The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-12-22
The Immigrant Convention.

4ho Immigrant OOnVohtiOn.
This body assembled ia Baltimore on
the 18th inst, aud closed its labors after
providing for the formation OF associa.
tons in each county auxiliary to the
International Immigrant Union of Bal
timcre, and appointing committee to
issue an address to the people, aud to
memorabilia the next Legislature for a
grant of 100000 to encourage immi-
grafton to Maryland.
We bad hoped that the deliberations
Of that body would have resulted in
something Of more practical character.
Labor is the great need Of our State,
and that convention assembled to con.
slider the ways and means of supplying
it, But il seems to US that the most
practicable method was left out Of view,
which method is to combine together
aud send agents abroad to procure such
labor as is needed. This is not only
the most practicable way, but it is also
the most speedy way. Instead, how.
ever, of help ny themselves, the mem
bers of the convention have resolved to
call upon Hercules (the State) to assist
them. We are confident that the State
will not accord the assistance asked
Besides, they must wait through another
entire year before they can make the
application and must continue to suffer,
in the meantime, all the Inconvenience
to which they are now subjected, only to
meet with disappointment in the end.
A better way would be, to rely upon
their own efforts, raise a joint fund,
aud send out one or more agents TO
secure the labor they need, IN this
way they could have partial supply at
least at hand, by the time of planting
their next Springs crops. Let them
use their own means, instead Of apply
ing to the State for they must learn
to help themselves, if they would ex.
perience relief Marylanders are ex.
perts at holding conventions, making
speeches, and passing resolutions, but
to take hold with their own hands and
help themselves, is not their forte,
You must help yourselves, gentlemen,
if you would be helped at all.
In the course of the discussion which
sprang up on the several propositions
under eonsiderg,iep, it was declared that
Maryland has but one laborer to every
700 acres Of her area. Another speaker
said that one Of the greatest obstacles
to immigration to Maryland, was law
on our statute books that prevented a
foreigner from holding real estate till
he was naturalized The immigrants
who bring little money with them, are
particularly anxious to invest it in lands
as soon as they arrive, and they 90
where there is no law prohibiting them
from such investments Land is also
cheaper in the west, aud Maryland land
cannot successfully compete with it, as
immigrants do not sufficiently weigh or
greater convenience aud superior facili-
ties for getting TO market. We cannot
expect toretain land seeking immigrants
in Maryland until the cheaper western
lands are bought up Besides, many OF
our land owners do not want to sell.
What they want is, more laborers, to
cultivate their land more thoroughly
and make il produce to its fullest capac-
ity. These labOrers can only be secured
by sending for them, paying their pas
sage over, aud contracting with them to
remuuerato the farmer by their labor.
In this way speedy relief can be had
But to look to the State for succour is
futile.