Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-01-15
coNNuNIcArEp.l

\
NJ EDITOR:
From every quarter We hear the
complaint Of our planting cOmmu.
nifty of"Want Of labor" Planta-
tons are lying idle, fencing and
buildings decaying, infant forests
growing into manhood upon the
finest and most TemuneratiVe soil
upon the earth, and q general
stagnation exists. A paralysis is
creeping upon every limb Of sgri-
culture, and we are told that It is
all for want Of labor. But it is not
so. It is want Of effort, want of
energy, want Of determination to
secure labor; in place Of sitting
quietly down in imitation of q
leading character in Dickens
waiting for something to turn
up" Many in their apathy have
their minds busily engaged crea-
ting phantoms which impress them
with the idea that the government
and the Radical party will inter-
pose some barrier to this branch
Of progress and national prosperi-
ty while the fact is that the Radi-
cal party is fully committed to the
doctrine OF immigration. Their
platform invites immigration from
all climes and countries, all poll
tics, professions and religious
beliefs, while their very
constitution creates q commits
sioner Of immigration. ! am glad
that there is some vitality upon
this all important subject begin
ming to manifest itself. The citi.
Gems meeting ON Saturday night
was a step in the right direction.
1t is determined to hold weekly
meetings, let these meetings look
ing 70 the prosperity Of the city
and the county be well attended,
let every branch of business men
contribute their presence, energy
and talent in pushing forward this
new movement. Action is what
we. want. Practical, efficient ac-
ton will bring all the labor the
country wants. Why is there no
combination amongst our Plant
ers ? no concert Of action amongst
them ? no Planters meetings held
to consult and devise means for
securing labor? Do you want
the labor Of the black man ? thou.
sands of negroes are in Virginia,
Georgia and the CarOlinas, eager
to come into the cotton regions
of Mississippi and Louisiana, Do
you want the German or Swede ?
swarms Of them are upon the
shores OF the North and Baltic
Seas waiting for an invitation and
transportation. Why cannot we
have an organization form an
association 10 bring this labor
in our midst? Such as has
been done in other portions OF
our State by Mr.. Bergen, Mr..
Hester and Rev. Mr.. Blithieldt-
etEort-ac;ion again we say will
bring the labor in abundance, but
it will not come by sitting down
and bemoaning the want Of Ia
Dor" Are our planter friends
aware of the fact that upon the
very streets of Vicksburg, at
your very doors, there is daily to
be found an immense quantity Of
labor, seeking employment upon
plantations, and 10 our knowledge
in hundreds OF instances have
taken steamer and returned north
because they cou,i not ind labor!
True, it may be irksome and dis
agreeable to hunt this labor up on
the streets, but it IS a necessity
and should be done. They are
strangers and do not understand
how 70 press themselves forward
to lind employment. Hunt them
up, let them have comfortable
homes, be patient, kind, and cor
rect with them and they will be
bat o rivulet which will soon
swell the ebb into q full tide If
emigrants. ] am glad that at last
the attention Of our City Fathers
has beeen turned to this subject
and one Of its members brings
up the proposition OF having
an 'Emigrants Home" That is
exactly what is wanted, boarding
as, we all know, is so extravagant
that laborers would have their lit
tie mite exhausted in a few days.
We do hope that this matter will
be pressed in the Council. Prompt
and practical action upon the sub
ject will make them public bene-
factors. W.