Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-03
mmIGRATIOMxO THE SOUTH.

lortion Of the European immigration which
how goes to Gil up the less attractive, but
better advertised Western States. There
cannot be doubt in the mind Of any
intelligent and unpreiudiced man who
has travelled through the Southern
States. that the latter hold out
greater natural inducements 10 the
settler than any portion Of the Union, and
vet it is an undeniable fact that our fertile
lands remain untitled, and our population !
increases with the slow growth Of European
countries. While this is largely TO be attri-
buted to unjust Determinations against the
South by the Central Government, and un-
principled misrepresentation of the |
Southern people by large portion Of the
Northern press, and especially those sheets |
that find their way 10 Europe, there is |
no doubt that we have greatly TO blame
ourselves for this unpromising
condition of affairs. Since the close
Of the war We have made
no united effort to attract
Immigrants here. 1t is true.private enter
prise and spasmodic attempts on the part
of individual States have been put forth
with this object in view, but, as might have
been expected, with anything but satisfac-
tory results. The working classes of
Europe have been led to believe that the
climate of the Southern States was deadly
to Northern races, that there was no pro-
lection to life and property south OF Mason
& Dixon's line, that labor was regarded as
degrading, and freedom Of opinion was not
tolerated among our people. A color Of
truth has been given to these state
ments BY the Ku-Klux fabricstions with
which the columns Of Radical papers
in the North have so long been filled, and
by the despotic military rule which has been
exercised and still prevails in most Of the
Southern States. It would seem as If the
Radical party were working steadily for the
utter destruction Of Southern prosperity, for
their policy has been marked By unvarying
vindictigeness. Our treasures have been
rifed by Radical hsrpies and our common
wealths have been burdened with debts Of
appalling magnitude, I'LL the taxes too fire.
quently exceed the value of the products Of
the land on whi:h they are levied. Our
people have been tTaduced and
slsndered, our institutions have
been belittled and the few
crimes which are occasionally committed In
our midst have been magnifed and distorted
till immigrants have learned to avoid us and
detest everything Southern. Their strength
goes to build up the power Of the North and
increase the weight that seeks to crush US.
There is but one escape from this relentless,
cowardly warfare, and that is By spreading
the truth respecting our country and our
people, throughout the European nations.
Let them once learn that life is as sacred
here as in the most favored States Of the
North; that the laborer not only receives
more remunerative wages than be can in
the West, but that he is respected
as he respects himself; that our
Climate rivals that Of sunny France; that
there is no lack of fertile land to be TILED,
and convenient markets for the sale Of pre-
duce. Let them know these truths; fur
nisb them with such complete information
as the Northwestern States place in their
hands respecting our climate, soil, resources,
| laws and institutions, and above all, let
them know that we only want more Of the
honest toIers Of Europe in our land TO join
| with us and overthrow the military robbers
and minions Of a corrupt Government that
usurp the control of the Southern States, to
be the most prosperous people on the oonti-
nent. It is only BY union Of the South
ern States in such work that we can ac-
compish anything Such union Commo-
| dore Maury advocates In the following
fOrcible manner:
ain order to establish prosperity among
| her people, there are two or three great
! works which the South has 20 do. These
works are too great for individuals or COM
NAMES 10 perform. They require concert Of
| action, a little pulling together, and make Il
! necessary for the States themselves to rem
DEF assistance. One Of these works is ar
elaborate treatise on the physical geography
not of one State By ITSELF but Of the
South-uttered in a manner and by an au'
thoritv that will entitle its statements tC
credit, wherever it goes. II shoHld be &C
companied by maps showing the works O
internal improvement, the railways anc
canals. the coast line, its harbors, and the
extremity Of inland navigation Of all tht
Southern States. Il should also treat OF
their climates, and productions; their social
condition and religious privileges; in short,
this work shall embody exactly that sort OF
information, about every part Of the country
which an intelligent foreigner desiring to
settle among US would like TO have. Il
should then be published in the languages
of the various countries Of Europe, from
which we desire immigrants, and circulated
widely among them. When that is done
then let tha agents from each State and So
c'etv. with so much Of II in their hands a
related 20 their State or division, follow
It up; showing the peculiar facilities
advantages aud inducements whicl
their own State may choose Il
hold out. As il now is, all Of these agent
have to do, 20 certain extent, the same
work over, as they will tell you. For ex
ample: An emigration agent goes from
Virginia 10 Europe to enlist emigrants
The first thing he has to do, is to disabus'
the minds of the emigratins classes witt
regard 10 his State; he can operate upon
few at best; some Of these few he may per
haps set right about his own State, but b
has removed none Of these prejudices will
regard to the other States, and which, II
the minds of his hearers, are common Il
The whole South.
After him comes, We will suppose, th
, AGENTS of another State: as MISSISSIPPI
/, Alabama, etc, and they have to 60 over th
same grounds in enlightening ignorance an
, removing prejudices with regard, not T.
, our section, but to their State; and so
every one; when with joint effort, pro
perly directed, it might have been done ono
for all and so the way would be clear 70
every State. For my own part, l hav
I never been able to discover an
way of getting, (within any re;
/, sonable time) the tide Of Europea
. emigration TO come into the South in an
: considerable force unless the States then