The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-03-30


change In quotations
The Free White Re,Celonixation OF Old Vir-
ginia-Very Interesting and matter-of-FAct
Letter from Hon. Ell Thayer.
We seize the first favorable opportunity in
publishing this morning most interesting letter,
which has been in our possession for some days
past, from the Hon. Eli Thayer, in exposition Of
the relief resuscitation and regeneration of Old
Virginia in the free white re-colonization of her
fallow eastern lands, wasted and worn out by
the two hundred years exhausting processes Of
niggers and tobacco.
Our Virginia readers will scarcely need an in
PRODUCTION to Mr.. Thayer. When we say that he
is a member of Congress elect from Massachu-
sets, and was the pioneer in the Northern Kan.
sas emigrant aid movement, we have perhaps
said enough to excite their distrust of his pre-
sent scheme. But when they shall have care
fully read his letter and coolly reflected upon
the Unreasonable benefits which this COLOMBIA
ton project proposes to confer upon the Old
Dominion, we doubt not that every sensible man
in the State will say, Let him come on with
his settlers We have lands-we have room
we want any amount of bone and sinew to
replace that which we have lost and to develope
the vast dormant resources of the Old Common
wealth, agricultural, manufacturing and COM
mercialr
To strengthen this sensible view of the subject
we can say, for the information of our Virginia
brethren, that bill is before our Legislature
with every prospect of an early passage) for the
incorporation of Homestead Emigration Com
pany" without distinction of party, upon the basis
of capital of two millions of dollars, aud that
this is the company with which Mr.. Thayer is as
ISOLATED. Niggers do not enter into this calcula-
ton, one way or the other. With the company the
scheme is purely speculative money making en-
terprise Hon. Erastus Corning and Dean Rich
mond-two of the most prominent of the leading
democrats of this State-are among the principal
corporators, and their investments are always
directed to the main chance. The company's
proposed plan Of operations, according to NJ.
Thayer's satisfactory calculation, is, for exam
pe:-
First-To purchase, in Old Virginia proper,
laI sc tracts of her waste lands at saue STATE prices
Secondly-To give away TO actual settlers about
one-fourtb Of such purchases in small farms
Thirdly-To sell another fourth at cost and
fourthly, to sell the remainder to suit purchasers,
at free State prices-the company thus probably
doubling their money upon the whole amount of
each distinct operation.
Mr.. Thayer tells us that the tidewater district
Of Old Virginia is the proper field for this enter
prise, and that those counties where slavery
widdie, Southampton and Accomac; where desira-
bic lands for free white labor, and accessible to
good markets, may had for three, four and five
dollars an acre. Mr.. Tnayer further says that
=" very many Of the people of Virginia desire the
proposed friendly invasion" and that even "save-
holders in large numbers" are in favor of the
scheme. And why not?
What constitutes q slaseH
Neither waste land nor lazy, thriftless niggers;
but white men, free white men; and in proportion
TO their numbers are the strength, wealth, credit
position and character of every State in the
Union and in the civilized world Niggers ac-
ding to the Supreme Court, with US, are not
and cannot be citizens. And what il s tate with
out citizens? Nothng-absolutely nothing-a
dead blank.
What is the object OF every State in the world
with waste lands in its possession? Settlement,
cultivation. development. What is the basis of
all wealth? Labor-intelligent labor. Whyhr4
Virginia originally the foremost State in the
Union-wby has she fallen so far behndhand
in the course Of the last fifty years?
Because Of the incessant drainage during all this
period of her free white population to colonize
and build up the great West and Southwest.
From the spendthrift sons and beautiful daughters
OF the old planter to the poor white laboring man.
her white people, her bone and sinew, her blood
and muscle for these fifty years past, have been
pouring Southwark and Westward, into Cheaper,
fresher and more fertile lands, simply to better
their condition. Their gain has been her loss.
But The tide must return. The West, compare
lively, is filed up. Lands are getting high
there; and even in the Southwest there are no
more bargains in exchange Of the Deprecated
lands Of old Virginia for valuable cotton planta
tioDs. until Mr.. Buchanan secures by treaty a !
other large slice of Mexico or buys up Cuba at
their OWE price. What, then is the policy Of the
Virginia land owners? Clearly the policy 4
inviting settlers free white settlers-to their
waste and abandoned lands. II is also the policy
OF the State itself 10 invite actual settlers 10 its
waste lands upon liberal and easy terms.
Mr.. Thayer informs US that millions Of acres
of Virginia lands, owned by the merchants and.
brokers Of New York and Philadelphia, will,
by this colonization project be made available
at profit TO their present owners, who have
heretofore despaired OF selling them at any price"
Mark that. Nor will the prof, be limited to the
present owners. The settler and his family will
derive permanent profit in the operation, and the
State the greatest profit OF all And there is no