The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-05-18
IMMIGRATION.

IMMIGRATION.
The report states, after pointing out
the necessity for immigration to the
Southern States, us follows: "Immigra.
ton, as now instituted, cannot be a
success for the present generation. The
great difficulty is, that the organization
as now constituted, compels every man
who wishes to procure Immigrant labor
to understand, as well as undergo, either
all or, at least, part Of its risks of
losses or gains. This plan is confning
it ut once to the leading and Intelligent
minds of the people ofthe South. The
emigrant should be placed at every mans
dour, so that when he is in need of
labor-the demand for which is con.
stantly increasing-he can employ him,
giving to parties such bonus as would
be renumerative for the great convent.
cnce. My proposition is, that the men Of
South Carolina, who comprehend fully
the necessity of moving in this matter
form joint stock company for the State
at largc,of, say $40, $40, $50, or even
S100 per share. Organize a central or
distributing bureau at some central
point, perhaps Columbia would do, aud
sub-bureaus at each village in the State
Whenever an immigrant arrives his
name, age birth place and trade or oc.
cupation, as we'll as letters Of reference
or recommendation, should be duly re.
corded for future reference. the farmer
or planter applying for laborcr has
only to call for the kind Of laborcr, aud
the clerks at each bureau, by referring
to the books, can send him the sort OF
person he desires; he, tho farmer, pay
ing all expenses incurred by the bureau
as well as bonus for expenses and
profits to stockholders.
1t would be perhaps cxpedicnt to cs.
tablish at Charleston bureau for re-
cciving and forwarding immigrants
There might be an experimental farm
conducted in the vicinity Of each bureau
where these immigrant laborcrs could be
proftably employed until called for, aud
should any remain Oh hand during the
summer months they could be directed
in farm work. so as to make and har-
vest full crop. Agents could be sent
to England, ireland, Scotland, France,
Holland, Sweden and Norway, Ger
many and Italy, and l am told by persons
who recently returned from trans allan
tic countries that great numbers could be
procured by only securing them home
and employment. have seen this sys.
TEN working admirably in Paris in get
ting employment for laborcrs and do
mcstics in every capacity. There it has
proven not only a success, but Of mu
tual benefit and profit to all parties. !
cannot for one moment sec how it
could be managed in these large Euro
pean cities in any otEer way. Some ten
or twelve years ago the same system was
commenced in New York City. My be
lief is that we will never succeed to any
extent until we adopt the Joint Stock
Company plan, and no longer trust to
the general intelligence oil tho people
upon this matter.
In order to produce rapid flow Of
immigration to the South wc should by
general concerted arrangement hold out
the most liberal inducements, and be
willing to commence with that class of
European peasantry who arc in hope,
less state oipovcrty and depcndecc. Once
the tide is properly set in this direction
those possessing means, those skilled as
artisans, will doubtless follow. The
selections for plantation or farm work
should invariably be from the agricnl-
tural districts, and none from large
cities, as the latter class arc totally uufit-
ted for our climate as we'll as our sys.
TEN of labor. / have no doubt that
when the selections arc made, as herein
indicated, the plantation system might
be perpctuatcd. But VIC can make them
as efficient by abandoning the plantation,
system, and dividing off each plantation
inton sections, placing the laborcrs ol
each section under man of experience
and energy.
The question has been asked can VIC
keep our immigrant laborers after in
porting them. My plan fol
the Introduction and distribution oi
laborcrs is intepdcd for the adoption d
the whole South. The report advocate
the introduction Of laborcrs rather than
the bringing of families into the State
Un:il the South is regencratcd polit
cally, VIC cannot expect any material
accession in numbers except from that
class Of pcasantry OF those countries who
arc in a helpless state of povcrty-the
sturdy, thrifty, diligcnt laborer who
has been taught truth, honesty and
Integrity, coming fresh from the agricu
tural dis ricts.
One great difficulty in the way o.
Appealing to the farmers Of South
Carolina, to donate lands is that the ole
system Of cntailing landed property was
much in vogue previous to the war, and
now many have judgments hanging Over
their Landed estates, SO that good titles
in many cases could no, be made. There
arc those however, who could donate
lands others who could not give lands
might give money. All this could be
given in trust to the Trust Stock colr
pany, the land to be divided into fifty
aero lots, and one lot given to each
family Of two or more persons who have
lhonn rnsidonts in tho State for three