New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-04
TIE IMMIGRATION CONVENTION.

VIII tUc1E ADMINISTRATION.
TIE IMMIGRATION CONVENTION.
A number of gentlemen having the ma
terial prosperity Of the South at heart,
and approaching the hindrance which
rumors of lawlessness gave to immigra.
ton, conceived the idea Of bringing about
conference of the Governors, or theil
representatives, of the Southern and West
ern States, in which were open fields and
cheap lands for new settlers. It was
through the suggestion of Governor Gar
land, of Arkansas, and the efforts and CO.
operation of our Chamber of Commerce,
that such a convention met in this city
on Wednesday last, and continued two
days in session. There were present ac-
credited delegates from fourteen States:
Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky. Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi, Missouri, Ohio. Tennessee,
Texas and Wisconsin.
1t was in the mind Of those who origin
ated the call for this conference, that the
convention was to be free from politics,
sectarianism, private land schemes. or
the corporate interests of any particular
body of men or estates. Great benefits
were expected to come from such meet
ing, and as q permanent committee for
future action has been appointed, much
good may yet result from the convention.
The work eft for the committee to do, is
to set forth in proper form the advantages
each State possesses for settlers, the whole
to form general history of the resources
of the South. The plan of the conven-
ton was good one, though it was not
strictly adhered to. AS o side issue, o
resolution complimentary to Captain Eads
was adopted, making it the sense of the
convention that 'the country is now as
sured of his Ultimate and complete
success" in making deep channel
to the sea by the jetty sys-
system at the mouth of the Mississippi
river. There is no one who does not hope
for the best results Of the work undertaken
by Captain Eads, yet the agricultural de-
velopments of the Southern States do not
depend on that particular outlet to the
sea. Immigrants can come by other
routes, and even now the facilities for ex.
port and for carriage of products 70 other
States are equal to the demand of ship
pers. The accumulations of grain, cot
ton and sugar make power like the force
Of the mighty river, and they will find an
outlet by the channels Of commerce.
Another feature in the convention was
the Endorsement, by resolution, of the
international Chamber Of Commerce
and Mississippi Valley Society,"" recognize
ing it as a valuable factor" in aid of
foreign immigration and international
trade. The Mississippi Valley Society is
! chartered company having European
md American departments, and in its
general plan is not unlike the great
English and American Cooperative So
;iety published in the air and given to the
Changers by DR.. T. D. Worrall. The
American department Of the Mississippi
Valley Society is domiciled in New Or
cans, and Jefferson Davis is president.
The charter and regulations of the society
had been printed and distributed 20 the
of the convention, and by in
Titation Mr.. Davis addressed the meeting.
He also opposed q resolution intended to
show the need of general levee system
md to secure national aid. Another
gentleman spoke on the resources Of
Southern States, and read statistics from
. forthcoming work.
So far as Louisiana and Mississippi are
concerned, the convention adjourned leav-
ng in doubt the manner in which new
settlers will be treated in this and that
State. immigration invites itself to the
Jest places. In the case of our own State,
When lawlessness in the country parishes
las been subdued, when men wishing to
,iake homes are met with words of well
ONE, instead of shotguns and the masked |
iders Of midnight, immigrants will find
ray here without jetty passes or the par |,
ocular society presided over by Jefferson
Davis.
Another year and the convention will
1eet in Arkansas. By that time the
xecutive committee may have matured
ONE general plan of operations, and by
onfining the discussion TO delegates, ig-
oring all special schemes and ax-grind-
rs, adopt some line of action to estab-
sh emigrant depots, secure homes,
protection to laborers in all
laces, and promote the general interests
the entire South.
THE DUMB-FOUNDERED DEMOCRACY.
This is vulgar but expressive Saxon
IN. it means to strike dumb, to con-