Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-12
A PLEA FOR EMMIGR ALTON.

To the Editors of the Union and American:
NASHVILLE, March 10, 1S71.-Prompt-
ed by the interest manifested on the sub
ject of immigration by many prominent
citizens of the city, l venture to mention
something in favor of that important
movement. There are others less active
than the prime movers, yet they are as
fully DESTROYS of this altogether necessary
means of filing up the destitute places of
our State, lending their endorsement to
anything submitted to them, and encour.
aging every step towards consumma-
ton. The important points have been
ably discussed in the columns of cur
daily journals here, in plain unvarnished
facts, and if any fell 70 understand, it is
from the dullbess of tleir comp;eben-
sion; Else their declarations are prejudi-
cial Unexamined opinions should not
influence a man against his own Interests.
Sensible, unbiased thought and argument
must prevail against the odds and ends of
prejudice, and if these worthy supporters
of immigration do not become discour-
aged and will hammer away, they will
" ntuallY prove the fallacy of opposition
u so coed and natural q cause. Would it
be difficult to stem the tide of old
Ocean2 Is it not task to change human
natureY 'sMan is a social being, fond of
the company of his fellows, and is always
disposed to liUe 1Oib others" Men
render to and receive mutual benefits
from each other; and in this manner are
tribes and nations formed. How then
can the natural inclination to migrate be
changed Only by total destruction.
b The first point for consideration is,
there is too much idle land in the South
upon which tax is paid. Now, of what
benefit is this land 10 the Owner2 1t is
rather detrimental than profitable to keep
il thus. But this is not the all-impOrtsnt
view TO be taken. Whilst he holds this
lard in idleness, he prevents others from
crltivatiDg it. Too many Southern
farmers are turning their attention to q
commercial life and neglecting their lands.
The negro is not entirely Trustworthy in
the cultivation of the necessarie5 of life,
and should not be allowed to control the
farming interest. The intelligent white
must be at the helm, and through his
energy and talent must we gain a sus-
tenance. In the North are many farmers
who wish TO live IN the South, and who
are only waiting for proper Inducements.
The distribution of lands there is too
small to support such large population,
and from necessity are this people watch
ing for opportunities to move where
lands are cheap, and where climate is
lie changeable and pleasanter. The re-
marx in answer is, we will rent or sell
or lands. Right here is observed to be
tae objection. Noticing the fact that you
want to sell or rent your land, as sell
fishly- selfish desire only, in some, from
the price of il, advise to sell cheaper,
and act more interesiedly for common
improvement and less for yourself. 1t
is all right to be prOyident man in every
instance and to take care of number one;
but be honest to yourself and polite in
the manner of doing it. The South is
just now appearing from under the ashes
of desolation, and needs her best men to
assist her to rise to prominence-tO de-
VelOp her resources. In conjunction with
hardy Nefthern men our lard would at
tain a degree of cultivation it never pos
sessed, and our barren places teen with
factories, or E'blOOm and blossom as the
rose"
Your land owners are the solid men of
this country, able to control the finances
and commerce of the whole South. You
are producers and commercial men con-
sumers. They depend upon you. A
failure in your crop benefits neither of
you, and in addition harms the whole
people. Providence is not always the
cause of failure, so to speak. Man in his
eagerness to succeed, overloads himself,
or from ignorance carries the lazy mans
load. Do not, therefore, sttemptto cult
vate more land than your labor will do
well. ga little farm well TILED" will
yield more than large farm only half
cared for. Again, when you offer your
land for sale, do not instruct the agent to
sell all or none, for many worthy and
aUOrking men cannot afford to buy such
large tracts, preferring small body of
land to Improve. Make a division of
your land into, say, tracts of two hundred
acres each. Sell one piece, which i'm
proved will enhane the value of the
second, and this the third, and so on, thus