Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-06-12
1MM1GRATI0N.

Another long and interesting letter
from Commodore Maury upon immigra-
ton. and addressed to the farmers OF
Tennessee, is before US. He takes the
same ground which we have heretofore
advocated in these columns, to-wit; the
only hope for the commercial supremacy
of the South is for the large planters TO
divide up their farms and sell upon long
time and easy terms alternate lots oil
forty or fifty acres each to bonatide set
tlers-good and enterprising men who
will Immediately go to work and I'M
nrove the same. There is no hope for
the South unless it comes by means OF
an immigration that shall bring abund-
autly into the country both labor and
CAPITAL; and the estimate made by the
hest political economist is that every
stranger coming from abroad and setting
among us adds, by the mere force OF his
industrial energies, one thousand dollars
to the wealth of the country. This is
independent of the money and means
he brings with him. The Commodore
adds, that for the last five years all the
Southern States have felt and confessed
the need of immigration, and all OF
them east of the Mississippi have legis-
lated with the view of encouraging 1t,
but so far without success, and says:
There is in the mind of the emigrat-
ing classes abroad a prejudice against
Tennessee. and, in fact against the
whole South, which nothing but the
most malevolent falsehood could beget;
and though the well-to-do emigrants OF
the Continent were offered farms gratis
if they would come to your State and
occupy them, few, in my judgement,
would come, iChile these prJudtceS re-
main. You would first have to disabuse
their minds of many false impression.
This prejudice is the result of years OF
systematic misrepresentation and SLAM
der which we have suffered there. It's
only one of the grievances of the South.
The intensity of it, the absurdity OF it,
is simply astounding, and such as no
one can form any just conception OF,
who has not been abroad and mixed
there in society enough to catch the
tone of the people.
People in Europe have been taught to
regard us of the South as a lawless set
and wicked people, prone to violence
and ant TO insult. The most erroneous
impressions have been made there with
regard to our manners and customs,
and the healthfulness of our climate, etc.
Before quitting Europe, emigrants are
made to believe that labor is considered
really dishonorable in the South. have
heard it stoutly maintained, by gentle
men of extensive reading, that the CHI
mate of Virginia, Tennessee, and other
Southern States, is so deadly that out
door labor in it is certain death to the
white man. With such notions about
us in their minds, do you think the
working men of Europe are likely to
seek homes among us2 These notions
will probably continue as long as you sit
still and make no effort TO remove them,
or to vindicate yourselves or your State.
The most ready way of doing this is
to advertise and make known to those
who are quitting the old country, before
they quit, the advantages which Tennes-
see and Tennesseeans are prepared to
offer them if they will come to you d.
rect Tell them of her undeveloped re-
sources and their exhaustless character.
Tell them what facilities you are pre-
pared to offer, what inducements you
are disposed to hold out, and what en-
enlargement your State isready to give
Be not niggardly, either in promise o.
performance, and my word for it, you Il
see many Of your counties blooming
again like the rose.