The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-24
TAe Rs-Csloaixatien Of virKtnta-Ths Other
Side Of the Question.
TO THk BDlTUA OF THu HERALD.

ven Dcnts and even private individuals have fm.
tbersd their own selfish ends or interests. In this
sstsole We will conane ourselves 10 this continent,
End, commencing few years ago, when, under the
suspises Of some Of the leading Statesmen Of this
country this great experiment was tried on the
Lbefisn coast-tbe double object Of the founders
being TO introduce civilization Into benighted
Africa, and ct she same time free onr own country
from population which never seemed to aud much
favor either north or south Of Mason and Dxcns line
Now, these were projects worthy Of great and noble
minds, where philanthropy and beDeveaeuoe took
the lead, and where the hope Of making dollars for
the orgnators political capital for outsiders never
entered their imsginati0ns But 10! the times
are changed, and 80 are our projects; now we have
seheme set on foot not to to transport the African
10 his native land, and to spend our money 10 30
doing, but merely the reverse TO transplant whoie
colonies Of white men, women and children into the
slave States, and instead Of spending our money Tor
Q benevolent purpose We are to make m1li0ns
dollars by the operation. So say the originators-
Il 10 time to inquire how this is proposed to he
done, and, If possible interposs and save POOR emil
grants from such doom.
The scheme Swallowed forth at first family by Ell
Thsysr and associates, has lately been incorporated
BY the Legislature, under the name and title Of the
"Ame rican migrant Aid and Homestead Company"
whose professed OBJECT Ia the diversion of the tide
Of enigr avon ffOm the West to the cheap lands Of
bordering Southern States, which are to be Dur
chased at wholesale. and then resold, In small
FARMS and by which II is assumed milf ms of dol
hrs are to he made for all con cerned Il G. for the
selle,s.) What disinteressed aid they here give
the poor emigrant!-and with flourish Of trumpets
ve are informed that within one half On hour fro
the time The 10 ks were opened 100000 stock was
subscribed and more astonishing than oil, $50 600
by Virginian; and further, fifty shares by an ex-
virgnian. IT'S pity that ne stock was not In.
taken by Virginians-Of course the people next to
the orgDstors most nterested-they being 80 to sell
their old worthless lands which they were aware
were not even worth cultivatiDg, and which must
eventually be abandoned; and the origiDaors of the
scheme would take the stock as being COED, being
little different from Wall street stock In general and
good bait for the verdant emigrant. But besides
all this, the movement was intended as flank move.
ment to head back the negro slave population and
their masters by pre- occupying the country. Verify,
beautiful idea but simoy ridiculous, because not
dollars; and these objects are to be secured by
the cash to be paid by these verdaut emgrants for
these cheap poor lands; aud, secondly. by placing
them in jut.aposi.ion for years with tn, the slave tn
body knows) the poor white man has lost all self
respect and becomes despised even by the slave.
The object Of the association is to procure cheap
lands, and to sell to actual white settlers. Actual
experience has demonstrated that the fewer acres
they own Of such lands the richer they will BE- and
rice rersa. But will not this Virginia cheap land
prospectus look well on paper TO place before some
large helpless family perhaps, But "ho tor vlIgi;
''small FARMS" great Inducements to emigrants,"
told them all the truth3-have you told them what
they may expect o. in comparison with other Ststesl
Have you told them that, with perhaps few excep-
lions they will be looked on Is intruders and every
mania ham rniaod aOaiuaf tham7 Hava nm
them that you are satisfied; that you have seen
these lands that they are not all OF the quality you
saw when hrst You entered Virginia by railroad
deserted novels, broken fences, and cornstalks 20
few and far between as almost 10 puzzle you 70 find
them?-or did You tell them Of flowing and waving
fields OF corn Of uxurant grass, tobac 30 ana green
srOpsi II you have told them Of these latter
IN connection with cheap lands, you have
Aeoeiycd them. Tell them that every acre Of
land worth culhvating, and at all ACCESSIBLE
n.,h %arfet x. Sssy of Vsns
or the trans Allegheny region, can thsy buy snge
acre Of good land for less than In the most favored
portions Of New York; Of equal goodness and proxi-
the FEW villages and towns that the produce which
they had been accustomed to find Q market for In
denssly populated countries, would rot on shs
. matter which u very uncertain, both ss regards
green crops and fruit, failures often Occurring three
sDd four years in succession; ewing 70 early prems
tnys growth and late frost. and constant drougAts
In TIE summer which burn up every living green
thisg except the slluvial or doop rich soils of
the valleys
hes ana towns to receive the produce Of their labsr
hat an spervavng climate awaits them, where they
will neither feel willing able 70 endure toll under
the scofching sun Of summer, and where, by expo
~tsr 70 seize them; and this viii be certainly the
unaccmsted emigrant's lot IN large portion OF
the country, ct least wherever the richest soils are
DO be got on the ridges and the mountains. lie
NAV find exemption from this; but the lands are %
yerie and arid that he could not settle there. Much
has been said concerning the renovation OF these
worn out lands by the use OF guano and other artn
sis mar ures; bat experience has fuly proved that
after trial for the last ten years IL n found 70
Quire 70 be renewed every few years or the land
will degenerate into barrenness. The renovation by
guano, upon good authority, costs four TO 1--WE dol.
lars per acre, which Will give two or three
remunerstvs crops provided the seasons are 70.
vorab e. bot this would be too great an experiment
for the poor emigrsnt TO try; besides this expense
added 10 the first cost OF the land, his farm would
cost him infinitely more than good rich prairie land
ready for the plough; this gusno renovation may
suit very well for the gcnlemso farmers OF Viz
ginia who grow nom 900 to 900 bushels OF wheat
from 10 to 100 bsssheads OF tobacco, and other de-
Tendencies in the shape Of negroes to fall bask on
should the season be Impressions; but Tor poor
en- igrant who proposes TO till his own land, and
under and with Gods blessing reap the reward,
he does not want 10 try any sach experiment, and
the proof of this is found that the purchase and
use OF guano and these artificial manures IL chiefly
ponfned W the large propneors
Then, again, there are other troubles which may
dsappont the farmer, even should the weather be
favorable and his crops escape the late frosts. The
chintg bug will, some seasons, like the locust,
change the face Of beautiful smiling Ian Escape Of
brightest green In . few short hours or days To .
sicfy brown hue, and season after season has the
farmer turned his cattle into the cornnelds from
which he anticipated golden harvest; then the cut
worm viii destroy his corn, even 10 the second and
third planting. Now, all these combined canses
make farming too uncertain an occupation for the
emiarant who IL solely dependent upon Il, and
who, in addition hs. to improve and rs'osci,sts
rule now own from 200 to 1000 or more acres
Of land. They generally own their slaves
sJeo, and their corn and wheat were
10 fail. still they have the tobacco and other
cyops "a rely on; and should these Last named fail In
Nav or June they hire their hands out; IN short,
thsy are mol dependent, il The case Of emgrsuts