Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-08


pressed regret at the small attendance, for
he's was convinced there was no more i'm
portant question before the public than the
one they had assembled to discuss. lie
would not do more than give few facts
and figures. The annual increase of popu-
lation by excess Of births over deaths is,
according TO- carefully compiled statistics,
1.39 per cent. The actual yearly increase
in the United States, from 1910 to 1850,
was 1881 per cent. Taking those figures
as the basis, he calculated that if no immi-
grafton had flowed into the Union since the
revolution, the population to-day would not
exceed ten millions of people. The pcpula-
ton in 1870 was 3S,312,633. The cost of
an American laborer to the nation upto the
time he is selfsupporting, according to Mr..
Knapp's figllres--and there is no more re-
liable statistician than Mr.. Knapp-is
81, 125. Take then the number of immi-
grants that have come into the United
States, multiply the cost of producing a
laborer, 81 ,l25, considered the cash value OF
a laborer-for thing if it is worth any
thing is worth the cost Of its production
and the increase of wealth in this respect
alone i5ten billions of dollars, sum beyond
the comprehension of the human mind to con
ceive. In 1870 the immigrants to the United
States were 180,278. Multiply this number
by slips, and the actual addition to the
wealth of the United States by this immi-
grafton was S315,312,750. But there was
besides the amount Of cash actually
brought into the country which was esti-
mated at $50 per man. Those that come
here from the Northern States bring larg-
er amount. But taking it at $50 per head
the country has gained in cash capital
through this immigration $16,S16,650. This
added to the value of the immigrant him
self gives grand total of 1892, l29 ,430, add
ed to the material wealth of the nation in
the year 1870 by immigration. The manufac-
lures of the country in the decade between
1860 and 1870 increased greatly. Massa-
chusetts increased the value of her manu-
facturers in that decade by S5S4,011 ,581;
Pennsylvania during the same period, $452, :
203, 674; Ohio, $552, 371, 785; Missouri, (and
he called particular attention to this State)
S275, 972,38l. Tennessee, without immi-
grafton and manufactures, during the same
decade, having ignored those two great ele-
ments of wealth, had lost S56S, 74S, 430, re-
ducing her from the proud position which
ouC OCCupIcu III 1COO, IldllSlyJ GheAO VI biC
third State of the Union in material wealth,
to the rank of the twelfth. Why this
change? "O," some one would say, "are
you so ignorant as not to be aware that our
State has been desolated by war. Of
course he was aware of it, but so
had Missouri been, though not to such an
extent as Tennessee, probably because she
had less to lose, yet Missouri had il the
same period increased greatly in wealth, as
well as population. The cause of it was
apparent. In Missouri every man was an
immigration agent and helped to add to the
population of the State. In Tennessee the
importance of immigration was not recog-
nized, was not appreciated, yet Tennessee
had soil and resources equal to any in the
world, and there was no reason why she
should not secure a share of the tide of inn
migrants from Europe. To do this,
though, some inducement must be
offered them. A movement had
already been set on foot for that
purpose. A company had been organized
with capital of 100000, in 5000 shares.
In two weeks $50 shares were subscribed,
and he had no doubt the remainder would
soon be taken up. He understood that Mr..
Crews had introduced bill in the House to
Bureau of immigration, but I'M
less some material assistance were given it,
the Bureau would be Of little use. Mr..
Cliff had introduced bill to relieve the
lands of the company already formed from
taxation, while held for colonization purpo-
SEES. Already great deal had been done
by the company. They had expended
thousands of dollars, established a paper,
scattered pamphlets and sent agents through
England and Scotland, and the re-
suit of it would soon be seen
in a flow of immigration into the State. He
hoped the Legislature would take this mat
ter in hand, and by promoting this enter
prise, raise Tennessee to her former proud
position of the third State in the great sis
.erhOod of the Union, for she had the capa-
bilities and resources to make her the first.
Mai. DOnahOe was the next speaker.
Having contrasted the prosperous position
Of the Northwestern States with the paral-
wed condition of the South, he argued that
he cause of it was principally lack of in
elligent labor. 1t was time now to wake
Up and get rid of the uneducated labor
IN which the State had depended for
10 many years. Now, he would give few
,6,0e0.000 of acres of land, population g.
100000, or one person to every s. acres of
and. OF the population ISL 900 are farm
rs with $1,000 farm laborers owning no
property and 27,000 miners. There are
q, 800 mechanical and manufacturing es-
in which 255,000 operatives
ire employed, and S205,000.000 capital is
invested. In 1860 the taxable value of
was S719,00O,OO0, in 1870 it had
increased to S1,17l, 100000. In Massachu-
etts there are 100000 of acres of land, a
population of 100000, or one person to
very 81 acres. or these $1,000 are farm
rs, $4,000 farm laborers and 205, 900 opera
ives. She has $3.50 mechanical and manu-
acturing establishments in which $780,
100000 capital is invested. In
$50 the value of taxable property was
M, 100000; in 1870 it had increased to
j ,361 100000. Tennessee with 2S, 100000
.cres of land (more than Pennsylvania or
)hio) has a population of a million, or one
,erson for every % acres. She has only
light millions of acres under so-called cult
alton. She has 100000 so-called farmers,
i 900 so-called laborers, 1900 operatives,
1000 mechanical and manufacturing estab-
shments with fifteen millions of capital in
ested. In 1860 the value of taxable prop
rty was SS00,000,000; it is now
stimated at S3OO,0O0,00O. This was the
ondition of one of the finest States |
f the Union, and in this condition |
Te must now remain until We learn |
bat without intelligent labor we cannot |
xpect prosperity. Tennessee occupied |
he position to be the Massachusetts, and |
pennsylvania of the South. All that she |
ganted was labor to manufacture her cot |
on at home, to produce food required for |
he support of the laborer, and to develop |
nd manufacture her mineral wealth. To |
ecure immigration, money and patient labor |
Tere required, for people in other |
ountries knew little, if anything, Of Ten !
lessee. a messenger must be sent to them |
o let them know what State we have,
nd how to get to it. They know some
hing of the Northwestern States, |
ecause there were pamphlets scat
cred throughout Europe giving complete
respecting those States, but of
tennessee the great masses Of European |
opulations have never even heard. The
movement had now been set on foot and he
ppealed to the people and the Legislature
. give it the support which its Importance
eserved. .....-.... ......--..-.
Letters were read from Gov. Brown and
'homas W. White, expressing regret for
eng unavoidably absent from the meet
10.
A vote of thanks having been passed to
he speakers of the evening, the meeting ad-
,urDed .-.-....