The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-17
100
SOUTHERN HOMES.

1Jedp. uHOCCulIcu, 'oNCiiiiiiOi'
lands in the west before the war;;
misapprehensions IN regard to
Southern climate, industriously
circulated by designing immigrant
agents:-still graver misapprehen-
ons of southern character; and the
assumed degradation of contact
with. or in opposition to, slave Ia
Dor; and since the war, political
prejudiccs, tales of continued dis
order and dread of personal yio-
lencc. and fears of the insecurity of
property, these have turned the
tide of immigration, native and for
cign, from the course to which ma
tural inducements would seem to
have directed it; and while the west
has filled up from both channels,
and the wilderness expanded into
mighty States. the South has stood
still in its population, or only n
larged it bv natural increase. But
the west is now filed up; cheap
government lands are no longer OF
the market: and we assume that
there Is IL sufficient restoration of
common sense in the minds of
the northern people to compel an
indignant closing..of the a to the
~fabrications of p~artizan politicians.
Surely there has been no lack of
means for reaching the truth, since
northern tourists, and northern
settlers have left no portion of
the South unexplored and can
give the plain unvarniShed truth IN
connection with all those subjects
which interest those who, from
choice or necessity. are seeking new
homes.
The South has never been very
sollcltous for foreign immigration:
more especially has North Carroll
IA been Indifferent, not from any
feeling of hostility to accession to
her numbers from any quarter, but
apparently from an aversion to dis
turb that singular homogeneity of
population which is her marked
characteristic. In her early history
the country now embraced in our
State limits, was ii promised land;
but the original streams that pour
ed in from England and Scotland,
or from Virginia and Pennsylvania,
have had few accessions, and the
commingling of the blood of these
Municipalities and commonwealth;
has resulted in the production of {
people more free from admixturt
than any in the United States. b
the census of 1870, North Carroll
ma contained only 1929 of foreign
birth. which was less, both reia
lively and absolutely, than that 0
any other State. Nor while indii
ferent to foreign immigratio
has this State interested itself sui
ficiently to invite that restless hive
of over-populated northern States
exchange their restricted libertit
for the ample domain SO imperfect
iy occupied and utilized by her ow
people. That hive is in motion
sending out its swarms to seek ne
resting places, and the wisest IL
stincts of craftsmanship point
action on the part of North Carroll,
to attract some portion of it to h,
territory.
In the presentation of Undue
ments to the immigrant. it is safe
because it is wiser, to adhere to Il
exact truth, to lay on no brillian,
of coloring hal will not bear exar
nation, to distort no facts that m
afterwards confront with reproac
full reminder, to conceal no defeC
hat may, under the bitterness
disappointment, lead to paint
elimination. Holding to til,
principles, the assertion can be ma
confidently that North Carroll
presents a greater value and vari,
of inducements than any sect
now open to the immigrant.
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