The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-02-03
Foreign Immigration.

Several weeks ago Gen. w. G. HAIR
DING, of Nashville, expressed some
opinions adverse to foreign immigra-
ton, in the Farmers Club. His re-
marks were published in the HERALD,
and our readers will recouect that he
also said it was best for the laborer to
be Ignorant, and he preferred negroes
to white foreign laborers, not only
because they were here and had to
be provided for, but because they
were cheaper, if not better workmen.
Shortly after the appearance of this
speech in print, several public meet
ings of foreign citizens were held,
and the Generals sentiments denoun-
ced in emphatic terms. A few days
ago he replied to the speeches made
and resolutions passed at these meet
ings, and gave at length his views on
the vexed labor question. His rea-
sons for his opposition to immigra-
ton are succinctly stated:
He denies that his views are those
of selfish rich man, and endeavors
to prove that he is entirely unselfish
in the matter. His sympathy for the
negro meets our entire appreciation,
although we believe his opposition to
foreign immigration is wrong. Hear
him on the negro:
anu not accustomed to public spea-
king nor in the habit of writing for
newspaper publication, but at NEE
ting of the Farmers Club, of this
county, held in the city of Nashville,
on the 14th inst, the labor question
being under discussion, 1 made some
remarks which, it appears, greatly
excited the Indignation of portion
of the foreign population of Nash
vile. An indignation meeting was
held in the Capitol of the State. In
that meeting my views were misun-
derstood or willfully misrepresented.
was advocating negro labor in pre-
ference to foreign labor for the fol-
lowing reasons. First. The negro
was already here and citizen of the
country; we had raised them; they
had been our slaves we had enjoyed
the fruits of their labor in the past
that humanity, even common justice
demanded that we, his former owners
should give them a fair and patient
trial that if we cast them off they
must necessarily, become paupers,
and. as consequence, thieves and
robbers, and most dangerous ele-
ment in society. Further, without
experience in regard to the value OF
foreign labor except as artizans,
stated, as my opinion, after many
yeas of experience, that the negro,
from his organization, physical and
mental, was better adapted to the
drudgery of farm work than any 9TH
er race of people; that we could
board them cheaper; that they were
the most patient, contentcd and hap
ply race i'm their humble position, re-
sulting from an organization that did
not belong to any other people. BE.
sides, they possessed the capacity Of
enduring labor under a sun that would
be distressing, if not insupportable, to
any other race. For these reasons
and many others, did not think we
would gain by exchanging the negro
for the SCUM of the Old World, who
were daily landing on our shores
SCUM this is the little word that
raised the tempest. hope it did not
apply to any in that indignation meet.
ing. But, Imy foreign friends, what
country has no scum? You must all.
swer-not one under the canopy OF
heaven. Unfortunately for our race,
there are too many here and every.
where else. Where there arel most
most people there you find scum