Year: 1870




hold in constant round OF changes. might inuupy
instances but the general statement covers the grsuo
that the whole tone Of the Convention was at Oh ucr
disgust with the negro free laborcr hstoheu IN
vain for oxe dissenting voice. word OF Defense thnk
Ing that in all this assembly Of planters there must Dc
some one to bear testimony that he had found leaven OF
negroes to work hard and well Not one had any such
evidence TO offer But lest false impression should be
given should say right hero that 1t Is possible To get
outside the circle Of these planters OF the slavehodns
era and to find Of practical knowledge who are
READY to give from their experience very different
| opnions deal now only with this Convention, made
up Of men saturated with the spirit OF Slavery yet can
did, practical and eager to make money by successful
crops and wish to put record the fact that they see
10 possibility OF usefulness in the free negro as laborer,
and find hope only in schemes for obtaining more costly
and less experienced substitutes from distant lands


projects put forward for remedyng the evils under
which South Carolina suffers many and various
Something said of Northern immigration but the
Of talk toward European and especially
German reGnforcements. An encouraging tale was toid


TO the astonshment of many Of the delegates VINO had
heard very different stories about itof the success OF


little local association in Newberry County, which,
with very small subscription of capital has brought 0
European mm grants, and induced more than half or
them remain at work on the farms OF that region
Much was said of the skill and patience OF the Germans
in educing great results from poor land OF the depth
of their burrows ther marvellous crops of straw
|


about Atlanta The formal scheme put forward is quite
simple and shows the marks of practical minds 1t con-
Templates the formation of County Land Immigration
Societies throughout the State to be formed by SUD-
scrpOns of land stock appraised at Its tax vaateh
the land TO be divided into farms Of convenient Sizes
alternate farms to be given free absolutely TO Immigrants
who will occupy and cultivate them for years ana the
farms retained be sold at prices which, as tho
tide of immigration in, are expected TO make lho
enterprise pecunarily profitable and to return great
dividends The scheme also provides Tor the estaDsh
ment Of representative central board to sit at Charles
ton made up delegates from each local society," 10 aho
oinduce immigrants to come this way 10 re-
ceye and care for them while here TO give them entre
freedom Of choice to push on to California OF the Nor


West if they choose and to distribute those VINO eject


to remain among the free farms which are opened TO them
in South Carolina Intimately allied with this is the
| plan 10 make the coming of immigrants possible by
bnding feet of four steamers to run between Charles
ton and some European port and while bringing passcn
gers their westward trips to carry cotton back with
Them and begin the emancipation Of the South from the
tribute it pays NewYork both its import and cx-
port trade. Other reports made looking to the
establishment of local cotton factories and other i'm
of the Of the South but these were
received with less enthusiasm, many of the planters
firmly believing that manufactures are curse to the
community which engages in them and that the only true
for this State and its neghbOrs is to stick to agr
culture alone. Thus the great topic of the Convention
the immigration schemes 0nered, ana Tue PROJECT TOT
establishing direct trade making immigration pos
| sible


But when the difficulties standing in the way Of this
main undertaking were brought out in debate, each
speaker contributing his quota with his little panacea for
removing it, the prospect seemed appalling indeed, and
the hardesthearted spectator could not but feel pity
for South Carolina il all the obstacles in the way to her
regaining prosperity represented. In the first
placeand great stress was laid upon ths-there Is
| IN
countries from which emigration IS sought and popular
belief having somehow been built up there that the
South wants labOrers to take the place OF its former
slaves and to be treated in much the way. Such
prejudice ought to be easily eradcated If were alto
geher unfounded, but it seemed from further sugges
tons corresponding prejudice in the South needed
also removal. 1t said that great difficulty in in
ducng laborer to settle plantation was his
reluctance accept the ratOns of peck meal and three
pounds Of bacon, which the planter considered proper
allowance for working OF whatever color. Then 1t
was very strenuousy urged that before German could
be induced to arry here permanently, even as tenant
farmer the proprietor of gift farm, there must be
built for him house such as his wife would consent to


live it insult said several speakers to expect
any white nhabit the cabins in which the negroes
had been lodged did the counter argument that
forefathers found enements built for them and that
no frame houses included among the effective tepta
tons the Minnesota praires, to convince the OBJ
jectOrs Moreover, the planter after he had reformed
the bill Of fare Of his :hoe hand and built house for
him. must it was declared by speakers, learn to
treat him equal, other terms could he eX-
pect European immigrants engage with him. But here
the demands of the labor movement became too
much for one prominent member of the Convention. 81
regard that dea," said he vehementy, "as the most
deleterous that could he put forward When any man
comes labor upon my field my equal it will be after
my death. I will accept German gentleman as my
equal do expect that the gentlemen of Europe
are coming here immigrants | will never admit
these men and their families to association with mine
terms of equality" The gentleman, Mr.. ID. Wyatt
Aiken whose every word was worth setting down as
typical of the confused ideas and deeprooted prudces
which still trouble hosts of South Caroinians also OBJ
iected to the proposition that the planter to carry


large plantation successfully, must give ii his personal
attention in the OF any other business must set
the example of work. must gain the respect Of bis labor
ers by showing his own energy have tired taxing
hold Of the plow handle he said, and do not like 1t.


believe human nature to do little work posi-
ble and intend that others shall work for me-" Yet
this gentleman Of the most earnest advocates OF
immigration for restoring the prosperity OF South Caro-


na full Of contempt for the shrkng negro, and is
especially ardent in favor Of Chinese contract labor for
the low counties along the He added, moreover
another difficulty to the accumulation OF those already
piled up the expression Of the belief that the land
which is got nothing is valued at nothing that the
immigrant viii be ready to quit gilt FARM and
that only way to induce immig grants from Germany
stick to the land to make them pay small sum for
it before they leave their homes. Another difficulty
merely suggested in another quarter the low rate OF
which planters have yet been willing to pay for
labor and yet it intmated in speeches made
that first result of this influx Of immigration into South
Carolina expected to be to lower the prices well
improve the quality Of labor The delegates Of the
low countries plainly declared that they could expect
benefit from the proposed enterprise of European mm
grafton, since every German Irish laborer who had
| ton, oil ntn land ed When
the first rays Of the June sun struck the moist fields
| And. fnallY. il eaid than that II