The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-09-20

An Essay Bead Before the San,n,er dleetin9
of tile State Grange at anderson, S. G.,
on the 9th of august 1877, By Maor
JuHu, Mills, Of Chester, S. C.
My daily duties have required so much
of time that I have been prevented pre-
pairing this paper with the care or accu-
racy which statistical information affords,
but so warmly and so constantly have ]
devoted my attention and humble servi-
ces to what have conceived would pro-
mote the Grange or develop the resources
of the State, that I would have been re-
creant to that feeling had I failed in
however humble way to contribute all l
could in furtherance of the object of this
meeting. Here at this great and impor.
tant convention of those who have so
much at heart in our proud old common
wealth, we should hurry to shake off the
political dead weight which has hung
upon our every interest, social and finan-
cial; to rise before the world untarnished
by the influences of the past few years,
and enlist in move to rebuild our waste
places and re.establish our prosperity.
With the overthrow of slavery passed
away our agricultural system. The basis
of our capital being our slaves, their ab.
olition utterly destroyed that basis, and
left us without means and to rely entire
ly upon the produce of the farm as our
only capital. The great disproportion of
land to capital, high valuations and tax
alton crippled our efforts at securing the
lost capital. Hence we stand upon the
ruins of our former resources. We are
without the opportunities of the past,
and the same means OF our success is
impotent now. The system with slavery
cannot be inaugurated with the same
labor made free, nor can that system
practiced by other countries with free
labor be successfully introduced into our
system. While, then, I would regret any
move driving our present labor from its
fields of usefulness and prosperity, can
not concur that it is the best labor. AS
evidence of this we may safely compare
its condition and disposition after twelve
years of freedom, under the most favora-
BILE circumstances. Twelve years ago
these people entered upon the race Of
freedom and life with facilities beyond
that of any laboring people in the world.
Without experience of management, but
with practical experience and training
through life and under intelligent con-
troll, they had placed in their hands un-
limited means Of land and capital. Their
early productions sold at high prices.
And with all this opportunity, unincum-
bered by debt, bouyant with hope, the
amount Of their taxable property is COM
paratively nothing, and those who con-
stitute the best of their class as laborers
are the old farm hands, trained under
different system. All the advan-
tages are in their favor, but these are
dying out, and those who are to take
their places are utterly unqualified for
the system common in other countries.
This being true, as I believe, the time,
indeed, the moment, is upon us when we
must examine the question of our labor,
and put into practice system of immi-
grafton which will carry with it new
era of our agricultural husbandry.
advocate the introduction of such
class of immigrants as shall prove ben
eft to us, to themselves and to our pres
ent labor. AS to the latter, by coming
in contact with them and their personal
influence and example, / desire class
which will permanently settle upon our
lands either as tenants or land holders
class which will bring with them capi-
tai, enterprise and industrious habits,
whose presence will stimulate the listless
to renewed efforts by the very force of
example and established success. These
will cultivate our idle fields now burden
ing us with taxation without profit, and
force our present labor into the same
system or one more congenial to their
habits and intelligence.
Having thus feebly intimated the de-
mands upon US for an increase OF labor,
we would examine what increase of
wealth and development may be antici-
pated.
By the best information at my COM
mand every immigrant brought into our
country is estimated to bring with him
an average of $50 per head. Then, if
we could induce 500 per month to come
among US, we have $336,O00 of cash cir.
culated per month. This is not small
matter where so much is needed to re-
build our waste places.
But Immigrants have labor valuation
estimated at 81, 100 per head. This labor
estimation at the North would be in
creased in South Carolina. For if it be
worth 81 100 among its equals and COM
petitors in the production of wealth, how
much more must it be worth coming IN
contact with an ignorant, unskilled and
thriftless class?
So, then, we might safely estimate a
we'll instructed laborer and small en-
ployer common among the agricultural
classes of Germany and Ireland coming
in contact with our present labor would
develop it at least one-third more, and
thereby increase his own valuation.
Then, this immigrant valuation at the
North increased one-third in South Car
olina, we have him worth 81 ,466.66s, and
500 per month would put our means OF
production and our ability to retain the
countless millions produced we'll in our
own hands. :, :,
The s6O,OOO,OOO of produce handled
and returned to the South by the way OF
transportation, commissions, exchange,
&C., would establish our grand old city
by the sea upon such basis as would
rebound to the interest of the whole
State, and rehabilitate our silent places
of business.
AS an instance of the class of immi-
grants would introduce into our State,
will refer to conversation bearing
upon this subject with an Intelligent gen,
tleman from a Northern State. He had
no opinion of Southern immigration
from his section, and said: "WhY, sir,
our people would not leave their towns,
villages, churches and schools to come
into your sparsely settled country at any
price; and, besides, ddn have yana man in J.; my
employ who has $! 600 deposited IN a
bank, and 1 doubt if you have such an
instance in your entire country" l ad-
mitted that we could not expect him, but
his man with 81 900 in cash was the very