Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-08-27
From the Weldon News.
R4n0st Of MIR, w, T. Atkinson,
# - - 70
The European Agent of the N. c. Immtgra-
i tom Association. - 81


The reading public of Eastern North
Carolina is aware of the fact that Mr.. w.
T. Atkinson. the gentleman who has been
acting as European Agent for the N. G..
Immigration, Association, returned to this
country some two months since, after hav-
ing spent some six months in Switzerland
and Germany engaged in laying before the
people of those countries the advantages
which North Carolina offers as home,
both to the settler and Ithe laborer, and in
endeavoring to induce the great tide Of
emigration that is flowing from there to
come this way. This gentleman, on Mon
day night last. laid before the Executive
Committee report of operations while
abroad, which report is most satisfactory.
1t is true that, owing to serious difficulties
which Mr.. A. had to encounter, he was I'M
able to import the number of immigrants
desired, but he asserts that good feeling
is now pervading both the Swiss and Ger
man people toward North Carolina, and
that now, with proper management, both
good laborers and settlers can be brought
| into orr midst in abundance.
From the subioined extract from Mr..
Atkinsons report it will be seen that a
powerful effort was made to kill off the
undertaking which he had i'll charge, and
in this counteracting movement the Ral-
eigh Standard figured no unimportant
part. Says the report:
eve arrived in Switzerland on the 3lst
of December last. A few days thereafter
we began our operations, meeting with
success. About the middle of February,
however, there appeared in the different
newspapers in Switzerland several mali
cious articles giving false statements con-
corning the location, soil, climate, etc, of
North Carolina. Also an article which ap-
peared originally in the Raleigh Standard,
and translated into the German language,
stating that the Swiss emigrants already
settled in North Carolina were treated
worse than slaves, and advising all to keep
away from that State. These reports had
very bad effect upon our operations, as
out of one hundred and twenty emigrants
who were in readiness to go, only sixty-one
could be induced to accompany MIR. Troub
to North Carolina, and this number was
reduced to only ffty-four before they en-
barked on the vessel.
During the whole month of March re-
ports and rumors of all kinds were con-
stantly circulated, keeping the country agi-
tated, and consequently very little was, IL
fact almost nothing could be, done until
those i'll rumors could be corrected, which,
by the aid of the Hon. @. A. Page, United
States Consul at Zurich, (tc whom | am
indebted for aly courtesles,) and young
Swiss girl, Anna Bowngartner, who accom-
panied US from GoldsEOrO', We finally sue
ceeded in DOING
Mr.. Atkinson reviews the question Of
immigration in an able and earnest man
ncr. Says he:
"A!low me here to say few words in
reference TO immigration. 1t was d para:
LIKING blow suddenly inflicted upon the
ko%a a. i
our o!den time labor system. 1t LETT many
OF our people penniless, aud thousands
with scarcely tho means to snpport tic II
families and pay the taxes Oh th*ir j"n"s.
For more than four years our farmers have
struggled with all the diilicuitIc, and I'M
barrassments consequent upon So Tiole ut IL
revolution, and SO dlscouragins is the PROG
poet h;iore them at present, TIA: there are
but few who do not wish 10 sell or lCnt
their estates Some have been auXlously
expecting an influx ui population from
other States, which Northern politicians
have promised us, t" lake the place OF
labor tley had stiOyc't. But they will
wal! and watch in vain. Tho North and
West have abundant and profitable Elm,
ployment for all them labor and capital.
''The productive, labor of u State is the
main pillar OF It's greatness and, L firmly
foundation for 1t. Let it be done and let
US get such materials that neither limo nor
future revolutions shalt again SO utterly
PROSTATE it. II may require years OF labor.
patient and :y.temaical toll, TO rebuild
what was 50 easily and rashly destroyed.
But let III not remain idle ! Let us not
wait for it to come to us, but let us cor
tinue to seek it in the populous countries
OF Europe.
[ think both Home aud
Foreign Agencies should be established
and will only state now in brief and gener
al terms the princi pal objects and its at
vantages derived therefrom. It is well
known fact, at least 1 have found it SO in
my travels, that agricultural labor is SO
abundant in many parts Of Europe as
scarcely to be able to earn u scanty sub
eistonce-that this surplus population is
always anxious to emlgrate-that much of
it is very desirable population on account
of its industry and frugallty, its intelh-
l3ence and early qualifications for citizen
ship. This tide Of foreign immigration
lever fails to enrich the country it over
flows il has, in fact. made the West and
Northwest great. wealthy and powerful.
Intelligent and industrious white labor is,
in my opinion, all that North Carolina
wants to enable her to regain her former
prosperity and influence.
With a general Agency at home, live
Agent abroad to direct this business with
a few intelligent foreigners, Agents at Well
selected points, to spread among the labor
ing classes of Europe correct information
as to the advantages of settlement in our
State, and especially if those European
agents were furnished, through the home
Office, with contracts printed in the Ger
man and English language, from such Of
our farmers as may desire immigrants, at
fixed end fair prices, or with contracts to
lease and to rent lands, SO that the immi
grant would be guaranteed certain employ
ment and homes upon their arrival in this
country, I think that a great many of the
class desired could be induced to come into
our midst without any charge, either to
individuals or to the Society. may here
add that this seems to be an suspicious
time for the Association to act in this mat
ter. as an unusual discomfort seems to
pervade the working and middle classes of
Europe and large numbers are now pre-
pairing to seek more congenial country"
We will add that the Executive Commit