern men to the soil or the South,
and will they not have as keen sense Of their
interest in latitude 35 as in latitude 40 ? Does
not our interest become identical in all mat
ters OF agitation and material progress?
A striking illustration of the influence of
Southern associations upon Northern men ls
found in the fact that two of our representa-
tive men, whose names are honored in every
Southern household, General John A. Quit
man mar and Sargent s. Prentiss, were born and
bred to manhood in the North, before they
emIgrated South, the one from Maine and the
other from New York.
1t is natural and light to look with feelings
OF iilial affection upon the past age Of the
so.ou ono aSo VI d. mBA-spiIiteu, renneu
hospitable, religious and happy people. But
the peculiar elements OF civilization under
whose pressure it was produced and scsteraa,
has disappeared, never to return. The ties
which bound the slave to his master are dis
puted. The rich products Of the soil which
formerly enabled us to be lavish and generous
in our expenditures, now require careful
husbandry to secure support. Economy has
become o synonoym for honesty. Let us in
our heart OF hearts cherish the memory OF our
ancestry and ylndicate their fame; but let us
also initiate their manhood, and avail our
selves Of every help which will enable us to
take our place among the foremost in the race
Of empire.
LIGHT BALES OF CoTroN--THE CROP SHORTER