The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-03-08
IMMIGRATION.

Remarks of Hon. Jobe Harral on the I'M
migration Bill delivered before the House in
Committee of the Whole, February 24th,
1882
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: 1t is the case very often
in this House, that when the friends of a
bill have said all they wished in support OF
il, its opposers have been cut off from discus
sion by a resort to the previous question on
the part of its friends, and which they
have too often succeeded in having sus-
stained to the injury, as | believe, of some
public interests. am glad, therefore, that
we are now in position when full, free
discussion of this bill cannot be suppressed
by any such movement. When the "te-
male University bill' was before the House.
those who opposed it were charged with "a
want of gallautry to the ladies Of Mississip-
pi, because they would not consent to waste
the public money, wrung out of the sweat
and toll ofthe honest Taxpayers of the State,
on reckless schemes that promised no good
in return. But we were content to answer
then, as now, that true gallantry did not
consist in wasting money that belonged to
others, but in making sacrifices wherever
necessary to promote the happiness and
welfare of others, That, there is more real,
lofty gallantry, in the Mississippian who
said to his sister, ''do you go to school, and
| will go to the pillow, or workshop, I'M
until you are educated, aud then
will take such chances as offer them
selves, to be educated myself" than
in all the great pretentions to such refined,
cultivated grace by squandering thousands
to which it had no title, TO the great in
Jury of those to whom those thousands of
right belonged. In like manner, we, who
oppose this immigration scheme, are charged
with being qnfriendly to immigration. But
such is not the fact. We are In favor of
immigration, but we want class OF lmml-
grants that this bill gives no promise OF
reaching. We have had bureau OF i'm
migration for ten years, and expended many
thousands of dollars upon it, and no one
claims that we ever reaped one cent of profit
from it. Yet, gentlemen say it is because
it had not the necessary means at It's com
mand, that it failed TO produce good results,
and now, they propose to appropriate fifty
thousand dollars, and with that sum, they
say it will be grand success. But let us
see how this money is to be expended. 1t
increases the salary of the Commissioner of
Immigration IRON 100000 to $2,500.00;
then it provides tor deputy commissioner
to Europe, at q salary of 81, 10000, with $500
per month for travelling expenses; then dep
uty commissioner to New Orleans with
81 ,201.00 per month, and travelling expenses
$4,000 per month; then another deputy COM
missioner to New York with salary of
81 10000, and $4,000 for travelling expen-
ses per month; then deputy commissioner
60 the United States, that undiscovered
country beyond New York and New Or
leans, with a salary of $4,000, and
travelling expenses $4,000 per month
then an assistant Comm issioner of Immi-
grafton with a salary of 81 100000; and THIS
enormous sum is to be expended annually
for two years, making $29, 100000, and
paper, pens, and other incidental expenses
will swell the vast outlay to $50, GOO, 600.
Here are three-ffths of the $50, 600, 90 that go
into the pockets of six officers created by
this bill. The remaining 100000 are To
be expended in some way not explained.
ayes" but gentlemen say, 1--WE have cut
the amount down to S25, 500, 00;" and sup
pose you have, it has been done without
your help, and against your earnest protests.
And then at least ST. 10000 of the money
still goes to the officers, leaving about
$S,U00,00 to pay for hunting up immigrants
of doubtful good to us. 1t cannot be pos
sihle that the people of Mississippi will APP
prove of such a wasteful expenditure of
their hard earnings. Thousands of our
good citizens are leaving our State for some
cause, and had we not better discover that
cause and remove it if we can, and keep
them here, instead Of spending 50 many
thousands to bring others of doubtful value
to replace them Certainly there is
no good economy or even common sense
in such plan. Gentlemen talk about inn
migration bureaus settling the Northwest,
and Texas, and spreading settlements to the
Pacific Ocean. immigration to this country
from Europe was at the food tide before
there was az immigration bureau on this
continent, and they turned away from us
because of their prejudice against the ne
groes of the South, aud it turns from US still
on that account to a~consderable extent; but
after all, it is perhaps better for Us, for we.
have escaped the curses of Mormonism, free
love-ism, and other moral ulcers that corrupt
society in many places in the North. Every
one knows that the railroads have been the
pioneers of the settlements from Missouri to
Oregon. Wherever the snort of the iron
horse was heard activity and enterprise re-
eeiyed new life; towns sprang up farms
were opened, and the busy hum of industry
was heard all along the line Railroads
went before ia Texas, and now they are
pouring thousands OF immigrants into that
great State; and railroads will bring them
here, if we will only first bring the railroads,
and give capital a hearty welcome. If We
want first class immigrants to come into
Mississippi, we must enact good laws,
and execute them; We must abolish
the harbar0us practice of carrying
concealed weapons We must build
up our common schools: We must chain the
demon, Intemperance; We must encourage
and protect our agricultural interests; We
must invite railroads. and factories, and
other industries, and be generous with
them when they come, and good, subsLan-
tiai citizens will flock By more thouss
ands int0 Mississippi than We can find room
for In the past ten years more than three
hundred Thousand have been added to our
population, aud they have come without
the help Of immigration bureaus, and
under such influences As I have named. i
million and half will come 10 rs in the
next ten years. But let Us pursue an adj
verse policy 70 the one indicated. and IL
though We may exhaust the State treasury
II inviting immigration into cur midst, It
will still turn away from rs Gentlemen
on the other side tell Us that our iands are
washing away and our fences rutti1g down,
and orr people have nef the scientific kn0WI-
edge 70 prevent tie 6rst nor he industry
.lo repair the lattefs and they appeal b Us
to assist them to bring the drilling h0rdes
Nf the old world q our relief thai they nay
leach = industry, and inplf e Is lie