The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-17
THE 1ara1rGRAr1oN QUESTION.
Views of General olive Oak" Wake

We find in the Atlanta papers the following
report OF some recent remarks of General W.
s. Walker, Of South Carolina, before the Geor-
gia State Agricultural Convention, in favor OF
the bill for the encouragement Of immigra-
ton:
Mr.. President convention is composed
of the representative men of the state OF Geor-
gia, upoH 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
Il. any fact has been elected, it Is that in the
opinion OF nine men out OF ten on this floor,
the labor upon which tie very existence OF the
State depends is unreliable. No moro weighty
or momentous question could be submitted for
the consideration of men oil oil classes, than
the remedy for an evil so vital.
In my opinion, the most ethcaclous remedy
will be f. uund in immigratlop.
To be weak is to be dependent, with individ-
uais and with nations, Immigration will give
us strength both Of number. and wealth. With
strength will come poiticsl influence and re-
coguition and the respect OF Federal and State
Governments.
In the census of 1874, it appears that the
total number of immigrants to the United
States from the year 1919 to 1860, was 4,000,-
900. OF this the number absorbed by the
Northern and Western States was 86 per cent.
and by the Southern but IS per cent, or the
ratio of 65 TO l. In round numbers. while the
South received about 100000, the North had
an acquisition Of 8 100000. Each Immigrant
brought on an average per head SlOO IN gold.
This made the increase OF wealth from this
source about fifty millions for the South, and
three hundred and ifty 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
sections was about equal. In the year 1870, 1t
is estimated that the total population OF the
United States will be 42,000.000, Of which We
will have but 10 600 900 and the North so, 900 COO.
With such great and continually increasing
disproportion 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 rs
political belief?
II the trying circumstances in which we are
placed, we should snatch every ray OF conso-
lation, and apply every source Of philosophy
We can glean from our disasters. A genuine
ground of congratulation may be found in the
fact, that this disproporton OF acquisition or
foreign labor must hereafter cease: think it
may be safely predicted that, within two or
three wears, q large amount will flow to the
South, If we make the proper exertlon to Sc
cure it.
There is room for vast increase. The State
CT Massachusetts contains about 160 1nhabi-
t;.nts to the square mile. with comparatively
uoroductive soil, and under an lnclement sky.
The State OF Georgia is capable OF support
ing larger population per square mile. II
sho wei g as thlckly settled as Massachusetts,
she would have population OF over 5000 00O.
II she were as denseiy populated as Belgium,
she would contain 25 000, 600 inhabitants.
But we are met with au objection by a small,
though highly respectable class, who do not
want an adulera;ion OF our bloud with q for
eign or Northern element. THIS IS the qoc. @
trine of stsguat,on and. political death. II 1T
we're ossi6le to carry 1t out it would entail
eternal weakness and dependence. Wero 1t
practicable 10 build Chinese wall OF exclusion
along the frontier and the scaboard OF the
Southern States, in from twenty-one to twenty
five years the population of the North and
West would numb>r about 10000 600, while
the white population of the South, exclusive d OF
Kentucky, Missouri and Maryland, would be
about 10000 000.
The fears OF this highly respectable react
ionary class are really unfounded. Trans
plant Northern men TO the soil OF the South,
and will they not have as keen a sense OF their
interest in latitude s. 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
found IN the tact that two Of our representa-
tive men, whose names are honored IN every
Southern household, General John. A. Quit
man and Sargent S. Prentiss, were born and
bred to manhood in the North, before they
emlgrated South, the one from Name and the
other from New York.
It Is natural and right to look with feelings
Of filial affection upon the past ago OF the
South the age of high-spirited, refined
hospitable. religious and happy people. But
the peculiar clements OF civilization under
whose pressure it was produced and fostered,
has disappeared, never to. return. The ties
| which boiud the slave to his master are s.
puted. The rich products of the soil which
formerly enabled us to be lavish and generous
in our expenditures, now require catelui
busbaudry to secure support. Economy has
become synonym for houesty. Let us in
our heart oil hearts cherish the memory OF our
ancestry and vlndicate their fame; but let US
also initiate their manhood, and avail our
selves of every help which will enaole US 10
take our place among the foremost IN the race
OF emplre.
Trcur R,rEs or CorToN-THE CROP SHORTER