Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-17
NEW SERIES. NO. III.

|
by singing my name to this paper
pledge myself to pay the sum specified op-
pOsite my name, as soon as fifty Thousand
dollars has been subscribed, and when the
subscribers of said amount shall organize
and elect their proper officers, with the
understanding that all the means raised
by the association thus organized shall be
used and controlled by board Of directors
or by such officers as the association may
see fit to appoint solely for the purpose Of
fostering and encouraging the immigra-
ton of honest, industrious and intelligent
laborers from Europe direct to the State
Of Tennessee.
Of course nothing could be done until
the necessary amount of money had been
raised He would put down his own name
for 800, though he did not own anything
in the State, because he wanted to favor
the course.
A mechanic, whose name we did not
learn, asked Mr.. b. whether he could now
find employment for the great number Of
men unemployed in this State.
MIR. b. replied that he thought he could
if they were willing to work. He then
gave a synopsis, from his circular used in
Mobile, of the wages Of the laborerF- De
said he could say that there were thous-
ands Of men in Scandinavia, and for that
matter in Ireland, France, ETC., who would
be willing to work for the wages thatwould
be given in the South.
In reply to the question whether he pro
posed 10 have the Scaudinavisns work for
less than the negro, he said he did not.
Col. Colyar said that farmers in the
country would be willing to furnish en-
ployment to negroes or any one else If
they would work well and observe their
contracts.
The mechanic asked Mr.. b. whether he
was in favor of mechanics coming here,
when those now present could not ind en-
ployment. Mr. B. asked the gentleman
whether be was from Europe or not. Alter
some delay he stated he was from Wales.
Mr.. b, then told him that in Wales many
persons were out of employment that
would be glad to work for the wages given
in Tennessee.
Mr.. Cross here stated that he thought
both the gentleman from Wales and Mr.. b.
were laboring under the difficulty OF not
understanding each other. In the minds
of mechanics there were some apprehen-
sions that if mechanics and lsborers came
here from other countries they would lessen
the mice of labor here, AID tend to throw
those present here out Of employment.
Mr.. b, stated that he had come here by
invitation of the Board of Trade, and he
tbouobt there was need Of more reliable
labor in the South. As proof q this, be
referred to the fact that In Tennessee con-
yicts were employed in the coal mines
Mr.. Cross said he believed part OF the
programme vas that ten or fifteen minutes
speeches should be made, and called on
DIR. A. J. Baird TO make some remarks.
The doctor said he came here to listen,
and not to talk. j
Col. Colyar said he supposed no one IN
Tennessee had any hostility to the eolored
man. Il the negro wanted employment
and did not want to read newspapers bot
tom side up, 0aughter) an association could
be formed before tomorrow night to secure
employment for every niger who would
be willing to work on the farms IN the
country. 1t was not doing the negroes
anv Injustice to bring honest labor IN COM
petition with them. He hoped the gentle
man from Wales, who had said he was
mechanic, would not feel that any injustice
youId be done to mechanics. Until We
had some live men and some capital, no
work could be given to a mechanic or any
one else. The practice had been followed
so long in Tennessee OF raising cotton ana
selling it on commission that 1t was haro
for Tennesseeans to learn any other method
of making living by agriculture.
The gentleman from Wales made lew
remarks, and said he was glad that Col.
Colyar had contradicted Mr.. Blitchfeldt by
saving that enterprise and capital were
needed.
MIR. Cross then addressed the meeting,
suggesting that some one should be en-
ployed OF the plan proposed by Mr.. Bitch
felit He thought the mechanic from
Wales was llbOring under mere apprehen-
sion. The want Of labor was principally
among the farmers, and he thought Mr..
Bhtchfeldt's plan to secure efficient farm
laborers was a good one. But manuise-
turers would not go to Mr.. Blltchfeldt for
labor, because they could find mechanical
labor plenty enough on the streets
DIR Baird said he did not exactly agree
with Col. Colyar, but he was glad to see
that the diverging lines Of opinion IN the
audience were beginning to come together.
The capital wanted here VAS the capital
that went down to tho soil. We were
sending to Ohio and Indiana to buy hay,
but If attention were turned to cultivstiDg
articles at home. the State would be great
ly benefited. The kind of capital needed
here was good labor, no matter whether II
came from Europe or any where else:
Mr.. Gross said that some remarks ~ d
been made apparently rejecting on Nh.
Blitehfsldt. He Mr.. Cross had met Mr..
B. in Alabama, and he found that promi-
nent citizens in Selma, Ala, gentlemen
that he (Mr. Cross) knew well, had en-
dorsed Mr.. Blitchfeldt. As he thought
Mr.. Blitchfeldt an honorable man, he had
been invited to visit Nashville.
Mr. Gentry stated that he desired to
thank the Rev. Mr. Bitchfeldt on the part
of the Committee Of immigration for com
inc here That Committee designed to
make a report to the Board OF Trade OF
some plan that would bring both capital
and good labor to Tennessee, and he de-
sired the co operation Of members OF the
Legislature as well as mOneyed men.
judge Whitworth said he desired to say
n few words on this subject. From what
occurred tonight he felt that some persons
had GOT into their heads certain ideas shat
never ought to have got there. He did
not see how any one could oppose the pop
ulatiOn of any State with good labor. DE
would estimate the value Of every citizen
| in the State at about $500 head, as pro-
ducers of wealth, and if as many more
were brought into the State their value
| wouId be lust the same as the others.
Massachusetts had, though densely popu-
| lated, built herself up by manufactures
| Suppose Tennessee was rs thlnly peOpted
as it had been years ago, could his tnend,
| the mechanic from Wales, find employ
| ment on railroads Cheers. Then the
| mechanics wsuld have to go into the
| ountains to raise Irish potatoes for a Nv
ing. On the other hand, if people were
| brought here that would work, they would
| increase the wealth of the State. he him
self had never seen the time since be was
| ten years of age that he could not find en-
| ployment if he was willing to work,
| 1cheers). The capital considered BY al
poIitical economists as the best kind
capital was people that would work. HIS
idea was that if man, no matter If he hac
| trade. could not make living BY ONT
| thing he should turn to another. 10 the
mechanic he would say, do not object to
Immigration, because that would only
tend to give the mechanic employment
(oheers). The Judge then explained his
views at some length.
At the conclusion Of Judge WhitworthI
remarks the meeting adjourned, withou
taking action on any Of the points pre-
sented.
The GAINESVILLE Tobacco Leaf say
that the earnings of the Memphis, Clarks
vile and Louisville Railroad, from the Is