Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-29

The Proposed National CohVentlOn--lnter-
ests of the South and West.

The st. Louis Democrat says: The last
session of Congress gave considerable at
tention to the subject of immigration,
and various plans looking to the care of
those freshly landed on our shores were
discussed. Although nc definite action
was taken at that time, a movement Is
now on foot, we understand, to secure the
holding, at an early day, OF convention
to resume the discussion. It is stated
that the object in view is the transfer of
the control of immigration from State
authority to that of the National Govern
| ment: the adoption of sue regulations
as will secure TO the immigrant his full
rights and protection under tie laws OF
the United States; a reduction Of equall-
cation of the per capita tax, and the
placing of the several states n Terrific
ries upon an equal footing in all that per-
tsins TO the management of the important
question. 1t is suggested by one OF the
| papers of that city that Madison, Wis, be
the place for holding the convention,
which will be composed Of delegates ap-
pointed by the Governors of the several
States, and will meet probably some time
In October.
"The idea of the Convention, and of
holding it in a Western State, is a good
one. That the present system OF immi-
grafton is much abused no n will deny.
| Of iniquity of Castle Garden one ex-
cept those who ave passed through it
have n idea. The emigrants who have
toiled for years to save sufficient money
TO paw their passage to America, who have
separated from old associations, and inn
periIed their lives by crossing the ocean
in the black hole of an emigrant ship,
are quickly and rudely awakened to real
lie that the land of the free is not what,
in their dreams, they had expected TO find
it. Between the legal charges OF the ON
cials and the illegal exsctions Of the run
ners,' they are shamefully robbed, and
then turned out upon the country as des-
titute Migrants. How many good citi-
zens are annually spoiled for the State by
these outrages cannot be estimated. But
this one thing we do know, that thou
| sands OF sturdy men who land in New
iork with money in their pockets, with
which they had intended to buy farms in
the West and make homes for their wives,
to become, in many instances, the nuclei
of thriving settlements of their country
men, are robbed of their money, and thus
turned from their purpose.
1.-The land of the West and South is
still lying idle, waiting for just such
men. Let a convention be called. In
sist upon it that the emigrant depot be
placed Cd one of the Islands in New York
hsrbor, which belongto = UnitedS States
government. Then let the West, which
Is the most deeply interested, have a
voice with the East in determining what
shall be done with these future citizens
of the republic, and in providing for their
reception. The States west of the Mis-
sissippi Valley, when the census shall
have been completed, will show an in
crease over the population by the pre-
viOus census of from thtrty-fve to sew
enty-fve per cent. Of this influx nearly
fifty per cent. is of foreign emigrants.
How we'll they have worked, and what
good citizens they make, the rich farms
and rapidly growing and prosperous
towns of this and adjacent States are in
controvertible witnesses.