The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-22

The Convention met again last evening at
Virginia Hali-Hon. WillotEhby Newton pre-
siding. The attendance was very good.
| The proceedings Of the first days session
were read, and reports from the committees
called for.
FINANCE.
Mr.. Macfariand, from the Committee on
Finance, said that the committee were not
| prepared TO report, and asked for further time
| to consider the subjects referred TO IL. 1t was
| thought impossi ble at the present time, to do
anything for the relief Of the agricultural
| community through the medium Of the banks,
was, however, brighter future in store for
Virginia.
MANAGEMENT OF PARas.
Mr.. r. w. N. Nowland, from the committee
| TO report upon the most profitable manage
| ment of farms under existing circumstances,
| whether to work the whole With hired labor
or shares of the crop, or by subdivision Into
! smaller tracts, with q view to the sale OF a
portion or renting out for term of years,
said that the committee were not prepared TO
report. The following subjects, however,
| were suggested for discussion, viz:
l. That each proprietor, to the utmost OF his
ability, cultivate as large portion Of his land
| as he can on an improving system.
2. That he rent or lease as n. ach Of the re-
mainder to responsible parties, to cultivate in
a similar way, either for share Of the crop or
men, thereby diminishing the amount OF hired
labor.
8. That what land cannot be so managed be
offered at n fair price, which we suggest should
not be less in the present currency than such
lands commanded in specie before the war.
4 That in all cultivation and farm manage
ment every means should be resorted TO for
saving labor blythe introduction of labor. saving
machinery, extended rotations, grass culture,
grazing the cultivation Of fruits, etc.
s. That we have faith in the economy and
profit of moderately large farms in opposition
TO small ones, and cannot recommend the SUBJ
division of landed estates unless In extreme
cases.
Mr.. Nowland further suggested that the
subject of freedmen be discussed and there.
upon called upon Mr.. Carter, Of Shirley, for
his views on the subject.
Mr. Carter responded briefly to the call
made upon him. He preferred to pay the ne
groes wages to working them on shares. When
their income was contingent upon the amount
yielded by the crop they could not be relied
upon. 1t had been shown in the last six
months that the negro was disposed to work
for wages, and as no other labor could be had,
1T was best to employ them.
LABOR.
Upon the proposition of Mr.. Jones, Of
Brunswick, the reports were called In or
der, and that gentleman, from the committee
on the whole subject of labor, offered re-
port, in which it was given that at present
there were only the following sources open
to us from which labor can be obtained, viz :
The freedmen, our former slaves; the native
gltiZpn, ana the immigrant.
The following resolutions were submitted
by the committee:
Res0lred, That while we should do all in our
power to utilize all OF the labor now in our
midst, white and colored, yet as this supply
is not adequate 10 the wants of the country,
that the landholders in different sections
should unite I'm Offering such inducements as
will induce him to settle in our midst.
ReSolred, That a committee of five be ap-
pointed by the president of the Society, whose
duty 1t shall be to memorialize the Legisia-
ture TO encourage immigration to this State,
and 10 make such appropriations as VIII be
needed to carry out this object.
ReSolred, That it is deemed by this body
rs most conducive to the mutual interests
of the proprietors and the laborers which
we have to employ that they should be
engaged for the longest practicable period
and To pay them money instead OF portion
of the crops
MIR. Jones added that the report would De
presented hereafter.
Mr.. Hart called the attention Of the con-
vention 20 the fact of the existence of the I'm
migration Society," and that ii was determined
10 push the subject TO its furthest. Towards the
negro he felt no opposition. lie had resolved
to show him kindness; but he felt that II
would be well to show him that We We're not
altogether for labor. Much attention was
shown Mr.. Hart during his remarks, and re-
peated applause showed that they were appre.
ciated.
Mr. Lewis L. Harvie was then called upon,
and addressed the Convention in series OF
practicable and we'll timed remarks. He
thought it impracticable to depend upon the
present labor and unsafe to employ the negro
upon shares. Experience had shown this, as
all attempts at 1t had proved failures. DE had
employed 4 party of Germans which he pro-
cured from New York, and afterwards he OBJ
tained 4 few Englishmen. He paid the white
laborer twelve dollars and the black ten dol
lars per month. He found that the White Ia
Dor was superior TO the black. He did not
think that the negro could be trusted In his
section the negro was deteriorating He had
discharged the Germans in his employ and
kept the Englishmen. He gave the whites the
same rations as he gave the negroes. he mad
crop of corn, but he did not believe
he had made enough 10 pay his expenses:
He approved of immigration, and hoped
that the society already organized would
be able to carry out its object. 1t would be
necessary to bring in large number OF lmmi-
grants into the country, and 1t was to be hoped
that the next Legislature would ofer all IN
ducements for immigration. IL would teach
the negro that we were not so dependent upon
him, and would drive him back to the position
designed for him by nature. They were now
living in q savage state. The Jail OF MIS- county
was monopolized by the negro, and 1t had been
found necessary TO resort TO the whipping post
to keep it from oyerflowing.
AS an inducement TO immigration, the iands
should be ub-diyided and sold: The speaker
was proceeding to give his views upon TINS
subject. Wnen ne was ny cohiO Vic
in the audience who wished to know II any
one else would be allowed TO speak.
Mr.. Harvie said that if the meeting wished
il, he would stop, but that the impertinent in
reference of any one individual should not
stop him. [Cries of eco on" and loud ap-
MIR. Harvie having received unmistakable
evidence that it was the wish OF the conyen-
tion that he should go on, continued his re-
marks for some moments, and concluded by
iy,r inU the committee the tmDOTL-
ance of the subject before It,.
In reply TO the question why with this large
crop he could not pay his expenses, MIR. Har-
vie said that the time had passed when man
could cultivate large crop with a large force
to advantage. The unreliability OF labor was
such that proper return could not be made
with a large force.
Mr.. Jeremiah Morton next arose, and spoke
for few moments most eloquently. He anu
ded in feeling terms 10 the trials through
which he and many other farmers OF his sec.
ton had passed during the late war. he urged
the importance of encouraging immigration. ,
On motion of Mr.. Davis, the report and ana
resolutions submitted by Mr.. Jones were
adopted by the convention.
UsURY. 80
The Committee on the Usury Laws made
report through their chairman, Mr.. Frazier,
who explained the action Of the committee:
The idea embodied In their report was that
the legal rate of interest shonid % SIN PEI
cent. but contracts for higher rate tnan si4
per cent. should be valid If in writing. There,
port closes with the following resolutions ana
Rssolued, That, in the opinion Of this con,
yention, the usury laws OF the STATE snoula
be repealed, and interest for money pe the
subject of special written agreement between
the parties.
Resoiced, That the passage by the Legislature
at It's approaching session OF the following oli,'
would, in our judgment, be Of incaicuiapie ga.
vantage TO the peopleof Virginia In the present