Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1866-11-29
WOODSTOCK, VA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER % 1866.

1t is obvious that one-ffth of the laborers
necessary to cultivate che lands of the State,
if divided into very small farms, will be
amply sufficient under the system that
have ventured to recommend To procure
these laborers the market of the world is
open to US, and nothing is required but
ability to pay sufficient wages to enable
us to get sufficient supply. To say that
we cannot secure the necessary agricultu-
raj laborers is to admit that we cannot com
pete successfully with other countries in
agricultural operations, which | etnphati-
cally deny. On the contrary, think we
have, in the labor of the freedmen, deci-
ded advantage over other portions of the
world After having had some experience
with white laborers, both foreign and ma
tive, | have come to the conclusion that
the world cannot produce more skillful
and efficient farm-laborcr than a well-trai-
ned Virginia negro who is willing and able
to work. AS class, I think, under all
the circumstances. the freedmen have be-
haved with remarkable propriety; and
when the ruinous n,etoyer system of rent
ing is abandoned, necessity, which is the
severest taskmaster, will make them our
most reliable dependence for labor. IF
treated kindly, and well and regularly
paid, they will furnish large portion at
least of the effective labor required. I take
occasion to say that greatly prefer native
laborers, either white OF black, to foreign
ers. They understand our language, our
modes of farming and crops, and can go-to
work at once without training; whereas
the foreigner has to be taught everything.
Money may be regarded as necessary
element Of civilization Without it, man
kind can make no progress, and must re-
main stationary or relapse into babarisn.
This Commonwealth has reached the sta
tlonary point. Her industrial interests,
though striving to advance, can 10
progress. Commerce, manufactli
above all, agriculture, are anguishl4 III
want of money. Virginia seems to be IN
der an exhausted receiver, surrounded by
the vast volume of vital air that freely
circulates in unconfned space She seems
perishing for want Of breath Her peo-
pie, sgitated and alarmed, are ineuiring,
one Of another, "What shall be done .
What shall be doneY' Who will answer
this question :? The man who shall give
it satisfactory solution will have, in the
eternal gratitude of whole people. mon-
ument more durable than brass
We are literally without "a circulating
medium; the precious metals have ceased
to perform the functions of money. We
have no bank notes, Or the checks, or
drafts, or bills of exchange which used to
be, to some extent. the substitute for cur
rency; and the on y circulation that keeps
up some slight symptoms of vitality COMES
from abroad. There was time when Viz
ginia had banks of her own, under the ma
nagement Of gentlemen who had tact and
discernment to perceive the delicacr of
their position; and whilst they exercised
the powers entrusted to them faithfully for
the protection of the interests of the insti-
tutions over which they presided they ne
yer wounded the feelings of the most SEN
sitive, and however large the accommoda-
ton afforded, never permitted gentleman
to leave them under a sense of obligation
Some of these gentlemen still survive, en-
joying the full confidence of the commune
ty, and, | trust, ready again to devote
their talents and energies to the public
service.
Virginia must declare her commercial
independence. She must have her own
banks and her own currency. A sufficient
circulating medium, under her own indie
pendent control, is. as necessary to her pro-
gress as wheels to road wagon. Banks
upon the Scotch plan might, think, with
proper energy and united effort, be speed
lily inaugurated. will not weary you with
a repetition Of the views already presented
in my letter to Mr.. Mcfarland. In the
mean time | content myself with express
ing the confident opinion that the measure,
if adopted, will afford the needed relief,
and the hope that it may meet the Vows
of business men, the appreciation of this
assembly, and the sanction of the Legis-
lature.
A. WARD ON TRAIroRs-Artemus Ward,
in a letter to Punch describing his visitto
the Tower of London thus speaks of trait
ors:
A warden took us in charge, and show
ed us the tTraters' Gate" the armers,
and things, The Traters' Gate is wide
enuff to admit about twenty traters ARREST,
| should jedge, but beyond this l couldn't
see that it was superior to gates in Central.
Traters, [ will here remalk, ar onfortnit
class of people. If they wasn't they
wouldn't be traters. They conspire to
bust up country, they fail, & they're ira
tiers. They bust her, and they become
statesmen and heroes.
Take the case of Gloster, afterwards
Old Dick the Three, who ma be seen at
the Tower on horseback, in heavy tin over
coat-take care Mr. Gloster's case Mr..
G. was conspirator ole the basist dye
had he failed, he would have been hung