Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-06
THE IMMIGRATION MOVEMENT.
The Meeting at the Exchange Last Night
Delegates Appointed to the South


Delegates Appointed to the South
ern immigration Convention.
In pursuance with the call issued by a
number of leading citizens interested in
the promotion of Immigration into Georgia
a citizens meeting was held last night in
the Council Chamber for the considera-
ton of the movement and the appoint
ment of delegates to the Southern Immi-
grafton Convention, at Nashville, next
week.
Upon motion of Capt. J. NJ. Guerard
Capt W G. RaOul was called to the chair.
Hon. F. G. DuBignon was requested to
act as Secretary upon motion of Col. j. ID.
Estill.
In announcing the object of the meeting
Capt. Guerard read the following letter
from Hon. A. J. McWhirter, President of
the Southern immigration Association:
SOUTHERN IMMIGRATION ASSOCIATION,
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Feb. 20, 1851
To the Hon. William Rogers, Gen. Sug0t., etc.:
DEAR SlR-It is with peculiar pleasure
that we invite you to attend the first meeting
of the southern immigration Association of
America" to be held IN the CITY of Nashville,
State of Tennessee, March L, y, ID, 1884.
The states embraced in our association are,
viz: Missouri, Arkansas Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North
Carolina. South Carolina, Virginia, West Nir-
not only to establish emigrant eRtrep0tS upon
the seaboard and Gulf coast contiguous to us,
but also to sift emigration that may become
part of us. We do not address ourselves alone
to the emigrant from the natiOnalities of the
Old World, but also to those of the cold aud
rigorous and short seasoned climate of the
New England, the Northern and the North
western States. In a word. to all of those who
have ready money to pay for our surplus lands
or to invest in our young and growing indus
tries, in the development of the South and
the maintenance of the great future OF our
common country.
1t is our very pleasant duty to say that your
attendance on this occasion is demanded by
every consideration of national interest, and
in the name of all we hold dear IN the history
and development of our country, we call upon
You to contribute your influence, DOtn per
sonal and political, to the furtherance OF TINS
movement, which must lnaugurate new
feature for our Southern land. We need your
presence among us, and urge you TO make any
sacrifice that will secure your attendance.
We are in earnest in this matter, and we de-
sire a recognition of this invitation. person
ally if possible. and if not, by letter of encOur-
agement and advice; but If possible, we i'm
| plOre You. for our dear southland, come anu
meet with us. We are, with great respect,
your friends, truly,
A. j. MCWHIRTER, President
5. II. NOwLIN, Secretary
Col. Estill urged the Importance of en-
| couraging immigration. He had no plan
! to suggest upon which to form an Organi-
| cation to promote immigration, but he
was convinced that by discussing and ia
miliariZing ourselves with the subject
some feasible plan would be discovered
Even a systematic plan of presenting
the advantages Of the Southern States
| to those seeking new homes would
accomplish much good. The gentlemen
present were the descendants of immi-
grants, and but few had many generations
between them and their fOreign-bOrn an
cestOrs. There were plenty Of good men
ready to come to Georgia to-day, as our
fathers did a few years ago. If
we desire that our children shall
inherit the land we love, it
/ behooves us to see to it that the white
| population of the South IS increased by
! immigration from the North and West
and also from the lands beyond the sea.
There must be a beginning in this i'm
/ portant measure, and he hoped this meet
/ ing was that beginning.
! Capt. Guerard said he had given the
! subject considerable reflection, and was in
/ favor of an organization which in time
! should become a stock company, having
/ for its object to secure means tor the pro-
motion of immigration into the State, and
! for the disposition of the immigrants af-
| ter their arrival. He could
name half dozen men who,
! together, own half a million acres of land
| in lower Georgia and along the coast.
/ This territory alone, controlled in the city
/ of Savannah, was itself a great field.
| An organization, he believed, could
/ be formed, with a capital stock
part in cash and part in land
which would cover the whole State.
| He believed if such an association should
be advertised throughout the country and
/ immigration invited-nOt as labOring, but
/ as a freehOlding element-the territory
would rapidly be taken up. The move
ment, he was aware, was a great under
taking, and its purpose could
not be accomplished in a
short time, but would require
/ continued support, but when such an
ASSOCIATION should have been organized,
! and when 1t was seen that the matter Ofim-
migration was being taken up in earnest,
he believed the landowners throughout
/ the State would readily contribute to
/ its stock. He believed that some
| immediate organization should be
effected to secure representation in
! the Nashville Convention, and he there
/ fore moved that the meeting resolve itself
/ into the Georgia Association for lmmigra-
ton, and that delegates representing it be
sent to Nashville.
! Capt. RaOul believed that such a move,
so far as immediate organization was
/ concerned, would, at present. be
/ premature, but suggested that dele
gates be appointed to the Nashville
] CUnN GullOl, anu Iudl upon luelI ISIulu q
4 more effective organization could be ef-
fected based upon their suggestions.
Col. Estill thereupOn moved the appoint
ment of a committee of five, whose duty
it should be to appoint delegates to the
| Nashville convention. The motion was
carried, and the char appointed Col. j.
| II. Estill, Capt. J. B. West, capt. J. III.
Guerard and Messrs. G. n. Nichols and
d. r. Thomas.
The committee retired, and after de-
liberation, reported the following gentle
men to represent the meeting at Nash
vile, with instructions upon their return
to call meeting of citizens and suggest
plan of organization: Capt. j. NJ. Guer-
ard, Maj. NJ. B. Millen, George N. Mich
OILS, Esq, d. r. Thomas, Esq, Hon. f. G.
DuBignOn, 7. 5. Wayne, Esq, and G. II.
| DOrsett, Esq.
After a general discussion of the sub
ject of immigration the meeting adjourned
subject to a call of the committee.