Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-03-10
Agriculture and Labor.
AN ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF
MARYLAND.


At the Convention. composed Of dele
gates from Baltimore city and nearly all
the counties in the State. which assembl-
ed at Raine's Hall, 10 Baltimore. on the
18th Of December last. a committee of
three was selected by the President of the
Convention ito prepare an address upon
the subject of the development of agricul-
ture aud the encouragement Of the other
resourcesscf the State. By immigration. to
be presented to the people and the next
Legislature Of Maryland. with visw Of
promoting the objects Of the Convention" !"
The following is the address Of the COM
mitte:
zbhe People Of Mryland::
The important question. to devise a
practical plan for the encouragement Of
Labor and agriculture In our State. is a
gain before US. at this time with greater
probability of success than heretofore.-
All sections Of our State are suffering
from the want Of capital'to purchase, aud
asber to cultivate. the immense tracts Of
land now unproductivc. Without dis
scriniaations it msg be stated that a heavy
tnAox =of uhite td6o,sts. aud especially
agricuNarists. is demanded. not only for
the purpose Of developing the rich resour-
ces Of Maryland. but actually to prevent
The i.spouerishmext o some of our oldest
counties, 50 closely identified with the
history Of our State, its progress and po-
*7tion Ia our aatienal family. BY an Act
of the Conscientious Coaventihn of 1867,
the 'Depaxtncut Of Labor aud Agricul-
nure'' vas ote.Eed, aud received in 1868
from tire General Assembly an appropria-
tion, especially intcaded to promote the
Cause of Immigration to Maryland. 1t
wasrthe. first raeticaa step taken in this
dractios il our State. Before full de-
rdtepmcnt Of this Bureau could be effect
ed the Legisiatare. ia 1870. declined to
renew the appruFsiation. partly from a
want of more geaerai information. partly
from an impress;oa that the object in view
should be reached by private enterprise
and the activity of taosc who look for i'm
mediate beue6ts The eject was embar-
rsssing. add a thorough Canvass of the
important question amoag = number of
leading citizens of,oQr State caused an in
qulry what best might be done under the
circumstances to save at least the infor-
asation aud experience which had been
eaiued, and to make the same available
for the future To let the matter die and
throw Maryland behind every State in the
Union; to look on with folded arms, while
in every dircction-North. South, East
and West the most vigorous steps are
being taken to introduce new elements of
strength and prosperity in the shape Of
immigrants and agriculturists with capi-
aal, were deemed sources of regret and
modification, very little in accordance
with our boasted desire not to,be behind
any to improve the condition of our below
ed Maryland.
The International Immigrant Union.
a society formed few years ago, by some
of our most respectable citizens, estab-
lished by private means corporation for
the purpose of protecting the immigrant,
AuN ~ Au0 sVf uan pIdce VI Scttaeueut.
The charitable. though limited. labors of
the Unios secured for it the confidence of
the couuanity. and were but lately re-
cognixed bya liberal appropriation from
the municipality Of the city Of Baltimore.
90 % . .
At . very early date in the history of
oxr State, the question Of encouraging i'm
migration found the warmest support. Un-
fortunately. Subsequent action was want
ing to bring the relief. nsw 50 seriously
demanded. We quote from the Laws of
Maryland. published 1899. the following:
IAN Act for Naturalization. Lib. T. H
B. No. !, folio l57, supplementary and
other scts to Laws of 1779. 1889, Oh. "a.
1892, ch. IA, 1877, ch. 60-Whereas
the. increase of people is q means to ad-
vance the wealth and strength Of this
State: and whereas many foreigners, from
the lenity of our government. the security
offered by our Constitution and laws to
civil and religious liberty. the mildness Of
our climate, the fertility of our soil. and
the advantage of commerce, may be in