The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-18
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispa'eh.
Pgr RRsBuRs, January IL, 1866


During last fall, when the negroes rei"seu "
make contracts for another year. the a''en''oi.
Of farmers was turned to the ihHou".
white labor They succeeded 10 sonie 49,
In nrocurinr Il through. the agencies mere anu
In Richmond; but the subject seem. i','e'H "
have lost its interest. This may be because
Tho rr,edmen nj length recovered from their
a.,,s,on and 10 some extent acquiesced IN the
,.oo.s,,;os of tho situation. With what fidelity
thay will comply with their engagements
r.,,.,,s 10 be seen. They are, however,
nothing but children of larger growth, and
are always ready TO play the truant with as
little compunction as \ schoolboy But even
if they were reliable, there is far from being
labor enough in Virginia 10 meet the agricul-
tural demands of the people. 1t has, indeed,
been deficient for 4 number of years The
State was kept pretty well drained OF able
bodied slaves before the war, to meet the
demand in the South and since then Tide
water Virginia has been we'll nigh stripped OF
its laborng population.
For wear or two ut most, the farmers may
make out to get along after fashion; as 10
ANYTHING like prosperity, ii is not to be looked
for shortly Those who know any thing OF the
negro character must feel convinced that the
dearth of labor will regularly increase, ana
the necessity is therefore urgent that they
should be casting about bcrimeS 10 supply the
vacuum Immigration should be encouraged
by every proper means emigration societies
ought 10 be organized, and judicious agents
sent 10 Europe 10 engage the best class OF emil
grants 10 be sent directly 10 Virginia. HIN
erto the tide has uniformly set in toward the
Northern States and to wait quietly for IL TO
turn in q southern direction would be not I'M
like the boy setting by the rivulet watching
for the water TO pass by. Nirginians will now
have TO surrender old prejudices-the peculiar
institution is forever abolished; the Jealousies
against settlers from other States must now be
laid aside, and q welcome invitation extended
TO all who are capable of aiding in the deve-
lopment of the agricultural resources OF the
State.
A distinguished gentleman living near your
city has earnestly and ably advocated the
tenant system. ! allude TO General Richard
son, whose efforts in the cause OF Virginia
agriculture entitle him 10 the gratitude OF the
people. Not that the tenant system VIII meet
all the exisences of the situation-far from
it; for we stand in need of a large class OF DAY
laborers and OF small farmers who VIII bring
their habits of thrift and industry, and some
means, along with them. The tenant system
is peculiarly adapted 10 the wants OF the large
landed proprietors, who have been the lords
of the soil for so many years. Woe worth the
day when this class of our citizens shall be
broken up and dispersed. We want no arts
tocracy indeed; but it deserves to be remem
bered that they are the men who have gwen
tone to society, who have made the State
renowned for its hospitality, and furnished
the leading men in the councils OF the State
and the nation. May the day be far distant
when their plantations shall be cut up into
little farms, and their property alienated for
ever. Such pfoprietors can offer inducements
to industrious tenants which will be of signal
benefit to both parties.
1t is hoped that the public spirited men OF
the State will soon move in this important
matter that Virginia may begin at IN early
day TO enter on that career OF Improvement 10
which her natural advantages invite her.
Since the wintry weather of Monday there
has been n pleasant change, the air being TEN
perate and bracing but under foot there is
very little satisfaction 10 pedestrians.
Cotton has been coming in freely on the
Southern road, but circumstances have pre-
vented me from obtaining any statistics. The
price is something better, being worth forty
seven cents to-day SNowDES.