Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-06-03

The Hon, Jacob Thompson, chairman,
said that he had been notified the previ-
Gus evening that he was likely to bemsde
President Of the Convention, and he had
hastily thrown together a few loose re-
marks, which he thought suitable TO the
occasion.
SPEECH OF HON. JACOB THOMP-
son.
Gentlemen Of the COnUentiOn-It is with
unfeignsd reluctance I accept the position
you have just assigned me. l feel my
un6tness to discharge its duties unless 1
succeed in obtaining your hearty cooper
alton and patient fOrbearsnCs. Earnestly
invoke both, while / thank you for the
honor conferred. A common sentiment
has brought US together, a common want
is felt and q common desire for the public
veal and the advancement Of 3 country
we love aCtUstes US all, The late civil
war resulted in the destruction of a sys-
tenn of labor that we all cherished, and
since the war we may be fairly said to
have had no system. All the legislation
both of the General and State Govern
rents has brought US no relief. We have
been beating the bushes, hoping TO start
something which would lead us out OF our
difficulties, and after five years we have
found nothing which meets our approval
or holds out to US the promise Of regain
ing our former prosperity.
We have q country around US which
holds in its bosom all the elements of
wealth. We all know this to be true. We
have a people intelligent, industrious and
e~nterprising. We have g class of labOrers
among US thriftless and hard TO control,
and, / regret to say it, but still it Is true,
the legislation of the country seems to be
guided by the aim TO prevent US from cOn
trolling IL, At all events, such is the effect
if it be not the object and motive. Now
what should planters and land owners
under these circumstances dO2 That is
the question for your solution. The eX-
periments which have been made Of intro
ducing the white lab0rer, unskilled in
farm labor, with no interest in the success
ofthe crops he c~ultivstes, with an abiding
but natural prejudice against the black
man, who in some cases has been his CO.
labOrer, have, for the most part, proved
failures. 1t has had q tendency, il is true,
to stimulate the negro to some extent, but
It is certain the white labOrer has
not as yet Ousted him or diminished the
confidence of the capitalist in his suits-
bleness for farm labor. The Introduction
Of laDOrers from China has been more sue
cessfuL We find the Chinese better suited
to our wants. But the difficulty and cost
Of securing them, and the doubtful policy
of introducing another and distinct race
into q community where two distinct
races Of people already exist, have pre-
vented Us from adopting this policy to
any considerable extent. What, then, |
shall We dO3 Shall we give up all effort
TO induce emigrsnts to settle among us7
[, for one, say: by no manner Ofmesns."
There seems to be a universal express
sion Of opinion among US. that what the
country needs is a greater diversity in our
productions, cotton being the staple Of
he country. We produce too much cot
on, and too little Of everything else. The
tells the farmer, b preacher
ellis his congregation, the lawyer tells his
,lient, the doctor tells his patient, the
Ounger around the taven saloons tells his
lOunger the same stOry-We pro-
luce too much cotton, and too little Of
.verything else. The cotton enriches the
actor, the speculatOr the carrier, the manu-
acturer, the merchant, all the world, and
mpOverishes the grower. And so it is:
ut still the farmer goes home, gets his
reedmen around him and after grave de-
,ate he concludes there is still money in
OttOn. The negro, who has been eduCa-
ed to grow nothing but cotton, and
,nOws but little how to cultivate any
hing else, replies in great esrnestness:
j think 50 too" And thus the crop is
lltched as heretOfOre-s0 We 20 IN. Now
s there no way to get us out Of this rut?
think there is: but the question Is up
or your solution.
In mechanics, One man works In wood,
mother in iron, another in brass, another
With brick, and another with marble.
Jnder their general pursuits you will
ind an almost endless division. OF the
workers in wood, u makes houses, an
Dther furniture, another carriages and
and under their heads there are
many divisions, each having his special
The same is true In all branches Of
rsde, professions, science and literature.
each has his specially, and thus man
lind are supplied with what they require
q its greatest periec-i0n-thus the wheels
VI society roll smoothly on and
N are enriched and benefited. When we
urn to the soil, we discover the same
diversity. One soil is adapted TO cotton,
mother % tobacco, another to grain, an
ther to grass, another TO potatoes, RnOth-
r TO melons. What we have to do Is to I
ollOw nature, and to remember that y
where the treasure is, there will be the !
cart also. IT cotton is you object, and {
our great crop to realize money upon,
Nperiencs rOves you will neglect every 1
hing else for your cotton, ltstOCk be the
lesns Of enriching yourself, all your en- S
rgies viii be devoted 10 that end. If q
OtstOes be the expected OurCs Of profit, G
Their things will be neglected when the
comes; and so of Strawberries or
ny other product. What we want in +
LIB ~ ~ eAa ~ AAN AAa aH"AAAAhN ] ~
3 in mechanics, trades, professions, and y
u the svOCaJiOns of life. Thus all Will be O
snehted and all will prosper. q
II this be the true policy, and I verify ?
slieve It is, what can we do to induce it's b
The old planter, like the q
8gro, can see no money except n
the production of cotton. b
This is the result Of habit, which has q
-OWn with his growth and strengthened f
his strength, He feels himself re- v
.ctant 90 abandon the customs and a
OF a life time, and untitled to n
iopt new theories and new pursuits.
bis Is true of a very large number Of our b
anters, and.l think we are compelled to Il
JandOn him and his freeman to his r.
But shall we leave our brosd O
res, which U farmers CanuOt now Gull q
7ate, owing TO u present defective sys- Il
M Of labor, 70 lie idle and 60 to waste d
ID ruin2 Can VI hit upon no device by q
hich We can cause them TO be occupied, q
-sceptible a. they are of producing every q
ing suited to the wants OF man. 1t "
ems 70 me all our efforts should be de b
to one end, and that is, to induce "
emigration Of farmers, stOck-raissrs, 10
ne-growers and gardeners. who know Cd
thing about the cultivation Of cot "
~. Ih6y must come among US al
ID become the Wuer Of the soil. 81
Q nus sell TO them so much as 81
may need on terms to induce OF
Element show them that we have a
sdy and good market for everything our OF
OlihC soil will grow, and he must be- OF
me Identified with andinterested in the th
untry. The character Of emigrant we CT
ed Is one who desires to become the az
7ner Of real estate-snd he can, If he A
doses, bring the man lab0rer with him tn
d manage him when he comes. They u
~ raise&hsiK bowls Over ku-KluX bills, 81
~ may parade the ]slsnderOus stories of
B disorders and dangers Of our society, 10
sy may attempt to brighten away for Oh
fish ends the emigrsut by telling him
1t here be will be regarded as no better pl
IN q negro. But by the class Of men th
It We need we may hope to be heard. CO
degrees the truth viii be known 10
d believed. At all events, We to
Duld spare no efforts to secure eN
US such 3 class Of emigrants. ag
The one great paramount desideratum Vi
the wise and good men Of the South Is eN
diversity our productions. We all feel pl
. know that without this, We cannot 10
.ce the prosperity Of the South on an %
during basis, 1t appears 10 me this is De
, only plan by which it can be done. m
troduce immigrants, familiar with 80