The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-21

tions of the world. After having had some
experience with white laborers, both fo-
reign and native, have como TO the con-
clusion that the world cannot produce Z
more skillfil and efficient farm -labofsr
than well.trained. Virginia negro who IS
willing and able to work. As class,
think, under all the circumstances, the
freedmen have behaved with remarkable
propriety; and when the ruinous
metayer system Of renting Is absn-
doned, necessity, which Is the severest
taskmaster, will make them our most relia-
bic dependence for labor. Iftreated kindly,
and well and regularly paid, they will fur
nish large portion at least Of the effective
labor required. take occasion to say that
/ greatly prefer native laborers, either
white or black, to foreigners. They under
stand our language, our modes of farming
and crops, and can 60 to work at once with
out training; whereas the foreigner has to
be taught everything.
Money may be regarded as necessary
element of civilization. Without IL, man
kind can make no progress, and must re-
main stationary or relapse into barbarism.
| This Commonwealth has reached the sta
tionary point. Her industrial interests,
though striving to advance, can make no pro-
gress. Commerce, manufactures, and, above
all, agriculture, are languishing for want Of
money. Virginia seems to be under an
exhausted receiver, surrounded by the vast
| volume of vital air that freely circulates I'm
unconined space. She seems perishing for
want of breath. Her people, agitated and
alarmed, are inquiring, one Of another,
"What shall be done2 What shall be
done ?" Who will answer this question
The man who shall give ita satisfactory solu-
tion will have, in the eternal gratitude Of q
whole people, a monument more durable
than brass.
We are literally without a circulating
medium; the precious metals have ceased
to perform the functions Of money. We
have no bank notes, or the checks, or drafts,
or bills Of exchange which used to be, to
some extent, substitute for currency; and
the only circulation that keeps up some
slight symptoms Of vitality comes from
abroad. There was time when Virginia
had banks of her own, under the manage
ment of gentlemen who had tact and dis
cernment to perceive the delicacy of their
position; and whilst they exercised the
powers entrusted to them faithfully for the
protection of the interests of the institu-
| tions over which they presided, they never
wounded the feelings of the most sensitive,
and however large the accommodation
afforded, never permitted gentleman to
leave them under sense of obligation.
Some of these gentlemen still survive, en-
joying the full confidence of the commu-
nifty, and, trust, ready again to devote
their talents and energies to the public
service.
Virginia must declare her commercial
independence. She must have her own
banks and her own currency. A sufficient
circulating medium, under her own inde-
pendent control, is as necessary to her
progress as wheels to road wagon. Banks
upon the Scotch plan might, l think, with
proper energy and united effort, be speed
| ily inaugurated. will not weary you with
a repetition of the views already presented
| in my letter to Mr.. mcfarland. / hope
the subject will be fully elucidated by the
report of an able committee of this body.
| In the mean time | content myself with
expressing the confident opinion that the
measure, if adopted, will afford the needed
relief, and the hope that it may meet the
views of men of business, the appreciation
of this assembly, and the sanction of the
Legislature.
have now, my friends, expressed to
you, with the utmost frankness, my views
upon the important subjects that have
brought us together. Perhaps have ven-
tured too far in giving so freely my own
counsel, whilst have freely criticised the
advice Of others. You may possibly be
disposed to ask, what right have you to ap-
pear in the character of adviser Have
you practiced what you preach, or are you
rashly urging us to enter upon an untried
field of experiment? / think ! may
answer, with modest confidence, that
/ have tried with success the experiment
that recommend to you. 1t would be in
bad taste, in q formal address, to occupy
your time with mere personal details. In
the progress of our consultations, it will
afford me pleasure to make such explana.
tions as may be required. / may say here,
however, without improperly, that at the
close of the war | resolved that would
not be paralyzed by despair, but, as high
public duty, would use all my energies tc
demonstrate, practically, the important
proposition that Virginia lands may b,
proftabh cultivated 6y hired labor. / have
| prosecuted this task with untiring industry
sometimes discouraged, often embarrassed
but never giving up. In the discharge o
this duty / have been heartily supported
by every member of my family. Some,
times, when weary in the flesh, and faint In
spirit, they would seem almost ready II
surrender, / have neryed them anew fol
the task by assuring them that we were
tiding over the shoals and would soon bt
in deep water. The shoals, am happy Il
say, are nearly passed, and our little barl
will soon be dancing on the blue waves, al
the old leaks stopped, full-rigged ant
manned, with all sails set, and ready, under
prudent pilotage, for pleasant and pros
porous voyage.
/ close this address in the spirit in which
it was commenced, by declaring again my
opinion that our fortunes are by M
means desperate. Virginia still pOssesse.
tho power of recuperation. The noble
race that has made her name immortal II
not extinct; and the Christian women who
in angelic kindness, heroic fortitude, anG
unshaken constancy, have been unsurpass
ed by the most celebrated Of their sex
whose deeds are recorded In history, either
sacred or profane, still stand at our side
Sons born of such mothers can never dis
grace those renowned ancestors who, I,
borrow the sentiment Of the great orator
Of Athens, shave transmitted to posterit,
such glory as to be superior to envy"
i | cannot hope to realize so bright |
vision; but there are those present WHIT
will live to see day Of unexampled pros
perity dawn upon Virginia; when her field