The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-02-20
The Auausta Convention.

together With delegates from OIner agricultural
and commercial organizations in several adj
joining States, met in convention on Tuesday,
11th inst in the city of Augusta. The prin-
Ecipal topics for discussion were Direct Trade
and Immigration, and for this purpose dele
gates we're invited from every portion of the
South. The Convention was presided over by
Gen. Z. H. Colquitt, President of the Georgia
Agricultural Society, and remained in session
for three days. We can only give brief sum-
mary Of the proceedings, without reference to-
the particular order in which subjects were
discussed
An eloquent and impressive address upon
the subject of immigration was delivered by
Rev. c. w. Howard, Of Barlow County, Ga,
which attracted much attention, and was ac-
cepted as the embodiment of wisdom and
practical experience on this subject:
A memorial to Congress on the subject of
cheap and uninterrupted transportation be-
tween zhe Mississippi River and South Atlantic
coast was adopted. 1t represents this as the
most Urgent economical question of the day,
and urges that Congress will offer such aid and
encouragement as will insure the completion at
an early day of first class water communica-
ton, which shall avoid the high mountains and
the regions of hard freezes. The liberality of
the Federal Government, in developing the
transportation and resources of the great West,
will prove incomplete in its results without
cheap avenues to the ocean, which neither heat
nor cold, nor marine disasters can impair. The
Southern States, which would be benefited by
the proposed water line, possess resources of
the most valuable character, which they desire
to throw open to the world, adding TO national
wealth and credit, and no step is so likely to
make :hese resources available and attractive
as the proposed water line from St. Louis and
Mempais to the ports of the South Atlantic
The memorial instances various projects all
over the civilized world, which would have
been considered impossible and impracticable
in the past generation, but which are being
successfully executed, to the advantage of all
nations engaged in their construction; and in
this grand march of the nations, the South de-
sres to take a legitimate part, and open ma
ticnal line of highway which seems to be traced
by the unerring finger of nature itself Having
received ample acknowledgment and encour-
agement from the President, the responsibility
now devolves upon Congress of inaugurating
the measure and furnishing material assistance
for its steady progress towards completion.
A resolution was adopted by the Convention,
which recommends the preparation Of books in
the English and such foreign languages as may
be desirable, giving information respecting the
resources of the South, and that each State
give such assistance as to represent the real
facts to the people and capitalists of Europe,
SO that attention may be drawn to the advan-
tages offered for investments and settlements in
the South It is also suggested that all rail-
road companies offer low rates of freight and
transportation to immigrants, and likewise
adopt the policy of purchasing unsettled lands
along their lines of railway, so as to afford
easy means for the settlement of immigrants
coming to this country. Land owners are
urged to assist this movement by offering their
lands at low rates and on such terms as will
induce settlement While appreciating che
importance of European immigration, the
Convention is deeply sensible of the value and
importance Of skilled labor and capital from
the Northern States, and extends cordial in
vitation to capitalists and laborers of the North
to assist in developing our vast resources.
A report was adopted in favor of direct trade
with Europe, which recommends that the sew
eral Southern States unite in comforting boun-
ties upon steamship lines, and that efforts at
once lie made to concentrate capital and unite
the energies of our entire people in the accom-
plishment of direct trade. The aid of the
Federal Government is invoked for such assist
ance in the form of bounties and subsidies in
the way of mail contracts as may be expedient
and proper. f
Col. D. Wyatt Aiken, of South Carolina, de-
livered an address upon the Patrons of Hus-
bandry," in response to an invitation from the
Convention. He explained in detail the plan
of the order and mode of organization, and
that the controlling object of the order was to
ueVelCp Ihe iHtefeSto VI a6iiouiVuie siiouSno"0
the entire country.
Col E. NJ. Rucker, of Elbert County, Ga,
presented a memorial in favor of continuous
railroad connection between Chicago and Au-
gusta, to which was attached a series of resolu-
tions, recommending the Legislatures of Geor-
gia ard South Carolina to give the project such
material assistance as the interests involved
properly demand, and urging this great line as
work of national importance. The resolu-
tions we're adopted.
Agriculture in its various divisions was thor
oughly discussed, and much valuable informa-
tion made public, and it is hoped chat the prac.
tical plans suggested and agreed upon will
prove of great value to the country The work
| of the Convention has been warmly applauded
on every side, and we sincerely trust that its
labors will not result in hopeless fatuity, as