The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-15
HOW TO GET IMMIGRANTS.
A NEW PLAN PROPOSED By GENERAL
FITZaUGH LEE.

The TWO Committees on Immigration mei
| in the ball of the House at o'clock last night
and were called to order by Senator Wyatt
N. Elliott, who Introduced General Fitzhugt
Lee, promising an Interesting and profitable
| address from him. General Lee said he had
been led to the study of the subject of i'm.
migration by the conviction that the neces-
! sities Of the State demanded that some.
| thing should be done, and done quickly,
| if We ever hoped to revive her prosperity.
The resources Of the State were rapidly aud
succincuy sketched by him, and the advarl-
tages she offers to immigrants seeking plea,
SAINT and promising homes were skiIfully pic.
tured.
He cited authorities to show the value Of
immigrants in an industrial point OF view,
and gave his idea of the class we needed to
buy our lands, and proved that of theimmi-
are British and the other two thirds are Ger.
mans. Virginia was shown to be far be-
hind most of the States of her popu-
ting immigration. The good already
done by the Rsppahanuock and Potomac
Immigration Society in calling attention to
The advantages of Virginia were referred TO-.
| A letter from the secretary OF the Society
/ was read, exhibiting by figures and absolute
| statements that by fair dealing, and deter
minalion to do justice to land.buyers, and a
proper and iudicious system of advertising,
especially through the excursion to New
York made last year, an interest had been
awakened which gave assurance Of future
success.
@ eneral Lee spoke kindly OF the Centen-
NAL, and thought Sirginia should take ad-
vantage of the centennial year to institute
decided measures TO secure immigration.
He believed the Centennial Exposition
afforded Us the very opportunity we needed.
The present scheme adopted By the State to
secure immigration met with his disapproval,
| and was, as he had learned, almost complete
failure Not one Of the blanks sent out by
the board baG been filed up and returned
By landowners. The Governor himself said
in his message that the plan ought to be re-
yisel.
In lieu Of tLet board the General suggest
ed board Of ten, consisting of the Gov
ernor and the nine members Of Congress, to
serve without pay. The advantages claimed
was that they would fairly, inteligently rep
resent aIl sections OF the State; that they
were at Washington in winter, when they
could 90 Us great good by coming in contact
u ith foreigners and people from the North.
and that they were fully acquainted with
the wants and wishes of the people.
M.ior Hotchkiss's summary, General Lee
had no doubt, was an excellent thing, but moi
| lust what was wanted. In place Of the
summary be would have brief and concise
| statement concerning his section written by
each congressman, the whole TO be CONSOLE
dated by the secretary of the board, and tc
which should be added guide to points ol
interest in the State, such as Yorktown,
Mount Vernon, SC. After giving further
details OF his plan, General Lee stated that he
thought two immigration commissioners
should also be chosen, one to be located in
Europe and one in New York, to turn the
tide toward Virginia, and to guard and pro-
tect the immigrant,
The experiment, be asserted, would not
cost more than $4,000 per annum: and the
money could be taken out Of the present i'm.
migration fund. The pamphlet mentioned
he would have distributed at the Centennial,
in New York, and Europe, and wherever
else it would be likely TO attract attention
and secure readers.
General Lee so vel! explained bis plan
and so eloquently portrayed its advantages
that most of those present were convinced
that it possesses very great merit, and that
| properly executed it would be of Invaluable
service to the immigration cause.
At the conclusion Of his address, on behalf
of the committees and the large number OF
gentlemen present MIR. W. 7. Taliaierro in
| troduced resolution Of thanks TO General
Lee; which was adopted BY unanimous
vote.