The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-20

The following letter will be found worthy of
perusal by oil interested in Chinese immigra-
lion:
Messrs. Wua. Roach & Co., Charleston:
GENTLEMEN-In letter Of the 5th to our
house, you speak OF bringing Chinese from
their country to your coast, by steamer or
sailing vessel. The writer has Tor some time
thought that a good employment for ships OF
large capacity could be had by using them for
this purpose, and though he has not the neces-
sary data for giving the actual cost, ne cann0t
but think it would be the most comfortable
and the cheapest method, and where economy
OF time is not of vital Importance. 1t would be
the best method; but do not understand us as
suggesting anything which would In the least
resemble the aLrocious coolie trade. for II they
could not be brought in legitimate, com(or-
table way, the same as the better class OF
German and Irish emIgrants come, we would,
on no consideration, have anything to do with
it. We can, however, see no reason why an
honest, legitimate emigrant business conld
not le established, the same as is done with
European countries; why the Chlnaman could
not be brought with his family and allowed to
work for wages the same as the European, or.
If he preferred, to bny his own few acres OF
ground and cultivate it for his own account.
From all the accounts have seen, some
very much opposed to-, and some faTorlng
them, we are OF the opinion that they ere a
frugal, industrious race; when decently treat.
ed very quiet and orderly, and that they Wonid
be great addition to the laboring population
of any country, and whether regarded from
either purely pbianthropic point or view, or
from q merely selfish desire 10 aid ln the de-
yelopment of our own resources, we think
that any such enterprise is worthy OF strong
efforts 10 have 1t honestly and properly carried
out. Your people, however, must so treat
them after their arrival, and their treatment
on the passage must be such as TO be an etiec-
tual disproval of the charge chst Will be
brought that there is an attempt to lnaugUrate
another reign of slavery under the name oil
Chinese immigration; for do assure you that
the treatment of the poor coolie on the gnano
islands of the Pacific, and on some OF the
Cuba sugar estates is as much worse than your
old system of slavery as can be Imagined.
We should like you to Investigate the SUBJ
iect and let lis hear from you; there may De
reasons which would prove our positions
wrong. as they are merely theoretical, but
having several very large roomy ships which
the steamers have driven from their former
Liverpool trade, and which we send wherever
we can dnd good employment, we should De
much pleased to place them in some regular,
permanent trade which would relieve US OF
constantly informing ourselves aOout traaes
and places with which we are not lamlllar;
Our reasons for thinking they. could pc
brought by sailing vessels are: they would
have fair wind almost all the way from Chi
na round the Cape OF Good Hope, to our coast
Arrangements could be made TO get good iaml-
lies in China, and they could he landed where
wanted without the expense and trouble OF
transhIpment The saving in time by the
employment of steamers would not compen-
safe for the coal consumed on so long pas
sage, besides the steamer must either use a
very great amount OF room fo- her coal, or else
she must stop on the way; the la!ter course
would delay the voyage and be attended WIN
various disadvantages.
Our plan would be to take one large ship
which can carry 1900 tons OF cargo dead
weight, and very roomy; ut It up with dis.
tlling apparatus, so thaL few tons OF coal
would disti from the salt water all the fresh
water that would be needed 10 give them
plentiful supply. Stow the lower hold full OF
rice, which in some parts OF the East can oe
bought very low. and which Is their favorite
food, and, with few barrels Of beef and pork,
and salt fish, would be ali they would want,
and then come direct To Port Royal, where
there would be plenty OF water.
We would, as far as possible, bring lamllies,
and would suggest lhaL the inducement should
be offered to The immigrant OF lew acres ol
land That might be given him AFTER TWO or
three years faithful labor, or thai he might
be permitted to buy at q low price Oh easy
terms.
The many advantages Of coming direct TO
Carolina, instead OF by the way OF San Fran
cisco, and then thousands of miles by rail, or
by Panama, and then transhlppine, must De
SO obvious to you, we will not enlarge on the
subject. Yours,
SPoFFoRD, BROTHERS i Co.