Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-08-21
To ne Hd.tors 81 the EaqairP,
FSIEryLiLr. FAiRfAx CoUaTY. Va,

august otIl 1915.
Gentlemen: About the io,h of June les'. there
appeared in the Enquirer all article signed "Dld Nir
ginia," stating that the Northern men Of Fairfax
were set Of abOtioni-.s; that they poor farm.
era lacked intelligence had failed in the atemp, 10
improve tho laud, &C. Il rs.pubiished in the
Fairfax County News, and replied 10 in the same pa
per by gentlemen OF both parties all agreeing tina,
the article OF old Virginia WAS rare comp p,stion
OF untruths throughout, aud showing concluslve!
that since the commencement OF Northern emgra
ton into the county, il lIaa advanced in improve
mens, in agriculture Ill wealth, and, In ne, III gene
raj prosperity, at rate unprecedented in the history
OF any other county OF the State that the Northern
fntn so far from being abohtionlas, had proved
themselves the reverse, from the tact ot ter having
from the first been entrusted with slave property,
aud being sufficiently numerous to constitute about
hall of the !aborng white population yet not elm
gle instance has there occur OF slaYes having es.
| capped while under the care Northern mem and
few indeed have been the nf escape, under any
circumstance, from the county siuce the commence
ment Of Northern emigration, notwithstanding her
very exposed position. "Old Virginia. admit.
ted, accidentally, supposs, thet slave property is
safer in Fairfax than in Loudoun, where the high
| price of land had barred the Yankees out
ltii believed that the article in question has been
Ct immense damage 10 the county, IN holding ont the
iiea that the lands are not susceptible ot Improve
nent: thus dscoUruging emigration. which las hith.
erto been ihe Uf its unparalleled succese,
onstquenty its pitu author has shared the denun
ciatOns Of every property holder in the county.
But among those feeling themselves injured none
were nore chsgrined, than the Democratic por-
tion OF the NOrhlncn, who, after being calum'
mated by the correspondent Of the principal Demo
cratic organ the State, ard after that caunny wss
exposed by native rlrginians through the columns OF
| the paper OF the counfy--s paper which exchanges
with the Enquirer and after the editor had also been
privately informed by different gentlemen OF thu
| county, that the charge WAS false one, looked IN
VAN for a siue. word vi explanation OF apology IN
the Richmond Enquirer
As your humble servant happens to be OF the clasa
mentioned, having hitherto taken shelter beneath
the Democratic standard and feeling hirsel h0nored
in having been able TO add his mite to tho Demo-
cratic cause he with his friends feels moe. acuey the
sngs Of such unmerited i'll treatment. In compliance
therefore, with tIe request ol many OF both partlea
but especially OF thos. situated as ] am, take the
liberty Of making the following enquiries:
Ia the policy Of the Democrats of Virginia, to dir
courage emigration into the Stasi Is 1t their policy
to treat those emgrans rends; or to spurn them az
ensmies}
l. in common with many others await your answer;
and, Us the offence Of which complain, was pro
mugsted through the columns OF The Enquirer, VIZ
desire 20 bo answered through the Same msdium
Your silence will co-,n the belief that s faat oo
tanning, end which the Know. Nothings assert to be
fact, i. 9. that the Democratic party of Virginia iF
opposed 0 the introduction oi elm grants within tht
State Respectfully yours.
~ D. G. ROBERTS,
On behalf OF many.
We are satisfied that there must be some mistake
a. to the Editors of the Enquirer having been called
upon to publish any authorized contradiction Of The
statements of "Old Virginia" Had such an ap.
peal been made to us, it would surely have received
an attentive hearing. The publication OF the above
letter. from responsible source is the best proof Of
the sincerity Of purpose to do full justice in the
premises. Animated by the came apirit. we take Is
pscis pleasure in responding to the nterrogatories
of onr correspondent, whose ietter shows that he
writes with honesty and intelligence. SO far as We
feel authorized TO speak for the Democracy OF VIZ
ginia we are free to Say that, 80 far from dscoura
ging the immigration OF good and loyal citizens or
spurnng them enemies, they hail their arrival and
welcome them AZ friends. Such our own sincere
sentiments, and we are happy in thus having an oppor
unity Of setting ourselves right and correcting every
misrepresentation Of having dealt anjustly by any
portion of our meritorioas feliow.citizans OF Vir'
ginia.-I En9mrerl