The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-21
SOUTHERN IMMIGRATION.
Charleston's Chances of being the Great
Entrepot.

SOUTHERN IMMIGRATION.
Charleston's Chances of being the Great
Entrepot.
COLUMBIA, S. c., February 15.-1n re.
sponse to numerous inquiries, Commits
.ioner Butler has furnished to the press
the following statement of his plans in
the matter of immigration:
When he receives information asto the
power of the City of Charleston to grant
a charter that will authorize the South
ern immigration Association to establish
an immigrant home, erect docks, wharves,
&C.: he will endeavor to perfect the Or
ganization of the South Carolina branch
of the Association. If proper authority
can be conferred by the City of Charles
ton and some inducements are offered,
that city will undoubtedly be selected as
the port of entry, as it is the most desi-
rable location on the South Atlantic
coast Col. Butler has recently discussed
the matter very fully with Gen. ]. B.
Erwin, the member of the executive
committee for this State, and other pro.
gressi7e citizens, and is very much elated
by the encouragement he has received.
In addition to this he has received letters
from prominent gentlemen in various
parts Of the State that seem to give as
surance of the complete success of any
scheme that may be inaugurated.
Colonel Butler says that there is
very strong desire on the part of tho
people generally to do all they can to
advance the cause of immigration in
South Carolina, and all that is needed to
make this desire assume practical shape
is the right kind of appeal to them.
The association must be able to show
that its plans are practicable and will be
ef1ectual with proper effort, and it can
then rely on the material assistance and
moral support Of every good citizen Of
the State. The commissioner has not
had time nor opportunity to confer with
the members of the Southern 1mmigra.
ton Associations in the other States, so
that he is uns 1e to say just what it has
yet accomplished in the way of organi.
zation but he is confident that the
South Carolina branch, of which he is
the head, can be soon put on irm
foundation. BE believes that if this
State can be the first to move forward
practically in this matter there will be
no trouble in having Charleston selected
as the entrspot for all the Southern
States and if this much cannot be done,
it can at least be made such for all the
Atlantic States. This of itself would be
of infinite advantage. 1t would not only
add to the Importance of our metropolis,
but would be of great service to the.
whole people, as it would enable. them to
select the very best class Of foreigners for
tenants and laborers, and enable the
land owners to deal directly with those
who have money to invest in real estate.
The reports of the Castle Garden au-
thorities show that a large, number of
the immigrants arriving at New York
remain there and find homes either in
the city or State. Of course we could
not offer inducements to as many skilled
laborers as the great metropolis, and
therefore would not expect as many of
this class to come 10 Charleston; but
South Carolina offers as great induce.
ments as any Southern State, and once
the immigrants landed on our soil, we
could retain as large proportion of the
arrivals as New York now does Of those
at her port, in short, South Carolina
would get the "pick," and would, of
course, select the best.
The establishment of such home
would hasten the day of direct trade with
Europe, and would vastly increase the
business of Charleston. There are many
other advantages that would. follow, but
it is unnecessary to speak Of them, as al!
realize the Importance of the matter and
the benefits to flow from it.
The great consideration now is, how to
successfully inaugurate and carry it out.
Ths first step to be taken is TO arouse the
people and awaken enthusiasm in the
subject. To do this effectually, Colonel
Butler says that as soon as the charter is
obtained local executive committees will
be appointed in every county to canvass
for members of the association, first
among those most interested and most to
be benefited. When this has been
thoroughly done, Il convention will be
called to meet in Columbia or Charles.
ton for full discussion and the perfec-
ton of complete organization. Every
citizen of the State will be considered
member and everybody will be invited
to participate.
The New Orleans Exposition is regard
ed as the great opportunity of the year tor
inducing capital and immigration, and at
the proposed convention this matter also
will come in for full consideration. The
result of such convention, if largely
attended by representative men, as it
should be, will be to at once attract.at.
tention to South Carolina from every
quarter, as it will be recognized as pub
lie sentiment in favor of immigration in
advance of any other Southern State.
Salesday in April or May will be nam
ed for meetings to be held at every coun-
ty seat, and the live, patriotic men OF
every county will be asked to attend
these meetings, address the people, urge
upon them the great Importance of the
matter and impress upon them the pow
er of organization, and ask them to at.
tend the State convention. A little of
the right sort of explanation will soon
convince them, and there will be no
further doubt of the ultimate triumph of
the immigration movement Correspon-
dence Ne,vs and Courier.