The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-15
Prospects Of the South.

Croakfng Is one OF the Wos' aoo,
creations of certain minds we w ~. "a Az.
that there has been cause TOT s'oo 90 Wv
spondency in the business s,r,
ginia and the South. b"' '"eie ..,,
culties in orr way which s"""0. .,oos
bv enercy and determiha'lo"' =
oy eneis! stap,es of the South are going to
hiring, every able bodied man VINO . ","'s
~ can 90 into the fields and make more
than enough for his support Inc prospects
80 ocr,cu,ture were never 50 promising, ano
its rewards SO certain and remuheratVe' u
now. Instead of complaining OF the idieness
of the negroes, our farmers, young ana oid
can 60 into the fields, and with such he"
laborers as are always 10 be found on mana
can make more money than they couid WIN
hundreds of slaves half worked and full ieo
Those who think that, owing 10 the freeing
of the negroes, no crops will be raised '",e
year. will flpd themselves greatly deceive"
The cultivation of southern lands VIII w "
sured BY the high prices now conih"no'", "'''
car. ,,nc ,;u,e tn he commanded by southern
,.,,os The stimulus OF the high prices oil
,o,,cco and grain will more than compensate
tho loss and DISCRIMINATION of labor. That
fac, was illus trated in the heavy crop which
,.as made last YEAR of the only staple which
could be planted after the surrender Inc
,arge cron of corn was not due solely 10 the
excellence of the season, but to INDUSTRIOUS
planting and proper cultivation rs wen. ihe,,
will no doubt be a considerable crop oi al
orr staples raised this year, and those deiuoeo
,,arso,s who sit croaking amid the weeds and
grass that they permit 10 take possession oi
their lands will find in the end that they nave
thrown away noble opportunity to retrieve
,hair fortunes. and condemned themselves TO
protracted embarrassment and poverty.
Whilst il may be possible that business Ill
Richmond and other southern cities VIII Of
dull and light for some months to come, those
who forebode permanent dimlnution OF their
trade will see their mistake as soon as the
next crop begins 10 come to market Inc
present condition of business in our southern
cities is the natural result of q state OF tenn
porary exhaustion, but the great agricultural
products of the State will command very hlgh
prices for years to come, and these prices VIII
stimulated production and provide capllai
which will impart a vitalzing influence to
both country and town.
We have opposed the emigration of our
countrymen to Brazil and Mexico, because
we believed that neither of those countries
offered such rewards of industry as may be
found AT home 10 say nothing of the draw
hacks 10 happiness and contentment which
arise from difference of language, customs,
laws, religion, and manners. But there Is
one kind of emigration we do not hesitate TO
recommend 10 Young men. 1t is to emigrate
from the cities and towns TO the country, and
instead of seeking positions as clerks in bust
ness houses, 10 rent land enough in the rural
districts TO give them occupation, or to seek
employment al the hands of the farmers who
complain so much of the want of labor.
More money can be made in this way out OF
the soil than they can obtain in the cities.
They can become producers instead of
being consumers. Let them answer the
cry of the interior country for labor, and they
will increase their individual wealth and the
wealth of the South. The public opinion of
the South ought to be arrayed against all
drones and idlers who lounge their lives away
in cities and villages when labor is so much
needed, and offers such rich rewards. What
is there degrading in labor ? 1t is not half as
degrading as lazy dependence. There is moth
ing even i'm hiring themselves out TO work on
farms which is less compatible with per-
sonal dignity. than hiring themselves to work
in stores, counting rooms, or offices, for the
who, in the late war, enrolled themselves MS
privates, and placed themselves under the
direction of officers of companies whose supe-
rority III civil life they would never have re-
cognized, will find nothing rs lnenial in the
duties of a farm as they then had to perform
in the camp-no such sacrifice of dignity and
independence, no such hardship ana toll
Why is it less honorable to occupy the station
of private in peace than in war, especially
when successful campaign will fill the peck
cts, and enable the laborer of this year to be
the proprietor of next:
We see nothing therefore, to warrant gloomy
auguries of the future prospects of our
southern cities if the people cultivate those
hopes and develop those energies which are
demanded by the emergency. The high prices
of our staples will keep us atioat till immgra-
lion gives us an adequate supply of labor, and
when that immigration comes, and begins TO
put forth its powerful influence in every de-
partment of industry, the improved aSrlcul'
ture Of the State and the impetus gwen 10
every branch of enterprise will make Richmond
more prosperous than at amy previous period
of its history.
Besides the advantages TO be derived from
improved agriculture, we may look to manu-
features as permanent source Of wealth and
Importance to the city. There is no city in the
Union which enjoys such natural advantages
to become n great manufacturing city; and
never, in all the history of manufacturing
industry, We're its profits as high as they are
at this time. With the convenient access to
minerals and the immense water power pos
sessed by this city, it can be redeemed from
any loss that the rivalry of Baltimore rail
roads or any possible falling off in country
trade could entail.
We say, then, to the croakers, avaunt and
10 the timid hearted, cheer up. and to the
oilers, go TO work! and all will yet be well.
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M9yicO