The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-04-19
Divide our Lands.

let us turn our eyes TO those States
North where people dwell on nice little
farms, and see how they prosper. TheE
toll and spin in contcntmcnt with what ap
pears small to us, but yet they become
rich and independent. They neither own
nor covct principalitics such as we have
because they cannot manage them. Formerly
IN the South, on immense tobacco or cot
ton estates, our position was different from
theirs, or at least we thought so, but no"
we must see things in their true light. II
Is better for a ncighborhood to have
GOOD many small thrifty planters than one
plethoric land-o lie may be wealthy
and have the good will of his neighbors
I'm, his lands are almost dead weight t
the body polite. They remain idle foI
want of labor; and that is wrong. 1t i
bad economy, and retard, progress. Ever.
one who has travelled through the Norti
sees wide difference in the improved cuI
,ivation there, under the system OF SINAI
farms. II is manifest to the eye, and the
reason is evident. People do not under
take more than they can accomplish, an'
everything is turned to account. Inc!
have time for it, and what they do they
do well. In Pennsylvania, for instance, IL
farmer wants more. than one or two nun
dred acres of land, because he considers
:, a,ouph to engage all his personal atteh
,;o, ,pd he acts on the sound maxim OF
attending 10 his own business, and dong
J;,,S,lf what requires TO be we'll done on
the place. And how beautifully clean
those Dutch farms are kept. See the snug
,.,r. harms crowded 10 Overlooking with
49,. rroduct of honest industry well APP
nlied. Behold their fat and Saucy cattle
,h.;r sheep and swine, all perfect OF then
,;,5 and their Conestoga horses, uneX
ccn.d for farm purposes. They are cared
f,r from the foal and the litter, and are
roarrd almost as members of the family.
II i the farmers business and his interest,
ond We must follow their example. They
49,. r~,ctical pcople, and Just The kind We
want. That they can be induced to come
-....,,, NC there is not shadow Of doubt,
r. ". only show them the advantages We
can offer. They have no better lands al
~. North than we have, and We will sell
ours cheaper than they can buy in theli
own States. Surely there is no better
Mace in the world to live than in dear Old
Virginia. Nature has done all for her that
heart could wish. Society, lands, climate,
minerals, and water power, all are ours,
and all are unsurpassed on the face of the
earth. What we want is little more en-.
terpriSe, and to labor with Judgment and
economy. Bring people among us who
understand laboring for profit better than
we do. and learn their ways. If We
do not, we shall regret when per-
hans il is too late, for the day may come
when we may he compelled to sell ON
lands. whether by Wholesale or retail, be
ransp of our want of enterprise. We
must improve our advantages, or Shrewder
people will do it-not for us, but for them
selves. Virginia is not going to remain
uudeyeloped. She is too contiguous I"
Great markets for that. We cannot stand
still. but we must 60 forward vigorously
with a full sense of the times We live IN
and the change We have undergone, in re-
spect to labor particularly. Our people
do not realize this fully yet, but they will
find out that if there is to be any worh
done, any crops to be made, every MAI
must put his hand to the plow. We have
had enough of politics and States rights
Tor the present at least, to convince
us that that does not pay; but the H.
alenable right is left US to go to work.
Let there be no impression that we az
no, want good thrifty settlers from 'n'
North. We do want them, and We Snoui'
encourage them to come. We can assu''
them that they will be we'll received an
be met with respect and courtesy. ln'
every one is prepared to do, and we shou u,
make it our daily business to do away WIZ
all prejudice and notious to the contrary
do al, that we can to induce good peopl
from every land to come, and Stua'ouS'
aro;d ercn the appearance, by word o
deed, Of doing anything toprevent IT,