Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-01-25
Immigration.

The Immigration committee OF Tile lIeSlSa-
ture, Senator Kirkpatrick, of Lynchburg, in
the chair, had meeting Tuesday night in the
hall of the House OF Delegates. At the sug
ges,ion Of the presiding officer a committee
tcopsistiug of Mcssrs Holladay and Loveustein)
was appointed to wait upon His Excellency
Governor Walker to invite him to appear be-
fore the committee and to assist them in their
conclusions With full expression of his views
4 few minutes thereafter the committee re.
turned having the Governor under escort, who
promptly took the floor, and in conversation
al way but still in quite an impressive and
complete manner, expressed his views upon the
subject under consideration, which he declared
wa one OF the most important and urgent now
engaging the attention of the people Of Nir-
uinia. lie thought the very first thing to be
done. the very first step to be taken, was to
remove the obstacles to immi grafton, which, In
his opinion, were chiefly prejudice and igno-
rance.
This. said he, must be done by proper, full
and correct representations regarding our Gil
| u,ale, soil, society and natural advantages, the
cost of getting here the price of lands and the
prospects ahead pccuuiarily and otherwise. The
| Governor contcnded that Virginia possessed
many inducements to Europeans, and ESPECIALLY
to Englishnen. who desired to come to this
country After presenting the superior claims
this State has 10 offer homes to immigrants,
His Excellency went on to speak OF the Or
ganization needed to accomplish what was de-
sired. He thought good commissioner, a
man of energy, information, and determination
was wanted above all else. There might be
board or bureau, or any other ornamental APP
pendage to the office but the chief labor must
necessarily devolve upon the executive ott1cer.
| 4, ti,,t ba1
! know the person exactly suited to the place,
he did rot doubt that such an one could be OBJ
tanned if reasonable salary was offered. lie
impressed upon the committee the necessity for
institutng the measures they proposed tc lnau-
| gurate at once.
As to the class of immi grants needed, the
| Governor was quite confirmed in the opinion
that what Virginia required most at the present
time was not foreign laborers merely, but the
small farmers, the skilled mechanics, and those
who could start themselves in their new homes
in the business they might desire to pursue.
An agent should be put in the British Empire
to distribute information. Other States OF
Europe he would not. for the present attempt
to reach, except by circulars, statistical papers,
&C., &c.
The Governor was listened to with the most
respectful and appreciative attention through
ont.
Lieut. Governor Marye followed the Cover
nor in a brief but earnest speech on this sub
jcct, directing his attention especially to the
question Of expense and as to the class OF I'M
migrants wanted As to the former he con-
cured most fully and heartily with the recon-
mendations contained in the message OF Gov.
Walker. On the other branch Of the subject
he disagreed with the Governor somewhat.
He thought We wanted more reliable class OF
laborers.
In response to an intcrrogatory from Mr..
Lovenstein. Gov. Walker explained that IN his
Judgment Norfolk was the most suitable place
for depot for the immigrants. Combined
movement on the part Of all the Southern
States to induce immigration Is considered
rather impracticable, but he thought all OF the
immigrants. who proposed to 60 further South
should land al Norfolk; comparing Virginia
lands with those of the Northwest, he drew a
very favorable comparison for ours In closing,
the Governor again attempted to impress upon
the committee the magnitude and pressing i'm
portance of this subject.
Mr.. Van Aukcn, member Of the commit
tee, and Mr. f. A. Dayton, merchant OF
this city complained that no invitations were
extended to Northern immigrants, while extra
ordinary endeavors were proposed to be used
to secure European settlers.
Mr.. Lovenstein caustcally replied to these
gentlemen, and showed why certain Northern
people we're not desirable accesslons to Nlr-
ginia communities, but denied that genuine
settlers were ever made other than welcome ID
Virginia Adjourned. -Richnond Enquirer.