The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-01

THE FREE LABOR MOVEMENT IN VIRGINIA
We publish in another portion Of our columns
to day the report Of speech made by Eli
Thsyer, President of the Homestead Aid Society,
to the citizens of Guyandotte, Va, at a meeting
in the town hall on the 2lst of July. The Home
stead Aid Society, as most Of our readers are
aware, was chartered by the New York Legisla
ture at its last seeeion, with q capital stock of
100000, and the privilege of increasing it to
$5,0O0,0OO. The whole of the 100000 was
subscribed for Immediately after the books were
opened The object of the association is to colo
nize the western portion Of Virginia, which is at
present less known and less populated than tue
distant regions of Kansas or Minnesota Some
feeling has been manifested in Virginia and
other Southern States in reference to the aboli-
tionist character or tendency Of this movement;
and it was for the purpose of dispelling preju-
dices ard errors in the public mind on that point
that the meeting was called at which Mr.. Thayer's
speech was delivered.
This free labor movement in Virginia appears
to us to be much more sensible one than the
movement to the wilderness regions Of the West,
which we have seen going on for come time past.
The lands in Western Virginia have been hither-
to entirely overlooked by emigrants, and can
therefore be bought now at less than the gov
eminent price. They constitute a splendid
wheat growing and pasturage country, are we'll
supplied with timber and COAL aud are said to be
eminently healthy. The Homestead Aid Society
propose to establish what they call a manufac-
turing city IN Wayne county, Virginia, near the
borders Of Kentucky, and little south Of the
southern dip of Ohio. We understand they have
selected and secured 5000 acres on both sides of
what is known az Twelve Pole creek, two miles
from the mouth of the Big Sandy river. This is
to be the site of the future city, which 1t is pro-
posed TO baptize by the name of Cercdo, signiG-
cant of the bountful harvests that II In to stimu-
late 1t is at the head of navigation on the
Ohio. From this point to Kansas there is water
communication, and II needs but the building Of
some two hundred miles of railroad 10 connect
Ceredo with the Kanawha and James River Canal,
and thus perfect communication with Richmond
or Norfolk.
The Importance of this communication and of
this outlet TO Western produce by q Southern
port Is ipcalculable. Governor Wise gives the
undertaking the weight Of his support, seeing
clearly the immense advantages which Virginia
Is destined TO derive from IL. The Homestead
Aid Society, by establishing the site Of their city
at the point proposed, will, by the impetus they
will give TO land settlement for q circuit of hun
dreds Of miles, stimulate the completion of this
work Mr.. Thayer, in his speech ct Guyandotte,
points out many of the advantages to be derived
from the enterprise, not by the emigrants alone,
but by the people of the entire State. To this
speech we refer our readers, merely adding that
the company has already sent out $4,000 worth
of engines and machinery, and that the frat dc.
tachment of settlers Is to leave in the middle of
August. They are not to move in large bodies
before September.
TBURLow WEED ALL ABoUr.-Thurlow Weed