The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-05-11
WHAT WE NEED.


and more commercial and manufacturing en-
terprise.
TO bring out and make productive the
great resources of the South and our State
in particular, we require the investment of
both enterprise and capital. .....
Impoverished, as we are, by the late disas-
trous war, and a majority of our people
struggling and working for an almost daily
subsistence, we must look outside for assist
ance to develope, fully, the means we have
for resuscitation. f
To influence the influx of capital and en-
terprise from foreign ports into our midst,
we must show the world at large, not only
Northern capitalists, but those of all Europe,
all the advantages which our section of coun-
try possesses.
Many are the causes that have prevented
the immense mineral wealth of this State
from being, heretofore, properly worked
Foreign white laborers had great objection
to come here, and work, and be placed on
the level with the slave, and they knew
moreover that in the South, there were not
the same chances for them to obtain small
frseholds that they had when going to the
North and West. The emigration agents in
Europe, and the agents of the different lines
of steamers and sailing vessels have all been
working in the interests of the North, and as
no counteracting influence has ever been
brought to bear, their labors have brought
forth rich harvest, the benefits of which
the North, and concomitantly the North
west are now reaping.
The results of the war have removed the
great objection as regards slavery; the large
landowners, no longer able to work their large
properties to the same advantage as before,
will be glad to sell part of their lands to
hard working and thrifty men of small capt.
tai, whose labor and Improvements will, in
short time, more than double the value of
the remainder; and the agents for the North
must be met in Europe itself, by agents for
the South, who will point out to emigrants
the advantages of this section over that to
which their attention has thus far been d.
rected-its superiority of climate, its general
salubrity, and the greater returns obtainable
from the same amount of labor.
Introduce an abundance of honest self
supporting, energetic labor, and capital will
follow in its wake .h
Independent of the almost inexhaustible
agricultural capacity of our State, there is
not mountain gorge or stream that does
not TEEN with mineral or manufacturing
wealth.
The coal fields, around Petersburg and
Richmond alone, are mines of wealth, whose
treasures it will take centuries to exhaust;
and yet Petersburg, Richmond Norfolk, and
all the surrounding districts, import largely,
every year, from the Northern coal mines,
when we ought to supply not only our own
people in full, but export to other places less
advantageously situated b. s.
Two causes have thus far, probably, help
ed to produce this state of affairs In the
first case, our system of labor was not such
as to encourage mining operations. 1t is
generally thought that there is more danger
to life to those employed in mining than in
most other pursuits, and labor had to be
paid for in proportion to the supposed in
creased risk, and where white labor was OBJ
tanned, it had of course to be paid for in the
same proportion
Again, with all our true hospitality, our
people were much inclined to be exclusive
Foreigners and strangers were not really
heartily and cordially, welcomed to stay and
settle amongst us Few inducements were
held out, and but lukewarm cooperation ten
dered, to spectators or capitalists who came
amongst us, with view of opening up our
great mineral wealth They We're, and in
many cases with good reason, looked upon
with suspicion and distrust their presumed
abolition proclivities made them unwelcome
guests, and, where these really existed. uncon-
genial associates.
Now, in our present circumstances, these
discordant elements no longer exist Slavery
being abolished, we can no longer fear the
propagandlsm OF free doctrines. The intro
duction of white labor will assist us in con-
trolling the unreliable labor of the black
freedmen, and those, who from experience.
are more competent to manage the white la
borer than we are, will be heartily welcomed
amongst US. Let these facts be published far
and wide, at the North and through all Eu-
7 Al 4 1 II p
are concerned, peace reigns throughout; that
we are law-abiding and loyal people, and that
we desire to help, aid, and assist all who come
amongst us, either to seek living by theil
labor, or fortune by the investment of their
capital; and new era of prosperity will dawn
upon us. The iron of our mountains will be
worked and the coal which is 90 nlentiful