The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-09-02
IMArIGRATIoN AND WORK FOR A
DEPARTMENT.

The STATESMAN is unalterabIy OPP
posed to the establishment of state
bureau of immigration, or to the
state paving anything upon the
transportation of immigrants. The
munificence of Texas to actual set
tiers is unsurpassed in the history of
states, the laws upon its statute
books, in the interest of settlers and
protective of them, being unequaled
in similar provision by any other
state Of the Union. Besides giving
one hundred and sixty acres to &C
tual settlers, the homestead laws of
the state so carefully guard certain
possessions of families that the citi-
zen feels confident of a peaceful life
at home. Texas acts upon the hy-
pothesis that there are others besides
heads of families who demand and
deserve the strong protection of
government; that wives and chill
dren have rights in the homestead,
which shall be protected against de-
sign, or against incapacity and reck-
lessness. The knowledge of such
facts abroad would induce the settle
ment of many worthy people within
the limits of the state. Not only is
q farmers two hundred acres of
land free from execution, but his
household goods, his farm tools, his
teams, his milk cows and his pigs,
all these things upon which his fam
lily really depend for existence, are
held inviolate, and he knows
that, with labor, hunger and want
must never invade his home. The
Democratic platform adopted at
Dallas, contains the following:
We repudiate as false the charge
that the Democratic party of Texas
has been opposed to immigration,
and while the constitution prohibits
the use of public money for the
support of bureau of immigration,
we urge the next legislature to make
ample provision for the collection
and dissemination of statistics per-
tanning to our agricultural and other
resources to the end that all seeking
new homes. knowing our great adj
Eantages, may settle in our midst,
extending to them a most cordial
welcome.
The statistical and historical de-
partment of the state government
might be empowered to do a very
important work in this connection.
To it might be delegated the work
of obtaining and compiling such in.
formation from every county in the
state as would cover all facts of in
terest to emigrants of the older states
and countries. Such compilation
should embrace climate, rain fall,
nature of soil, products or adapta-
bility of soil to production, together
with the average yield in staple pro-
ducts, and all other facts touching
the material advantages or disad-
vantages of sections, water supply,
health, etc. Such information, with
the laws referred to, placed in the
hands of emigrants, would certainly
be of very great advantage to Texas.
1t would be made upon the faith
of the state, and hence free from
those highly colored representations
of agents, working probably upon
commission, which have in instances
already done Texas some injury
abroad. Such compilation could
and would be freely used by private
immigration companies, and, Civ
ing truthful and useful infor-
nation, would be the means
of securing valuable settlers from
among persons acting upon their
own intelligence and volition. I'm
migration reaching us by such means
would be permanent and contented.
There would be secured to us an in
telligent people, allured by gene
rous laws and fertile lands,
and one settler thus pro-
cured would be worth ten, herded
into railroad trains and checked
through to Texas to be deposited at
given points, uniformed and with
out regard TO tastes. y vast amount
of good may be effected by following
the course suggested in the recon-
mendations OF the platform and
Democratic Legislature win see that
the suggestions are followed 10 the
best interests of the state,