Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1873-02-28
IMMIGRATION TO TENNESSEE.
5 ah0G AE1rEE II sSg9g
= Ely REV. ROBERT d. THOMAS.

4.
To Hon. Dauid Richards:
DEAR FRIEND: was glad to be i'll
formed that you and the numerous. read
ers of the CHRONICLE appreciated the
to you on immigration. humbly believe
that it contains several hints worthy of the
serious consideration of our General Gov.
1 eminent at Washington, and of all oul
State Governments, because all secular
governments are under the supreme gov.
zernment of God, who overrules all for the
benefit of mankind; the eXtepsion of the
kingdom of Christ, which is founded Oh
the eternal truths of the New Testament
and is full of mercy, righteousness, peace
and holiness and its great lotto is, "Glo-
ry to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men," These
words are to be seen clearly on the banner
of the Christian religion. All the rulers
and judges of the world ought to read and
study them and perform the duties Of their
high Offices in the light of them, believ-
ing that they are responsible to the Great
!
laws ought to be made agreeable to the
grand principle of the moral law of God
and the gospel Of Christ-LovE TO COP,
and Lore to Ndn.
/ The General Government at Washing
! ION, for the past forty years, and especially
! in the time of the late and immortal Lin
| coin, and our present worthy President,
Grant, made and passed several precious
and liberal enactments to encourage i'm
migration from other countries to the
| United States of America-the Pre-emp-
ton and the Homestead Laws will re-
dound to their honor forever; they ha re
| rejoiced the hearts of the oppressed in Eu-
rope and elsewhere, and have, and will
| yet, encourage the millions to immigrate
| to this country, where they ami, their
| families can avail themselves Of the many
advantages that are offered and secured to
them by this great Republican Govern
ment. Nevertheless, ] believe that the
General Government III Washington,
| through the ambition and the mysterious
political schemes OF the fc,C that wished
| to enrich themselves, have been too i6Cr-
at, or rather too eXtravagant in selling the
public lands TO individuals for specula-
lions, and in granting too much Of them
| to railroad companies. This was great
mistake in many instances, for individuals
ought not to be allowed to select and 31ul'-
chase the best portions of the public lands
for small SUM of money, and leave it for
many years uncultivated and afterwards
sell it at an enormous sum to actual set
tiers. This has been done in thousands OF
cases. Such land spectators swarm the
Western States, and are allowed to de-
ceiye, rob and discourage innocent and in
dustriousz emigrants from foreign coun-
tries, who are the Very suitable people
which we need to cultivate Our lands and
develop our resources for the gem
the benefit of the States and the
General Government. And / believe
that in most cases that all Railroad Com
panies, ought to construct their own Rail
roads and carry on their own business,
| Nth their o,CIe taeCfM capital, like all 9TH
er enterprising companies that encourage
labor and benefit themselves by their good
management, economy, and perseverance.
The Ar ierican people have suffered this
injusti 70 too long and rejoice that the
General Government, at last, has passed
Law to stop it; and to use a great part of
the honey that will accrue from the sale
of nc public lands, henceforth, to estab-
lish and support public schools in the
various States Of the Union; and for other
yaudable purposes. The public lands ought
and will be hereafter, reserved for actual
settlers. This is just and wise, and will
greatly benefit and strengthen the Govern
ment. One thing more is needful-that
the General Government should appoint
Assistant, Commissioners. for the leading
nations that emigrate hither namely, the
most qualified of themselves; and appro-
pirate a sufficient sum of money to pay
for the Translation and the circulation of
the best informations, about the public
lands, in their native countries. and to aid
the poor, but. honest and industrious, to
emigrate and settle on the public lands.
1t would be wise also for the Government
to select different counties, and townships,
for different nations, and allow them time
to pay for it, not for the purpose of con-
tinuing their Iationalities, but to give
them Opportunities and advantages TO set
tie together, with their churches and pas
tors, in large colonies. This has never
been done. But it would greatly facilitate
and encourage immigration millions
more of the best class of emigrants, from
to, and settle In. the United States. Ii the
General Government will not do this, or
will delay it for years, would advise
every State government to do it forthwith,
| for the general good of their own States. -
| 1T is a fact also, that almost every State
government of the Western States, have
appointed their Commissioners of Immi-
gratlOn ana nave apprOprIateu SulHcltut
sums of money to pay the expenses Of col
Letting, TRANSMITTING, and distributing full
and. specific information about the public
lands and resources of their various
States-and that they have received great
benefits from itr-it enlightened the people;
and they have emigrated to- Illinois. Wis
consin, and Iowa, in thousands yearly, SO
that almost all their best lands are now
settled, and highly cultivated. WEST
ward they 7go.n Why? Because they
were well informed about the advantages
and resources Of these States and were
welcomed there, and found happy and
peaceable homes there.
Tennessee must follow their example.
am glad that our worthy Governor, and
the present Legislature at Nashville, are
wide awake to the necessity Of passing q
| liberal Dill to encourage and aid immigra-
ton to the State; and hope that they will
| do co hefore the end of this session. They