The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-07
COLUMBIA, s. c..
Sunday Morning. July z, 1872.
Imnigration.

tine Confederation every year. You can
have an equal number for Georgia when
ever you set at work seriously
The above is an extract from an inte-
resting letter written by M. Edmond
Farrene, editor OF the Journal Q67ciel, OF
Paris, to COL, Sohallsr, Of Athens, Ga,
and published in late number Of the
Southern Farm, and Home. We can sub
stitute South Carolina for Georgia and
the Paragraph will apply equally well to
US. tr
It is useless to discuss the benefits
which would accrue to our State if we
could direct an active current Of immi-
grafton to her borders. Ever since the
war our people seem to have been ear
nestly impressed with the Importance of
the subject.
From the general desire number of
schemes have originated to introduce
European emigrants into our State. But
they have oil practically amounted to
nothing.
3'r It appears to us that, South Carolina
affords every inducement conceivable,
except that of Q good government, land
this We are bound to have in few years,)
to q thrifty and industrious emigrant.
OurIclimate is unsurpassed in geniality
and healthfulness. Land is more abund-,
ant in proportion to population, and
cheaper, than in any of the older States
OF the Union, and the soil is capable of
being brought to the highest point of
fertility ct comparatively small cost. We
have fine water, an abundance of valua-
ble water powers, great railroad faoili-
ties, excellent sea-ports; indeed, our
State possesses every requisite to COM
pete advantageously in either of the
three great branches of human industry
agriculture, commerce or manufactures.
Moreover, there is unanimous desire
on the part Of our people to invite and
welcomethe industrious laborer or enter
prising capitalist, from any quarter of
the globe, to make his home in our
midst.
The reason of our failure heretofore
in the various plans which lave been
partially tried to bring in immigrants.
seems to US to lie in the fact that we
have sought for laborers rather, than set
tiers. The prevalent idea has been to
supplement the insufficient negro labor
with white men, Of the laboring classes,
from the more crowded communities of
the old world. This it is impossible to
do, so long as there remain millions Of
acres in the more fertile West open and
ready to furnish home and farm of his
own to every one WHO will seek it. No
man will be the servant of another if he
can engage in the same kind of business
on his own responsibility, with equal or
greater prospects Of profit. This is why
negro labor is found so inadequate at the
present time. There are as many colored
!. people in the State as there were in
times Of slavery. and there is but p small
fraction less of them engaged now, as
then, in agricultural labor. IL =
But land is so plentiful. and conse-
quently SO. cheap, both for PURCHASE and
for rent, that large numbers Of the
colored laborers. SO soon as they can
9 muster an old mule or an OK, and get a
small modicuns of provisions, aheed, pre-
fer to farm, as they term it, upon their
own hook. -,
Those that are steady and industrious
do we'll. The most OF them, on account
of idleness, or from lack Of sufficient
means, or from want of foresight, lead a
sorry life, accommodating not as much as
if they worked for wages, and having
less OF the comforts OF life about them.
But they prefer it, because it is more in
dependent.
White men would be even more
strongly induced by the same motives
to the same course. They will not come
here and work as common farm laborera
for other men. But we can see no
reason why they would not come as set
tiers, if proper inducements ere held ou.
to them.