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Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1867
Volume 133, Page 3783   View pdf image (33K)
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21

whom are Germans, attracted by its genial climate, fertile
lands and general adaptability to business pursuits, have vol-
untarily selected the State of Maryland as their permanent
abiding place, have prospered to a remarkable degree, and
naw rank amongst their numbers many of the most wealthy
and influential citizens of the State. The accompany state-
ment of the "German element in Maryland" presents complete
statistics regarding this class of the population.

The State of Maryland is one of the oldest in the Union, one of
the original thirteen, and though this large number of for-
eigners have selected it aa their choice over all the others,
a greater number of late years have passed through it and
around it, to the far West, impelled by the one idea of pro-
curing cheap lands without stopping to inquire whether in
leaving its borders they were actually bettering their condi-
tion.

It is not surprising that this should be the case, when it is
considered that active agents have plied them for years with
the most extravagant accounts of the "great West," have
offered every inducement to them to settle in that section,
whilst Maryland, pursuing the even tenor of her way, seemed
to be perfectly indifferent to the advantages of securing a
class of population of all others the most valuable to the
commonwealth. This seeming indifference, however, never
really existed. The apparent indifference was the normal
condition of its slave system, the first effect of the eradica-
tion of which is, to extend a cordial welcome to the emigrant,
exhibiting to him facts, it is hoped convincing truths, to
teach him, that in passing over Maryland on his route to the
West, he leaves behind him a far more ready avenue to
wealth than he can ever expect to obtain in any of the West-
ern States.

The impelling motive as has been stated of his journey to
the West, is the cheapness of the land. It is certainly very al-
luring to one, who, in his native country finds it impossible
to possess a very small tract of land, unless he pays an ex-
orbitant price, to discover, that in this section he can buy a
very large tract at a seemingly inconsiderable price; and
thus, with little knowledge of the country, except such as is
conveyed to him by parties interested in the sale of the land,
he accepts at once the tempting bait and his mind is made up
to seek a home in the West. A little reflection on the facts
it is designed to offer him in this publication, it is hoped,
will convince him that he is making a sad mistake, when he
passes over the fruitful State of Maryland, to seek a home in
the Western wilds.

In most of the Western States, where land is offered at a
cheap price, a further inducement is held out that the land is
all ready for the plough. A moments reflection will con-
vince him that this, in the sense in which it is used, is the

 

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Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1867
Volume 133, Page 3783   View pdf image (33K)
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