The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-10

one which mas OcCupicu lilo oSIeho'oi VI 'A~
Southern planter since the emancipation oil
the slave, has been immigration. 1t was the
key-note that was sounded as soon as the iact
of the invalldity of all systems Of freedmen's
labor became evident; but the discussion has
run through 30 many channels and been d.
yerted by 80 many theories that 1t has sunk
in the marsh OF public disgust, and now, when
men come with new Ideas, and hoist this BAN
ner. their following is 30 slim that they fall to
create enthusiasm, and, of course, elicit no
co-operation. 1t Is mistake we should have
realized ere this-immigratl0n is not tne sine
qua non of the South, and its realization ls
absolutely fatuous. What we should DO Is 10
import "lndentuEed laoor, sn Wnacn .a,enne du.Ue
enough to guide us successfully; IN the ether
ali precedent ,s against us. Our climate and
swemps preclude all hope OF Introducing white
letor into the cotton producing region. There
win be no Immigration hither until drainage
has ameliorated the hygienic condiuon OF our
bottom lands, and fitted them for the abode OF
the European, who will come last enough
when he can do 30 without exposing his sturdy
frame to the insidious attacks OF mlasmatlc
vapors.
of population In Conl'rental Europe, YET
this preponderance Is not In the "feld but IN
the workshops" and the emigrant farmer is
not an emigrant from pecnnlary motives put
because he knows that In this country he will
be a freer man than In his own, where jeal-
ousy, past feuds, and contiguity OF territory
necessitate large standing armies and tyran-
nical military training.
Let us look, then, to Asia Where tnere is an
excess of agricultural population, and where
poverty Is the handspring Of the desire TO
Ao In sim6a accented
the African as being slave In his home, ana,
therefore, fitted for compulsory labor, let us
now. under our new condition OF affairs, seek
the Asatic who, by law OF caste, is tlller OF
the soil, and for lack Of guidance pauper;
knowing him to be creature likely 10 laoor
contentedly for master, since his aspirations
have never been higher, and recognizing IN
him the same fitness to endure tne c!llnate as
the African possesses.
Not only is the ''importation Of indentured
labor" feasible, but 1t is eminently practicaole,
admitting of legislative control, and yielding
an absolute revenue TO the State adequate 10
provide for all governmental ana maglsterlal
contingencies to which It may give birth. NO
one doubts that immigration pays Indirectly
political economy pronounces th1s an axiom,
and it is-but if it can be demonstrated that
the ssimportatlon of indentured LABOR" Will
pay directly, why should we prefer The axiom
TO the problem
If South Carolina continues as she is lot
many.ycars longer the interest on her bonded
debt win be too great burden, and the conse-
ouence will be virtual reputation by bank
rnptcy. or an actual reputation by conVen-
tIonai enactment. On the contrary, should
she adopt this plan her debt will, though mate
rally increased, be easier to bear, and perhaps
possible to be sunk.
s.Bonds for the Importation of indenlured
labor bearing six per cent. interest per an
num- and secured by mOrtgaging 10 the state
the landed estates OF all proprietors VINO wish
to obtaih the indentured labor. Estaolsh COM
missions at Calcutta and Singapore for lndentu-
ring and exporting the labor, ana commission @ so
at Charleston to receive and assign snch LABOR.
The laborer is TO be bound for a term OF years,
at fixed wages and An adequate ration (the
wages to commence after ne has passed
fixed time as an actual laborer In the state,
the rations from the time he signs the lneen-
ture,) and free passage home al the explra.
tIon Of his term-al guaranteed nun Dy
laws for his protection: The commissions a.
Calcutta and Singapore will be men OF means,
to whom bonus will be paid OF s. per
head for every healthy agricultural laborer IN
the State, and accepted by the commission at
Charleston as snch; all rejected 10 De sent
back at their charge The assignment o. laooi
Charleston In the order Of application from
planters and as equitably as may be possible,
and each planter so supplied Will be bonded 10
nav and snbsist such laborers In accordance
with the terms Of tt e indenture, and, fnrlher,
TO nav Annually to the State fifteen per cent.
upon the cost per capita OF Importation ;!
Thus the State would compass revenue OF
nine per cent. net upon the bonds issued,
with which to pay the bonus 10 the Calcutta,
and Singapore commission, the cost OF sli-i
peryisins and enforcing the obedience OF both.
planter and laborer, and the passage nome or
honns for reindenture to the latter at the expl-
ration of his term, while, by Increased pro-.
duction and consequent ability to pay taxes,
a sinking fund forst6r eGtinguishment OF this!
new debt could be Established In few years,
without bearing too heavily on the population
of the State.
Abundant precedent Is furnished In the cases.
of Demerara and Jamaica. both OF which naVeE
undergone q similar change to our own!
though brought about In a more honest way,
and Inc statistics Of increased prosperity In!
those countries show, In marked manner,t
that this course Is not only the Sote one open
to us, but the best of all courses.
In conclusion let me say that 10 walt LOT CO.!
operaton of other States would be Sulcldal tol
this policy. South Carolina Is 30 crusnea;
under the burden of present taxation that ~
no remedy Is applied the lands OF the presehII
proprietors will pass under tax titles Into tnel
possession of the State, and, for lack OF pur-
chasers, into prlmeval forests. lCHABoD.