Nashville Union And American

EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.

To the Editor of the "Weekly Dispatch," (England):

Mr. EDITOR:—As many thousands of your intelligent masses contemplate emigration to the United States this summer and next fall, very probably I may be enabled to furnish them a little information on the subject. In September last I visited England after an absence of sixteen years, having left Portsmouth for America in 1854. During the time I have been here I have lived in many States of the Union, both North and South, and really, sir, I must confess, though I love the land of my nativity, yet in my opinion there is no country in the world to equal the United States. It is truly the poor man's country, and all who are willing to work can find employment on these shores. I will admit there is a class who come here expecting people to run after them seeking their services, many of whom expect to find gold in the street; all these good-for-nothing scamps had better remain where they are—we have too many of that class here already. We call them "Dead Beats." When they arrive here they generally impose on the good nature of their friends, and in many cases I find the friends frequently pay their passages back from whence they came, being heartily glad to get rid of them. The Southern States are offering better inducements to emigrants than can be found in the Eastern cities. New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and many other permanent towns are already filled to overflowing, thousands being out of employment. It is not so, however, the Far West, or in the Southern States. Kansas City, in the State of Missouri, is a good point for a mechanic or labourer to go to. Thousands are continually wending their way towards Omaha and Nebraska city, and all of them to meet with success. There are thousands of acres of land to be obtained in Mississippi and Tennessee for a mere song. Memphis, which is situated on the Mississippi is a delightful spot, being surrounded by the finest country in the State. The climate is salubrious, and being situated on a high bluff, makes Memphis a healthy city. An institution similar to that at Castle Garden, New York, has been established at Memphis for the protection of emigrants, and I doubt not the latter city will become the most important place for emigrants in the State.

All those who determine to settle here will never regret associating themselves with a people who, during the civil war, commanded the respect and admiration of the world, and let me assure your readers they were no less distinguished in the field than in the private walks of life. I have lived in the Southern States for many years, and have always been the recipient of every kindness and courtesy at their hands. A true Southerner reminds your correspondent of a true Englishman, both of whom have only to be known to be appreciated.

Wednesday, the 4th of May, was a great day in the history of the colored race the great event being the celebration of the Fifteenth Amendment; and thousands of our colored citizens paraded the streets in honor of one of the greatest victories ever accomplished in this or any other country—that of universal suffrage.

The intelligent masses of the world seem to be in favor of extending the right hand of fellowship to a race who have struggled so long against ignorance and oppression.

Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, is a place of considerable importance and possesses many elegant buildings, among which is the capitol, which is said to be the finest Statehouse in America. This magnificent structure is built of blocks of stone, and is a beautiful ornament to this city of rocks. There are several fine churches here, all built much after the English architecture, and one of nearly every denomination; these all seem to be well attended on the Sabbath. Business is entirely suspended on Sunday in Nashville.

The city can boast of four railway stations, running north, south, east and west. There are many hundreds traveling over the different routes daily. The sleeping coaches on the different railways in the United States are about sixty feet long, and are the most magnificent carriages I have ever seen, comfort and safety being combined in these elegant cars.

Nashville has long since recovered from her prostration, caused by the rebellion, and bids fair to become, at no very distant day, the handsomest city in the State.

At this place can be found hotel accommodation for two thousand persons.

Edgefield, opposite Nashville, on the banks of the Cumberland river, is a beautiful little city, containing about six thousand inhabitants. A magnificent suspension-bridge connects Edgefield with Nashville. Nearly all the leading merchants of Nashville reside in the former city, Edgefield being to Nashville what Birkenhead is to Liverpool—a beautiful retreat from the cares of business. The Cumberland river is a wide stream, and several large steamers ascend and descend daily, and the amount of business done by these steamers is surprising.

THOS. W. WHITE.

NASHVILLE, TENN., May 6, 1870.