Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-08-20


bss s6stalsd By me sbssaos q 80 many htness ana
ovaraeers Il is well known, that our aeoers WI, nOs
- isb regular industry, much efficiency, without
~ nperyision Of the owner or bis agent upon many
arms overssers are always Necessary, Ana my lever
~ere more teessssry than a. IN present une' 1his
.o 4 suggestive, and We foTbtar discussion NsWs-
% ,yters nave no reason 90 asseEt that che farmers
~ Tirppla have become ROhahds, AstCrs, or GiraIds,
- tbe cor meneement Of the present war; On the
contrary We believe that during the last three years,
they have been lees prosperous than during The three
wears prsceding For more than century prior to the
var tobacco constituted leading staple Of Virginia,
and the principal source Of income Of many persons
Its cultivation limited by law two years ago, and
this crop Is now seldom seen in our Safe. 10 may
paris Of Virginia wheat ID not reliable crop aud its
cultivation not extensive for that reason The BLOCK
ade OF our ports has prevented the Importation Of gaano
aud other fertilizers which experience bad shown we're
so yaiuabie If not 80 initial, in the production o.
wheat In many Co1ntiss Of this State No plaster, ana
very lNtle eover has been uied for three years
TIE absence Of many farm rs and many oYerseeis
Who were REQUIRED 10 enter the army-,he impress
ment Of many farm hoSes for artillery USE aHd the IN
shitv 10 obtain gusno, plaster, lime, clover, G1 nave
contbu,ed 20 lessen the ahsat crop OF Virginia The
cost OF production ia greater now than formerly The
labor il less efficient for the want OF sup'ryil0n-Ihe
80 HING of the labOrers more expensive 10 the prope-
A she prices Of iron aud p'Ows and horses infinitely
| HIGHER an they were few years ago Ihe rate Of
mont in agriculture depends upon the cost Of production
When variety Of eauEsi have comoined 70 aug meDt
be cost OF producing grain, with WhaSJnslice can the
consumers damand that the rights and interests OF The
/ farmers shall be dsIegsrded for their bsnehif
Psur wears ago the wages Of Overseers were from
N sSOO and now they range fFSm TO $500, exclusive
Of meat, aour sc. Fasn the farmers could buy nails
apd iron al 81 cts the pound ssls at Slo0 TO - the
sack cotton AID wool cards az 90 eens tie pair cot
tor ospaburgs for negro shirtDg at 10 cent coarse
wooeus at 40 cents the yard, single piowa at 81, and
double Lows al S. pOE horses &c 500, brogaes for
nagsoes at 81 ths pair sni leather at 70 cents Teen
medical charges aud the charges Of carpenters, smiths
aud other mechanics we're low in COMPARISON wish pre-
sent charges The farmers are e0mIellet now 10 pay
Tor nails and iron from to S. salt IRON 20 to $50 zee
sack cotton and wool cards from 40 to $50 he PAIR,
osnaburgs A 20 So per yard pads OF cotton warp 40 70
$50 Gusteaa OF tae old price Of 81 II cents) c0arse
yo lens 10 TO $40 per ward, pOWs from 90 70 $50 pillow
horses from from 9 70 $500 each leather from 10 10
ISIS a pound, wagons 500 70 $3.50. The farmers arr
net oply r. fred pay these ices but they are eI
rested 10 taAe Of their bats aud make their grateful
acknowledgements for the favOrs thus conferred
In lac number o. the Enquirer a writer under TIE
signa'ure Of Cinonua.uL alter pouring GU; hi bile
against the commissioners aud the "e1tOTto1ate
ftrncrsn as he designa'ed the agricultural class OIL
Virginia proceeded TO say The farmers Of Virginia sell
everything and buy nothing" This is fair sample Of
his information bis lore Of accuracy and hes regard
for jsties Ii every class Of socie stme PERSONS can
os i0u1a who may very properly be charged with
scr,ion The charge of extoTtou, when made egains,
ne farmers Of Virginia as e!aeS Of men, is entirely
dssduts Of truth Taey honest and honorable,
as generous liberal and patriotic those who seek 20
dsDsrsgs them, aud are in al rCspecs upright in
their Transactions as The Inhabitants Of our cities snd
loves Tas editors OF some of our political papers
and ther correspondents, have repeatedly, during the
lst montbs charged the farmers with elpidity and &c
tori0n. When these writer's have put Gosu ex.OSton
near their own residence, they may then be better
qualified TO lecture the farmers 10 reg rd their moral
sld p5htca obligations. Zoe ia,mlr5 arc often as
allied md i is high time that these grausous and uu
provoked assaults Should cease TiOse WhO live in
glss hOules should be cautious in throwing stones
TIE farmers may perhaps ask whether their Rccusers
are Ftaout sic; whether they themselves guilty
Of ex;oEIR in aEsrisy Of oTms, aud Wh3,her it
%, sioo 70 practice extortiyn in Iler modes than by
selling grain Wh5n city people rent gu; their houses
for $40 900 year when the poor refugees have pay
frOm $500 30 $500 for the Of rOOm and 600 70
81 200 per annum as b9ard when the cotton manu-
lac ugsrs charge tho farmers 10 So for GEnaburgs
Whel ell kinds Of goods and groceries sold by cry
merchants a. the most enormous prices and Whsn ed
tors ca re $50 year Tor, their newspapers, they
Imagine thaE Is Their mis- 20 deUouace oXsOrtiOn
whenever prse.sed IN the country! r.