The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-16
ommandcr Many and Mexico.

W. have seen nothing In that conSIens scd aud
comprehensive view of Mexico and her re.
svaT,cs which has been lately given by Com.
@anarr MArRY 10 the public 10 alter the view ,
heretofore expressed by this journal, and
which have the sanction OF General I.Kp htcl,
authority. against the policy Of our people
leaving tho South for Mexico or any other for.
ci-u land.
Tor Commander MACRY's genius and ecien-
t.i'c requirements, We can only entertain SEN
t,uents OF respect aud admiration. But,
admitting that the natural resources Of Mex
leo are superior even TO those Of the South,
there are greater obstacles - their mvelop-
IueLt than exist III this country. Nor are We
altogether certain that land which requires
Nttl" rXcrtion 10 obtain a living Ii n desirable
Tor happiness and elevation Of character rs
one. which. without taskirs too heavily the
energies, requires the exercise of energy, per.
severance, forethought, and keeps the intel
lcytual and physical qualities in healthful
ACTIVITY. 4 scmi-lropic&l Climat" and an
amazing Ircrmdity Of nature seem TO cner-
Natr the enterprise of population and 10 pro
mote lisilrssncss aud idlcness. Everything Is
On great scale there except men, and these,
even when descended from the best European
stock degenerate rapidly in those latitudes
But Commander NArRY himself states some
facts which throw u discouraging shade over
III" brighter colors OF his picture. He says
that Mexico, scourgcd Tor more than iitiy years
b., faction or war, has reapcd abundantly of the
harNc~tS OF such a conditicu-Iorcad loans and
contributions upon the rich grevous bur-
Grus upon the poor; TIE spirit Of enterprise
crushed the industrial energies Of entire
regions paralyZed: capital frightened OF into
is hiding places, and the effects of general
abseutrrlSm, expressed upon the landscape
hy deserted mansions, neglected planta-
tiuIs and other signs of ruin and decay. He
1lvs that many fine estates. with the walls OF
tArir rohlo old mau,ions still standing, are
NOW offered for sale and settlement At prices
,ary.iur from a few cents 20 q teT; dollars per
acre Why are they 50 cheap? Simply be
cause the crater OF evil passions, which peri
oaically vomits fire upon the land, gives no
evidence of being exhausted. Thcs" deserted
mansions and neglected plantations are IN the
np!Clhorhood Of volcano People do not
wish 10 invest capital. however small, i'll real
r~lltr on the of Ilorculancum and Pompeii.
We haze " deserted mansions aud neg
lrr,cd plantations enough OF our own,
without going 10 Mexico in pursuits OF them.
J. il not better 10 rebuild these mansions ana
restore these plantations Of our own, which
are Lallowcd 10y so many historical traditions.
home associations and family ties ; where we
are surrounded by familiar customs and loved
faces, where we have yet much 10 hope and
live for, than TO fOrSake our own people
mos, OF whom cannot. under any circun-
~tancrs-rlnigrate and embark In the business
of huilding up our fortunes on the qnakins
gu1rmrc of Mexican society
We have enough 10 do in the way oi recon
~trt,rlion II home without travelling 10 Mexico
Tor that purpose, and having no reasonable
prospect that, when we have finished our Ia
hOr~, the earthquake OF civil war VIII NOT
open again and swallow them up. II would
De strange indeed if, whilst The South is So
Iyi,iag emigration from the Old World, her
own people should lorsake her for another
cline, and proclaim, by their action, that
Mexico is a more inviting field for emigration
than he Southern States. We can promise
our Young men that the same amouut of
capital and combinations which would be re-
qu!rel for emigration 10 Mexico or the scale
proposed by Commander MAURY will yield
more profitable and permanent return If en-
pluyrd in their native land.