Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-11-23
THE VIRGINIA FARMERs' CONVENTION
Sc co N D D A Y.

EIlNANGE. =MdcIa!lanu, lloin 49, -
mittee on Finance, said that the commlttee
were not prepared to report, ana asAeo ioi
further time to consider the subjects referred
Ito it. Itswas thought impossible, at-the present
time, to do anything for the rellet OF the az
ricutural community through the medium OF
the Banks, in consequence of the-want otscapl-
tal There was, however. brighter future IN
store for Virginia n, NJ
MANAGEMENT OF FARMs.-Mr. II. W.. N.
Novland, from the committee to report upon
the most profitable management oftarms unoer
existing circumstances, whether TO work the
ubo]e with hired LABOR or on shares ofthe crop,
or bv sub division into smaller tracts, With
view to the sale of portion, Or renting out for
term of years, said that the committee we're
not nrcpared to report The following sub
iects, however, were suggested Tor discussion,
viz:
l. That each proprietor, to the utmost 0: his
| ability, cultivate rs large portion of his land
| as he can on an improving system.
! g. That he rent or lease as much Of the re-
| maine or to responsible parties to cultivate in
! similar way either for share of the crop or
for money rent, avoiding the renting to freed
men, thereby diminishing the amount frhired
| labor.
g. That what land cannot be so managed be
offered at fair price, which we suggest should
| not be less in the present currency than such
lands commanded in specie before the war.
T. That in all cultivation and farm manage
ment every means should be resorted to tor
saving labor by the introduction OF Tabor 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 sub
| division Of landed estates, unless IN extreme
cases.
Mr. holland further suggested that the
subject of freedmen be discussed; and called
upon MIR. Carter, of Shjrey for his views
Mr.. Carter responded briefly He preferred
to pay the negroes 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 dis
posed to work for wages, and as no other labor
could he had, it was best to employ them.
LABoR.-Mr. Jones, Of Brunswick, from
the committee en- the subject Of labor, offered
a report, in which it was said 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 citl-
zen, and the immigrant.
The following resolutions were submitted by
the committee
Resolved, That while we should do all in
| power to utilize all Of the labor now in our
midst, white and colored, yet as this supply is
not adequate to the wants Of the country, that
the landholders in different sections should
unite in offering such inducements as will in
duce others to settle in our midst.
| Resolved, That committee Of five be ap-
pointed by the president Of the Society, whose
duty it shall be to memorabilia the Legislature
to encourage immigration to this State and to
make such appropriations 81 will be needed to
carry out this obj cct.
Resolved, That it is deemed by this body as
most conducive to the mutual interests Of the
proprietors and the abOrers which we have to
employ, that they should be engaged for the
longest practicable period, and to pay them
money instead OF a portion Of the crops.
Mr.. Jones added that the report would be
presented hereafter.
Mr. Hart called the attention of the conven-
ton to the fact Of the existence of the Immi-
grafton Society, and that it was determined to
push the subject to It's furthercst. Towards
The negro he felt no opposition. He had re-
solved to show him kindness; but he felt that
it would be well 70 show him that we were not
altogether dependent on him for labor
Mr.. Lewis E. Harvie thought it impracti-
cable to depend upon the present labor, and
unsafe to employ the negro upon shares E1
perience had shown this, as al attempts at it
had proved failures He had employed par
ty of Germans, which he procured from New
York, and afterwards he. obtained few Eng
lishmen. He paid the white laborer twelve
| d. nj tb fan dol1,~s ,,nr
He found that the white labor Was superior to
the black He did not think that he negro
could be trusted. In his section the negro
was deterorating. He had discharged the
Germans in his employ and kept the English
mcp He gave the whites the same rations as
he gave the negroes He had made heavy
crop of tobacco and a good crop Of corn, but
he did not believe he had made enough to 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 i'm
migrants into the country, and it was to be
hoped that the next Legislature would offer all
inducements for immigration. 1t 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 savage state The jail Of his coun-
ty was monopolized by the negro, and it had
| been found necessary to resort to the whipping
post 10 keep it from OVERLOOKING.
AS an inducement to INN gration, the lands
should be sub-divided and sold.
In reply to the question why with large crop
he could not pay his expenses, Mr.. Harvie
said that the time had passed when man
could cultivate a large crop with large force
to advantage
Mr. jeremiah Morton next arose and al
| luded in feeling terms to the trials through
which he and many other farmers of his section
had passed during the late war He urged
the importance Of encouraging Immigration.
The report and resolutions submitted by Mr.
Jones were adopted by the convention.
UsURY.-T Committee on the USury
Laws made report through their chairman,
Mr.. Frazier. The idea embodied in their re