Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-17

lars ia SPECIE IL situate within the corpc-
rate limits Of a town or city, his homestead in
terest not to exceed two thousand dollars in
specie. If a single person, and on a farm, his
homestead interest not to exceed one.eighth Of
a section, OF eighty acres, with houses aud ap-
purtenances-money value Of same not to eX-
coed eight hundred dollars in specie; if within
The corporate limitS Of a town or city, the
homestead interest not to exceed in value one
thousand dollars in specie. The bill to take
effect from and after its passage, as has been
the case, it is believed, with all other similar
laws. In its practical provisions the bill
will need amendment. About that, however,
the lawyers on the committee can best Judge.
We now proceed to give some ofthe reasons
why this measure should be adopted;
Il has been adopted in nearly all the other
States of the Union and has operated benef-
cially.
1t will save FROM utter ruin and beggary
MANY families already crushed down by the
misiortunes attending the war.
1t will save from sale the only property and
means Of living left to thousands, and enable
them the Letter to arrange for the payment OF
old debts.
1t will create a permanent home for the WI
dow and the orphan, and keep them from being
a charge and burden upon the State.
II will prevent the loss to the State, by emf
grafton. of many of its worthiest and most use
full citizens, who, without it, would be de-
prived of house and home.
1t would encourage matrimony-frst, by Sc
pShng to each single person, out Of his OF her
property, and placing it beyond the reach of
the law, eighty acres of land, and, upon mar
riage, would increase the amount to one hun
dred and sixty acres.
IL would tend to increase domestic happiness
and cOuteutment, by securing a certain, fixed
interest that could not be taken away.
1t would present strong inducements to tho
Immigrant from abroad to settle among us and
purchase land which would not be taken from
him to pay debts, should sickness or misfor-
overtake him.
1t would encourage the laboring immigrant,
without capital, to save his earnings and invest
them in land.
The Importance of holding out this home
stead exemption, as an inducement to immi-
grants to settle in Virginia, is enhanced by the
fact that it is accorded to them in the other
States, and to deny it here, would have 4 dis
couraging aud repcllent effect. Immigrants
will not come here unless the same advantages
FL 4. H., 4I.E -,
offered by other States. The unsettled condi-
ton of Southern affairs, the scarcity of money
whcrewith to compensate labor, and other
disadvantages under which we are
placed, are sufficiently discOuraging without
the creation by us Of other difficulties.
We have entered the field Of competition for
emigrant labor and capital, with all the North
ern, Southern, Western and Northwestern
States, and We must not be behind them in
energy, or let them surpasS us in those induce
ments that attract and allure the settler.
EmigrantS will 90 where the climate is health
lands are good, industrial pursuits profit
able where assured OF kind treatment, where
in person and property, and where legal
privileges and immuuitics are guaranteed to
them. In all that appertains to climate, soil,
and other natural advantages, Virginia is the
squal of any OF her sister States. 1t becomes
our legislators to see that none shall surpaSS her
in the tender OF legal projections and priv
The advantage that would accrue to
landowners in Virginia, by the encourage
nent and attraction Of immigrant labor and
.apiial, would be iucalculablc. They would at
,uce find a sale for SOM of their surplus land,
.enantS for other portions, and laborerS for
,uch as they should choose to keep themselves.
Ia process Of time, the whole State would be
populated by %enterpriSing settlers, possessed
If permanent freeholds that could not be d-
rested by those ordinary contingencies that are
The lot of us all. Nothing would more tend to
strengthen and solidify the interests Of
he State. It would then realize the true con-
of a Commonwealth.