Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-09-17
For the Journal.


IN its s.ut of It'll lust. comments upon
my letter III reference to Chinese lmmigra-
ton, and also sa:: the movement is " in
, tended TO superccde the high priced labor
of the Christian with tho cheaper labor of
the Pagan 1t is a direct attack upon
every working man III the country. 1t is
an effort npon the part of capitalists to
control the price of labor by overpowering
the working men If this scheme prevails,
what will be its results hat tho country
will be flooded with Chinese who will be
contented to work at prices which on
American could not work aud support
himself and family. That as n necessary
, consequence the working men, whose only
, fault is that they are Americans and chris
tians, will be compelled to leave their
trades or let themselves and families starve.
Capital always seeks to force down the
, price of labor Capital will always employ
the cheapest labor without regarding other
circumstances. Hence, every working man
knows that if the low priced Chinese labor
, is brought into competition with the high
er priced civilized labor, the Chinese la
Dor will be used by the capitalists and the
, American laborers, white and black. can
starve We are on the side Of the working
man every time. and shall oppose those
who wish to rob labor of its honest reward,
and those who are willing to Cypress the
workingman for the sake of tho almighty
dollar"
n nf (2l have
been expected from the opponents of Chi
nose immigration, and which i'll substance
was foreshawed in my last letter. The OPP
position and the argument will doubtless
be continued with great violence and bit
terness, and timid men and others will re-
greet that the issue had been made, because
in their fear or wise conceit about "pol-
ICY they think it inexpedient. premature,
unnecessary, &c From this view of the
case, however, respectfully beg leave to
dissent, for the reason that this is no ques-
ton of mere oxpediency or policy, but is
one of principle and OF such vital impor
lance, that upon it's solution hangs the
fate of North Carolina and OF the South
and now is the proper time to discuss it,
because being about to form new parties,
we will be more untrammeled than in the
uncertain future wo can hope to be. ami
because, too, it is q matter that demands
Immediate action.
1t seems to he admitted, then, that Chi
nese labor will be cheap in price, album
lant in quantity and good in quality that
3 the labor now in the South Is deficient i'll
both quality and quantity that We have
no hope of hiverting the tide of European
immigration from the Northwest to the
Southern States 1t will also be admitted
) that under all circumstances State must
7 have more labor than is sufficient to till it's
soil and that is engaged therein; that there
must be other laborers to engage in the
mechanic and manufacturing arts, to con-
struct public works and works of internal
Improvement, so-called, to engage in
mining, merchandise, trading, &c. &c.--
All OF which things must be done at the
same time that the land is cultivated to it's
utmost capacity the resources of the
State will not be fully developed and uttl
lied. 1t must be admitted also that in the,
division Of labor the number of those
necessarily ':nguHcd in physical labor Is
by far greater than Tho number Of those
engaged IN mental labor, AMI hence that
we now need muscle rathr than brain OF
capital, and that, dividn4 mp orr lands
|
nominal prices to the industrious Ger
man who will work that only which he
buys and no more, will not meet the re-
uuiremeni3 of our condition, although this
| plan il great tnvrrltC and 10y many,
especially those who have 40 lA!td to give
away, is regarded a II sovereign .,anaGcA
for all the ills We are heir to- There Is
land enough Tor many more purchasers
than we have any reason to hope viii buy.
Let them come from far and near, rs
many az will by all means there Is room
enough Tor them and for us too, and to
, help us both, old owners ana now par
chasers, whether native or foreign, let US
, encourage the Immigration of the Chinese
to supply ua with that labor we stand 50
D much in need of These arc s0lf-oyiient
, propositions. as it were. yet wo find PEG
{ pie protesting to desire tho development
! of the rcaonrrca OF the Sonth who yet OPP
pose the immigration of tho Chinese !
Bnt suppose however, for the sake Of
! the argument thnt Is desirable to prevent
, this proposed addition to the labor OF the
country, how can it be done We can
, prevent il only by an entire change i'll the
, fundamental law of the land. If thou
, sand Cinnamon publish in all of the papers
+ to morrow morning thor intention to take
: up their residence in tho city there is no
e power under the law to stop them. In de-
iinnce OF the wishes OF the citizens, the
Mayor. the Grand Jury, the City Judge,
f the Governor, President and Congress,
those Chinese can como to Wilmington,
declare their intention to become citizens,
/ in due course of time become fully natu-
rallied and possess and enjoy all the rights
I and privileges enjoyed and possessed by
other foreign born American citizens
3 Congress has power only "to establish an
? uniform rule of naturalization" Conse-
quently, so long as the Germans and Irish
3 arc allowed to come, the Chinese can come
also and upon the same terms All come
as freemen and all come as equals. For
this equality of the Chinese with negroes
g before the law and for their right under
the law to enjoy the privileges of American
, citizens, we have to thank those CT our
rulers and citizens who made the Four
, teenth Article Howard AmendmenD q
mari of the limited States Constitution.