Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-16
IMMIGRATION,


tAOnS IOr the LegiStafure.
To the Editors OF the Union and American:
There is no subject likely to come before
the present Legislature of more Importance
than that of immigration, and l desire a
small space in your paper for the purpose
OF "agitating" the subject That all feel
the necessity Of encouraging it, but how it is
to be done in our straitened financial con-
dition, is matter worthy of profound con-
sideration.
THE KIND OF LABOR
Is debatable question; one party adyocat-
ing that which approaches most nearly to
the "old SYSTEM" which is unquestionably
the ''Heathen Chinee;" another opposing
this, and favoring the introduction of an
intelligent class, of which the European is
the representative. The introduction OF
the former by means of State aid would re-
suit disadvantageously to the cause, by rea-
son of the opposition that it would engen-
der, which, coupled with the tax necessary
to success would be condemned by a major
ity of the masses, and the scheme, ere it
was fully inaugurated would be abandoned.
Now as to
EUROPEAN EMIGRANTs.
Our people must remember this: No
people IN the "OId Cotultryn are comma
here acith the expectation of becoming hire
liRgs By the month or gear, for period
longer than Is necessary for them TO realize
the means Of purchasing lands of their olcn.
It is the hireling and tenant system that
drives them from the sFaderland,n and
they seek our shores to procure lands OF
their own, where they may provide more
easily the necessities of life and bring up
their children in keeping with those liberal
and enlightened notions so favored in the
nineteenth eentuary.
HOW 1T MUST BE DONE.
The advantages of our soil, climate.
schools, etc, must be fully presented to
them. We must sell them our vacant or
spare lands. Heads of families must have
permanent homes; the large planter must
sell home to one of these and rely upon
the sons and daughters to assist him in his
hours of need. A colony in each county
were worth thousands to it. Hardy and in
telligent workers would go out into every
neighborhOOd. We want 8
BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION
established, in which may be kept an ac-
curate list of the unoccupied lands in the
State, lands for sale, subject to the ENTITY,
IL
crops, etc. Official reports from this bureau
should be published annually in English,
German and Scandinavian, and distributed
freely over every part of Europe, and there
should accompany it a railroa4 map, show
ing how sections may be req he'd from New
York and leading ports in Europe, together
with rates of transportation. This will do
for start. Another year an active agent
might be located at some of the leading
emigrant ports.
To-day Europe knows about as much of
the Southern States, their soil, productions
ETC., as are known of Central Africa; and it
is folly to expect them to come here until
they are informed. The advantage of the
Northwest, in soil, climate, prices of land
etc, are far more familiar among the masses
of Germany, than they are among those of
the South. You may purchase a through
ticket from Berlin to any point in Kansas
or Minnesota, yet it cannot be done at nine
tenths of the places in the South.
The people will sustain the Legislature in
an appropriation for this purpose. They
are deeply exercised about the matter, and
only want to know that the plan adopted is
economical ard not gotten up to provide a
sinecure for some tritiing politician.
immigration by individual enterprise is
impracticable and unfair. 1t taxes the pa
triotism and enterprise of those resorting to
it too heavily. A has fifty hands but wants
an hundred. B is in the same situation. A
sends to Chicago or New York and gets an
hundred at an expense of 5000. advanced.
B gets AS fifty negroes and does not pay OF
risk cent. The close-fsted, selfish planter,
who is frequently the most able, will stand
by and see his less able neighbor add to the
material wealth Of the State by importing
labor, and reap the benefits of his enterprise
so far as to employ the hands that his neigh
Dor had without contributing one iota. |;
is legitimate subject for legislative action,
one that the interest of the StaJe demands
question of sound political economy and
WORTH the attention of the ablest of our
statesmen. B.
MCKENZIE, TENN, Oct 10, 1871.
CONSUI SEVERN in a reDOTt supDlied by