The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-23
Immigration.

PETERSBURG, VA, OCtoOer ~, 1Ooo.
Messrs. Editors,-Most subjects, in the
complicated affairs of state in this age, are
difficult to be explored and developed in
few short sentences. You have INDUCED
me to exhibitmyself against the strong cur
rent that is sweeping on to inundate the
South with emigrants from Europe. | would
be INDUCED with few remarks in support
of the view I have advanced.
AS have already intimated, there is less
detriment to be apprehended from the flood
than from the consequences. Natural causes
will bring many amongst us. II is most to
be deplored that the accessions to our So
ciety are sought to be accelerated by ad-
ventitious aid. The earth's surface, where
yer man can live, is likely to be dwelt on
and cultivated by man.. The divine COM
mand to man was early delivered to multi
ply and replenish the earth. That is in
consonance with all mems instincts. Be it
so, and SOFT will be, as ordered. Doubt
less, until the sun is dim with age, when
ever any habitable portion is so densely
peopled that the inhabitants must look
around and, about for room elsewhere, they
will spread ont and find it, and lodge there
until all the space is occupied. 1t was that
more than all else that produced the late
war. The press. into this thickly-settled
and inviting region could not be resisted.
No legislation by man can or ought to stay
that law Of population. Let it have. free
course, that the augmented race may 80 the
more glorify the great Creator.
- 1t is not the coming of the multitude that
is to be deplored, but far the more that
as soonas come they are at once to be invest
ed with the suffrage, and to participate in
the political power in the, State. They have
been unused to freedom, and are no more
to be blamed for their enthusiasm and ex-
cesses than the free negroes are in this fes-
tival of their freedoms violent birth.
Could they be kept from the suffrage until
they could know our institutions and how
to value them, there would be but little if
any effort made to accelerate immigration
any more rapidly than natural causes
would encourage and secure it gently and
safely. The public opinion is but running
in the wake Of ambition, as we have seen
it before, to the detriment of the Common
wealth. Once, and during our illustrious
period, we had freehold suffrage. We had
stable laws and steady justice. The nom
voting population was as well protected as
that portion which welded the political
authority of the State. Step by step the
seekers of office came into the policy Of en-
larging the circle Of the popular elective
power, each seeing that any in advance
would be the more apt to get the votes
Of those embraced by each extern
sion of the privilege, until all the
adults (even non-tax-paying) were in
'cluded in the supposed benefit. And now
SO it is in respect to giving the right to
foreigners to vote, right away, in all cleo
lions. One State runs ahead of another,
if not in the desigA in the anticipated
effect, that some distinguished one OF her
prominent men will be the surer to get the
foreign vote $50 to call it) in the i next e or
some not faf.off Presidential election. And
80 we go; nor isit beyond reasonable calcula-
ton that before many years naturalization
will be dispensed with as prerequisite to
voting and even beyond, that they who
will have crossed the Atlantic and be spend
ing the day of election with us, shall have
the right to vote. Already men Of any
pride Of character are disinclined by the
cheapness of suffrage to exercise it., AL
ready it is saleable article in the open
market Ere<long it willlbe too worthless
to be bought, and the voters will be driven
to the polls like cattle to the slaughter pens.
- ''N' '''N''A' R. R. COLLIER.