Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-03
Showing the whole number of native
Virginians resident in the State 10 be .

Which deducted from the whole number of
our "nstives' shows the abssntees to be- 455,OOO
or nearly 81 per cent. Of all the native virgipians
then living.
We have carefully examined the same table for all
the States North OF and find the depletion OF Vr
ginia TO have been greater than in any of them
Connecticut approaches nearer-her per eentage be
ing 35-the other Northern States ranging from 81
down to II per cent: with this further difference
against US, that all the Northern States I'VE mean
North of Vlrginis,) receive greatly larger eccessians
from other States, and from foreign countries. some
of them quite &C large a number as they have lost
OF their natives" The difference in Connecticut is
tbs greatest. She, with a population Of al 900, which
is much less than half our number of whites, re-
ceived a~ccessions of .natives' born in the U States
and territories, but out Of Connecticut. ..--.--4O,0On
Aud of foreign .3S 600
7s,UUU
Being more than one half of her loss. Our loss, ID,
before shown, was 49,, 000, and We received irom all
out side sources but 10000.
Our readers will be careful to observe that by this
figuring We are not attempting to show any decrease
Of population, but simply TO show that if those who
we're born on our soil had remained, or if their places
had been filed from without, as 10 most Of the North
sn States. our population would be double its present
number; for to the number of the Sl9,MO must be
sdded their issue. Our figures do not show our whole
loss Of numbers, for they do not include the thousands
of negroes who have emigrated. We have no Tell
able data at hand upon which to base a calculation Of
their lumber. We will leave our readers to enquire
the ceuses Of this exodus, and merely cay that We are
happy TO know that of late years it has not been 30
great.
Our loss cannot be estimated by numbers. In ;hs
exodus of these Virginisns our State has lost the ad
vantage of their enterprise, energy and industry, and
OF their good moral influence. Whilo We are not will
ing to acknowledge that all the talent, skill. industry
and moral worth has gone with our emigrated "na
tives,' Yet We concede that thoss who 81 are gene
rally men largely possessed Of these qualities. many
Of whom We are proud to claim ss nat'res Of our good
old Commonwealth. Throughout our Whole country,
in al! the professions, and in every department of in-
dustry, they have proved themselves TO be equal 10
the best, and superior to most. Virginia has probably
given to the West. Southwest aud South more gov
ernors. Legislators, juris,s and divines than any other
Stste-to say nothing Of the planters. farmers, me-
chanics and merchants of distinction in their several
calliugs.
Had these natives remained, the State would have
been benefited to q degree that we can scarcely ina
gine, and We sincerely bel,ere thai they, individually.
upon me acreage, rould hare done as TeH. Tsks
one hundred men, in~discriminate'y, from our etnigra'
ted natives. whether in the city of New York, the
West or South. or in California, and let them apply
themselves a. closely to business, work as hard, live
as economically, make as many and great sacrifices
in their native home al they have found it necessary
TO success In their new homes. aud we hazard nothiur
il saying that they will be a, least equally successful.
with all the difference in favor Of their old home, tbss
IS to be found in a we'll regulated state of society
good neighoors, orthodox churches. without the All
noyance of the thousand isms that disturb and curse,
IN a new country and at the North, to say nothing q.
a healthy climate and a hundred other convenience
and comforts Incident TO our own State.
How many of the ass 900 who e~migrated to III,
bottom prairie lands of The west, to California. 10 cur
Northern cilis,, deprived themselves Of all the 81.
y~antages, comforts aud restrsiuts OF their good oil"
Virginia homes, to labor hard, drag out an unsuccessful,
sickly existence, and were laid in a premature grav, .
How many OF our young msu OF promise IN the pre-
esssions and mercantile pursuits, have been sbii
wrecked, who, bad thsy remained al home, inisf
asxs Iysd many honorsd years to bless and TO be