The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-18
they like its cultivation-but many of

thew like its cultivation-but many of
our wiseacres recommend the abandon
ment of its cultivation. What, give up
| the most certain and profitable of our
| staple crops! Abandon the crops in
| Virginia! where the climate and soil
are better adapted to its culture than any
| other district in the world, and these
very lands teeming with the labor that
| has been used to its cultivation. Such
| %infatuation would involve so much indi-
| vidual and national loss that L trust
| the planters of Virginia will think
| twice before they take such a
| suicidal course. The negro deserves our
| sympathy, and kindest treatment
| though urged to Instruction, and to
| seryile war, and our families for four
1 wears were at their mercy-yet thanks
| to their forbearance-they were as Sc
cure during all that time as if surround
ed by an army with baIfners. 1t is for
the sake of the negro, as well as for our
selves, that / urge his employment, and
deprecate the introduction OF foreign
labor. The fate of the West Indies lsan
example familiar to all men,. Emanci-
patton was proclaimed there some thirty
years ago. 1t is now seen that the ne
groes will not work without comPui-
sion. A bill was introduced into Par-
Lament to regulate labor ana to ENFORCE
contracts. 1t was laid on the table by
the Radicals of that day, and the result
has been that the negro has degenerated
into barbarism, and the richest country
in the world is now % cF'nparative ue-
cert And thisis the end Al lite OF I'M
migraticn societies, and the
tioH of Coolies, Malays, and white LABOR
whenever il gould be procured.
T suggest thar what we want IN II
interior of Virginia is nov more iau1,.
or a different kind of labor, but wise
legislation. to constrain those whom
Providence has cast amonsS US, 10 per-
form their part faithfully, for the sup
port of themselves, and the general wei
fare of Virginia. The people ana the
press have published their convlctions
that negroes are worthless as labor
ers, and it seems almost useless 10 argue
| against o foregone conclusion. Ii IL
| does not instruct, it may amuse your
readers, if I repeat a conversation
which took place between Gil Bias and
DIR. Sangrado Gil Blas-'Sir, I call
heaven To witness, that I exactly follow
out your method, nevertheless all my
patief..s slip out of my hands to the
ther world: II would think they take
a pleasure in dying, to discredit our sys-
tenn" IF you would fOllowmy advice,
we w0rd change our system of prac-
tice.n IT would, willingly" replied
Sanglado, "make the trial. IF it lead to
no other consequences than those you
have nentioned; but l have published a
! oook in which / extol the frequent use
| of the lancet and hot water: do you wish
me to decry my own work ?' ooh you
a e r ht;," answered Gil Bias, syou must
never think of giving such a triumph to
your enemies! They would say you
have a. ssrgth confessed your error
taat waud ga,n vour reputation ; perish
rather III. 4ohies, the clergy, and thu
people" LET US go on as we have be
Jun" ave continued accordingly ou.
systIn,' says Gil Bias, "and Went o.
with such expedition, that in six weeks
we haa o~ccasInned as many funerals a
the siege of Troy"