Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-22
ID. r. THOMAS.
N. b. MTLLFN

/ 7. G.. DuBign0u. Esq. stated that Mai
I ID. c. Bacon. State Commissioner to the
/ New Orleans Exposition, who had ex-
I pected to be present. had been called from
! the city and hadrequested him to submit TO
I the meeting his regret that he was absent,
/ and also to state his views in regard to
/ an exhibit at the exposition from Eastern
| Georgia. which he believed would show
more fully its advantages as a field for
/ immigration. He also submitted to the
meeting several maps Of the city of New
/ Orleans and the Exposition grounds,
| showing the location Of buildings. etc.
d. r. Thomas. Esq. called the atten-
! ton Of the meeting TO the fact that the
movement which had originated at Nash
/ vile was being organized in different
/ States and the organizations were
actively at work not only with the view
/ to promoting foreign immigration but to
| securing immigration into the Southern
States from the North and West. An i'm
pOrtant question to be considered was
/ through what ports would European
I emigrants enter Georgia. The committee
! impressed. upon the meeting the impOr-
I lance Of landing upon our own coast
! without the necessity for travel from a
I Northern or Gulf port. Mr.. Thomas
/ spoke Of the interest which was shown in
/ the convention. As to a local organization
I he was aware that without the cO-Opera-
/ little could be done.
Capt. J. NJ. Guerard said that very lit
/ tie interest had seemingly been manifest
I ed in the movement. Its promoters had
succeeded in holding two meetings and in
| sending a delegation to the national con-
ventiOn. but when the delegates came back
10 report the result Of their observations
and to submit their suggestions nobody
/ seemed to have interest enough to come
/ out and hear them. An organization was
an important matter TO be considered.
and the question whether the temporary
organization should be dissolved and a
permanent organization should be ac-
I cOmplished, or whether nothing further
should be done, was a matter for the
meeting to determine. He had been in
terested in the movement from its start.
! The citizens Of Camden county. he
| learned, had organized an immigration
association. and had formed a
land fund and sent an agent to Ireland
for the purpose of securing Irish immi-
grants, who would individually be grant
ed an amount Of land upon which to set
tie. The agent was confident that a good
cIass of immigrants could be induced to
come to America, the only requirement
being the proper inducement offered TO
them in person. This organization, he IN
derstOOd, was ready to cooperate
with any organization that might
be effected here. The State
formerly had a Commissioner of
Immigration located in New York, and in
direct contact with the immigrants at
Castle Garden. Through his efforts an
immigrant movement was started. but
amounted to very little. The present
necessity is for an organization to provide
Savannah as a port Of entry for immi-
grants.
Capt. Raoul said he had not been en-
thusiastic in the matter for the reason
that he could see no chance tor sue
cess. In order to make immigration sue
ccssful, it is necessary, he said. to secure
better class Of people than those which
comprise our present labOring classes. to
acquaint them with our laws, and provide
homes for them in advance Of their COM
ing. and to successfully carry out any
scheme like this would require an organ
izatiOn as powerful as would be required
to build a railroad from the coast to the
northern limitsOf Georgia. and any money
spent in this direction without being in
diligently directed was very much like
money thrown away.
Mr.. Curtis favored the organization.
and hoped that II would not be aban-
dOned.
Gen. Sorrel thought that there were
not enough present TO attempt anything
like a permanent organization, and he
tutAeloIe luOfeu LudJ WIN the adoption OF
resolutions thanking the Nashville dele
CATION for the faithful discharge of their
duties, and the request that the news
papers publish their report, the meeting
adjourn.
The resolutions were thereupon sub
mitted by Gen. SOrrel and adopted.
g. \. Nichols, Esq, said that the pro-
ceedings of the national convention were
to be published and he had expected that
they would be ready for distribution last
night.
some discussion followed upon the adj
yantages to result to any port by its being
a port of entry for immigrants, after
which the meeting adjourned.