The national Republican., 1861-11-28
RUIN OF THE nrBwL STATES.

The Richmond Whig enumsraes several
counties near Norfolk and On York river, in
which it says The breadth Of land sown witl
wheat this fall, is one third less than last yerr
and it ascribcs this immense falling off to th'
large numper of negro impressed into mill
tary service, in the election Of turtfcatitis
&c. Itsays, also, that TIE negroes SO impres'e ed
have been iii fed, and otherwise badly treated
many of them losing their health, and SOM
of them their lives.
The Richmond IVhig reports the tame fac
rf the falling off in the extent Of wbeat-sowng
in the Piedmont region, (east of the Blue
Ridge) where, it says, that in addition TO tn,
grievances complained of in the tide-wa'er
counties, the ability of farmers to put in crop,
ha] been grievously diminished by the forciJle
seizure of ih-ir teams for military purposes
Indeed, the Wing does hot hesitate to add, tha,
the cxactions Of the Confederate quartermast,'rs
have been 40 heavy, that their presence is only
less odious than would be that Of the emissd
ries Of LincOla.' This, to South,r IN readers. Is
very strong comparison, Mr.. Lincoln himself
being supposed by most of them to be very
Prince of Darkness, and his " enissaries = to
be not much better.
In its enumeration of the causes of the visible
fact OF the failing off in the agricultur Al produc.
ti' n ofVirginia, the Wing Quits one which Ger.
tainy ex sts; aud is probably the most powerful
OF all. Men sow, in order that they may reap
and all industry languishes, wterc tho fruit, tt
it are not eDj lyed in security. Where the only
effect OF widening the area Of cultivation, is tr
invite larger military requisition, men will
content themselves with planting for their own
use, and in many parts of Virginia. it has been
PIE e Of good fortune Tor farmers to save
enough FROM impresmrnt to suffice for tbeir
families and their domestic animals.
To raise wheat, or anything else as matter
OF specul tion, that is to sell, Is attended with
innumerable hazards in q country overrun will
contending armies, with society disorganiz d
sffl,ct. with the beggary, theft, and robber
resulting from the devasta,ions of war, au,
where all property is mepaced by worthles
paper money, the circulation Of which is mad
compulsory by legislation, or by public sent
ment as effective as legislation. 1t is, in fact
more easy to understand why The wheat grow
ers Of Virginia have curtailed their wheat pre-
duction one third. Than it is to understand ho,
they have courage to SOW even two thirds a
much as they have been accustomed to dc
when they enjoyed the blessings of peace an
god government.
What is said Of the wheat growers OF Viz
ginia must be true all over the South, 10
greater or less degree, and there is this add
tional observation to be made az to v.:tui
crops that there Is no market for them Will
this war continues The time when market
will be opened for them is SO UNCERTAIN, as q
itself to operate as great encouragement &
their production. This is -measurably trse t.
tobacco, and especially 81 Of cotton, the lead
ing crop of the South.
This war, ii much longer continued, will en-
tirely PROSTATE the agricultural industry of tn
rebellous States, and destroy the value Of bot
land and labor.