The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-31
Another Practical Lesson

Another Frac LlCal Lesson
The new social order will facilitate tn
growth and prosperity Of this city. i
pursuance Of the views already expresse
on the subject, let US 60 into practica
illustration so plain as to be understood
by all.
Prior TO the war, large part of tn
labor of this city, and the "belp" IN tn
domestic economy Of housekeeping cam
from the country. We may say much I'M
larger part. This labor and help were
made up of slaves from many sections 0
East Virginia, and especially from ''''
peDinsulas Of tide water. The money
paid 10 the way of hire for these slaves y
the people Of Richmond was carried ON :
the country and applied to various pu''
poses among them the buying OF more
negroes and moro land ana very cou
siderable portion of it fell into tue haao'
Of people trading with Baltimore ana othel
northern cities, and thus was sent out q
the State.
This was really system Of absentecism
having in it's results the worst consequences
Of that system. The profits Of the labor o.
the community were carried away from
them, and they were to the extent of thu:
very large drain paralyzed and estopped
from increase and expansion.
The system had other evils OF serious
nature. The position, character, and
habits of the hired persons aggravated
the consequences adverse to economy ana
thrift. For instance, the day laborers and
r,ctorv hands had no homes Of their own,
or for which they paid. The factory
hands, portcrs, and others, had weekly
.,ipend-e1ceedngly smaIl-to pay for
board, which, In the greater numDcr o.
cases, was expended In liquor or gam "tns'
and they lived on the housekeepers Oh the
c,,r. There was hardly housakeeper IN
Richmond who did not support one, and
great number were saddled with the e4-
n.nye Of two or more, through the domes-
Ties in their service, who maintained some
sort of relationship to the spongers, VINO
were supplied in clandestihe manner
with board and lodging. In this way the
most oDerous burthens we're imposed upon
,le ueople OF Richmond, amounting, III
the aggregate, to an immense annuai
charge.
These are facts, and the deductions are
simple and comprehe nsible. We do no,
magnify the serious nature Of these eVlis.
The withdrawal Of capital from this city by
this system, aud the heavy burthens it lm-
poscd upon the citizens, all know to have
been enormous, and disastrous to the gene
raj welfare of the community.
Now for the change: The labor Of Rich
mond must now be permanently resident
here. Each laborer is his own agent;
making his own engagements; receiving
his WAGES as his own; and expending them
according as his necessities and taste may
dictate. But he must expend them here.
That is the point. Moreover, he mast find
his o1cn home and pay for his food. So we
see at glance the very great advantages
this city must derive from the retention OF
all the wages of labor here, and their eX
penditure amongst our own stores and at
our own markets and we further see the
immense relief to our housckeeperS from
placing the laborers upon an independent
footing to be responsible for themselves.
Here, then, wo have the whole matter
plainly before us. Who does not see that
this city is immensely the gamer? We
stated few days since that there were
signs Of growth and increased activity in
many parts of Richmon Formerly tho
smaller concerns in obscure places were
chiefly devoted to liquor. Now they
retail larger amount of food, since the
lahorcrs provide for themselves, and do not
live on others. This branch of retailing is
increasing.
Public attention may be benehcially d.
rccted to this subject. With all the cir
cumstances which distress and agitate the
public mind, there is q great deal to cheer
and enllven our hopes; and TO TINS our
attention ought to be directed. We have
brooded over our SORROWS long enough.
We outrage nature as we'll as our best IN
tcrests by looking at the past. Our
duty to ourselves and our country de-
1nauds that we shall look ahead and use
our energy and best Judgment in the
eff rt TO establish order, contentme Mt, and
prosperity in the place of prostraton and
dependency. We believe the future o.
this city is the very brightest imaginable
that it will recover with rapidty asto-
nishing to all, and that it will grow with
great facility to be one Of the largest and
most prosperous inland towns of the United
States.
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