The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-06

population of the State would to-day be nearly
double. Various causes have existed to draw
away from US both our home and foreign popu
lation, but asregards the foreigner, the chief OBJ
stacle with which we have had to contend Is tn
prejudice against Us abroad. GERMAN papers are
| cons tantly filed with warnings. Their readers
are told that although slavery has been abolished
immigrants are only wanted here to take the
place OF the slaves and that they would be sub
iected to the same sort OF treatment; consequent
ly that in going to America they should seek the
great prairies of the West, where they would be
be citizens of free republic. We all know how
untruthful are these representations, yet we can
not shut our eyes to the difficulty Of successfully
| op posing them. Time alone can cure the evil.
| AS regards emigration from South Carolina
| our condition has materially changed since the
war. We may not see the progress that has been
made, but its steps are nevertheless marked and
the same considerations which will hereafter in
duce the native population to remain, will doubt
less eventually operate to draw European immi
grafton to our State.
Now what are the inducements to the foreigner
They are sketched In the plan proposed by the
committee. We offer lands. We propose to d.
| vide them into farms of ten, twenty and forty
acres, according to the character and wants Of
the settler If single man comes, he will be CON
tented with q small farm. II family or com.
| pany OF four or I've come, they will be located
upon body of land suflcient for all their pur-
poses, and If 1t were possible to introduce mu'
tual or CO. operative system among them, 1t would
be one Of the best things that could be done.
To influence these people, we must send agents
! abroad with proper credentials endorsed by high
Federal authority, so that their statements may
be credited by the press and the people They
must be men OF culture, who understand our
political system familiar with foreign languages,
and capable Of commanding the respect OF those
among whom they soJourn.
At home there should be central agency, re-
presenting all local societies In the State. That
agency should consist OF our ablest and most in
nuentlal foreign. born citizens, and prepared with
means and information, to anord every facility to
the immigrant that he desires. Arrangements
should be made with transportation agents to
make him comfortable on his passage; he should
be received and provided with q comfortable
temporary home on his arrival, AMI at
the proper time be transferred to that
portion Of the State to which he desires to
20, or where his services may have been prevl.
ously engaged. In short, no obstacles ought to
be inter posed. II his judgment dictates the pro-
prlety OF going to Californtnia or the West, the
same regard for his person and welfare should
mark his treatment as II he had been pledged to
remain upon our own soil. Deal with him hon.
esty secure his friendship and attract all the In
tI fnrp do dao ifpf0
Of influence, and In time under snch generous
system Of conduct, we shall succeed In dverting
to our own shores the great tide that now flows
into the ports of the North.
We need not trouble ourselves about the de-
tails now, but let US subscribe eur lands, obtain
from them the funds necessary to organize So
cletles, and put ourselves In position to make
practical arrangements for system OF immigra-
tlon on which both the emigrant and the people
can depend.
Mr.. John Hanckel said that the Idea Of direct
trade with Europe was by no means novel one,
although now for the first time 1t was coupled
with scheme for immigration. Before the war
money had been subscribed and steamer built
for the purpose, and 1t was curious fact that she
was the first ship loaded with cotton which
passed through the Suez Canal; but owing to the
events which followed secession. the enterprise
was temporarily abandoned, and only revived at
the present time.
He desired to illustrate the ease with which al
rect trade could be established. The resolutions
called for the building OF four steamers. The cost
OF each OF these would not exceed S15o,0oo or
s2oOOsO. One.halr OF the stock would be taken
In Europe, leaving then from $4,000 to 100000
to be raised in this country. or this amount
the South Carolina Railroad Company haa
agreed to invest s25.o0o on each steamer.
Other railroads might be induced to take
another SIXTH which would leave only from
s25, 900 to SIS, 1000 to be subscribed by indi
vIduals. Nor would this money be raised at once,
but in instalments, payable say In one or two
years, so that almost every man In the convention
could, II he felt so disposed, raise the requisite
amount for this great undertaking.
The benefit would lnure not to Charleston alone,
but to the entire State and her sister States; to
the planter rather than to the merchant 1t there.
fore behooved every man interested either In the
subject OF immigration or Of direct trade, to use
his utmost endeavors to eject the completion OF
this work, and thus secure the means whereby
both labor and capital would accrue for the com.
mon good.
In conclusion he (Mr. HanckeD moved that the
esolutlons be read and adopted.
The resolutions are as follows:
Resolued, That the convention recommend that
q company he formed for the establishment oil
permanent line OF freight aud immigrant steam
ers to port in Europe. In shares OF S25 each.
ReSolped, That cOmmitte be appointed 0y the
chair to obtain subscriptions from the various
railroad companies and corporations interested
tabllshment OF company on permanent basls,
to form line TO consist OF four steamers.
Resolyed, That the chairman OF each delegation
be charged with the duty OF obtaining subserlp-
tlons In their section, with power to appoint sub
committees who will report to the chairman OF the
committee appointed by the convention the names
and amounts subscribed.
Mr.. Vim. III. Lawton sustained the resolutions
in q few pertinent remarks. demonstrating the
advantages which other States, especially Ten
nessee, had secured by the adoption OF similar
policy, and urged Immediate action by the con-
vention.
THE prGTarLs.
Mr.. D. Wyatt Aiken said |, also am strongly
ia favor OF these resolutions, but want to go q
step further. II we merely desired to multiply
our numbers, we might as well open once more
the doors Of Africa or any other nation but II we
wish to introduce people who are the best labor.
ers In the world-a people who will enable US to
make more Gotten, that with 1t we may make
money to make more cotton still, 1 am satisfied
that there is no class Of emgrants superior to the