The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-05-05
Col UNI; B ( Ifs s g.
Thursdas aasrnins { May. 8. 1870. q
Thoi ImmIiK, ration ConveSntion.T

the following aocount Of the first days
proceedings of this body, which assem-.
bled in that city on the 3D.:
The convention wes called to order mt
qnarter-past IL o'clock, by w. G. Var
dill. Esq. on whose motion VIM. NJ.
Lawton, ESQ.,, President of the South
Carolina Institute, was chosen Chairman
of the meeting, aud Messrs. D. Wyatt
Aiken and E.gW. Marshall were request
ed to act as temporary Secretaries
Thereupon the Chair addressed the con-
vention as follows:
DE4EaATHs: You are here in response
to an invitation extended to you by re-
solution adopted by the South Carolina
Institute. The occasion is one of deep
interest, and your presence is On evi-
dence that you have responded in pro-
per spirit to that call. The chief object
to which your attention:will doubtless be
directed is that of immigration. From
letters received by me as the organ of
tue. South Carolina Institnte-letters
writ en- by gsntlemena,f eminence within
as we'll AZ beyond the borders Of our
State +it is apparent TINT common
sentiment upon this subject exists, aud
that it has at last become necessity FIR
one Of the old thirteen States to look to
an Immigrant population as, the means
of developing the resources which we
to see.that Georgia and North Carolina
i've rendered us their sy mpathy, and we
greet the delegations from those Suites
with true Carolina welcome. What
ever we can contribute to your pleasure
in this battered and tattered city, during
your stay among us, is at your command.
1t Is unnecessary for me- to refer to the
painful situation of both our city and
State. II is not the occasion to enlarge
upon this topic; but it is due to the peo-
pie, fellow-citizens, it is due to pos
terity, that we should fill up our waste
places, occupy our idle lands, aud stimu-
late the growth of all enterprises that
Can take root among us.
South Carolina is behind almost every
other Southern State, aud yet We have
probably larger facilities for success aud
better inducements to offer to the emil
grant, than any other State. Already IL
line of steamers has been established
between Charleston and Liverpool, for
the purpose of exporting your cotton:
naval stores. phosphates aud other pro-
ducts. May we not hope that they are
bat the auam couriers of other slips that
will ply between this port and the old
who seek homes in the new world? Com
modore Maury, that eminent son Of
Virginia, whose attainments are known
throughout the civilized world. in let
ter addressed to the President of the
South Carolina Institute, expresses the
conviction that the time has arrived
when q persistent effort should be made
in this direction, aud it behooves while
here to give the subject ample considera-
ton. Let no selfish motives prompt our
deliberations upon this grave matter, for
we must remember that the emigrants
brought to Charleston will be spread
throughout the length and breadth Of
the State. and 6nd their homes rs we'll in
North Carolina and Georgia Indeed, I
believe the day is not distant, when u
convention of far greater magnitude than
this will be held, in which the entire
South will be represented, and this sub
ject will assume dimensions that will
osuse it to command the support and
influence of every intelligent citizen.
hold IN my hand paper Which was
originally compiled for foreign govern
occasion, and which regard Of great
importance. It is statement with re-.
ference to the negro population of South
Carolina, taken from the United States
census:
In 1890, it numbered 1O7, ,OOO;in 1900,
146. 900; in 1910, 1876. 900; in 1920. 25O.-
600; in 1880. 315. 900; in 1910. 81, Gee:
in 1850, 384, 900; in 1860. 4O2, 900.
According to the annual average from
1910 to 1860, the population of freed
men in 1865 may bs presumed to have
been 42l. 1000. But according to the
State census of 1869. it had diminished
to 386, 1000, leaving q deficiency of
$4,000. or on average of 8,776 pei annum
in the State of South Carolina alone.
If might be allowed to speculate on
this question. I would say that, in my
opinion, the decrease has been not less
than $4,000. But taking the figures
themselves, even at that rate, in less than
torty-four years. theentre colored popn-
lation of South Carolina will have dis
appeared.
This is one of tho reasons why you
have been invited to meet in consnlta-
ton, and, if practicable. to devise mea-
sures that will induce immigration, and
thus offset the loss of our native culored
population.
intended to bring with me to-day