The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-09-24
immigration.

! Immigration.
NEW YORK, September 10, 1868.
Editor Richmond Dispatch:
Dear Sir.-The leading article which was
oonto;ned in YOUR issue of the 10th of June,
beaded the Estate Interest,"" has, am
snre infused sturdy confidence among the
bond holders of the State of Virginia, Judg-
inc from the impression it has made on my
own mind, being large bond-holder of your
State Indebtedness myself. May l, there
fore. be permitted to use your influential
columns for some occasional outpourings on N
the subject which engrosses the MINDS OF an
of us, tied up as we are with the material
and moral welfare of the Old DOMINION
We are all fully aware that the dlttlcuitles
IN he overcome, the wounds to be healed IN
your midst and throughout your state, are
manifold but if you strike in the right dl-
rection to mend the past and prepare pro-
missing future, not many years Will nave 10
pass by before you are within sure grasp OF
prosperity that will not be excelled by any
of your sisters North, West, or South. Sur
rounded as you are by destroyed agricultu-
raj interests, and mineral resources para
| lived by the want of labor and capital, all
YOU have to do is to push forward the move
ment that has been inaugurated by General
Imboden and others.
immigration of whites from other States
and from abroad is what Virginia requires
more than anything else; and the fostering
of it, l assure you, has to be taken in hand
vigorously and systematically.
| | have little doubt but that associations
have already been formed for the promo
ton of immigration into Virginia if they
! have, let them form central association"
and let those individuals who are interested
in your prosperity, but live away from you,
either in other parts Of the country or in
Europe, have an opportunity to cooperate
with such societybor societies.
Now, as for my humble self, am Ger
man, but have lived in the Union these
eighteen years-the first five years in Cali
fornia, and since in New York. I have
travelled a great deal. After a previous
stay of five years in the Spanish West In
dies and South America, have seen many
countries-Mexico, through the length and
breadth of it, and pretty much all civilized
Europe, from Cadiz, through Naples, to the
frontier of Poland-and assure you have
had my wits about me when I saw and stu
died those countries. | have also seen what
American enterprise and a cordial CO.
operation Of northerners and southerners can
accomplish while / was staying in Califor-
mia, where, let me tell you, the obstacles to
be overcome to constitute society were nc
small ones.
If in California, at such distance, with
lack of labor, scarcity Of the female
element, doubtful land titles, and an int
rest on money from FIVE per cent. to one
and half per cent. per month, incredible
progress has been created within the shor
space of eighteen years, allow me to ash
you why something analogous cannot b
built up in country like yours, which, from
mineral and agricultural point of view, Ii
certainly not greatly inferior to the Colder
State. But granting that California is you
superior in this respect, do you not full,
stand on a par with her in your unsur
:, passed geographical position, your mile
. climate, and your excellent water system
You will ask me why purposely draw
comparison between California, one of tn
Youngest States Of the Union, and the cradl
B.. Of heroes and statesmen. Idoso because Cali
J. fornia, in point of immigration, is going t
4 be one of your most formidable competitors
o since the Pacific railroad will be throw
It open to traffic on the 4th of July next.
TT In your race for recuperation and futur
'e grandeur you are aware that you have t
a snatch away the palm of success from you
e younger sisters. Let US devise the mean
st how to render this possible, if not certain
n 1t is Of no use to stand mourning owe
It the past, and, Janus-like," to look back
d ward. Certainly your great men, like Lee
y do not look backward they do not teacl
: your sons to look backward, under who's
e youthful feet great future blossoms, in
is culcated into their hearts by the grea
r, leader who has not despaired of his bleed
d ing country, but stayed quietly with you
n Great in war as he has been, he is thu
still greater IN peace.
1t If you complain that politically you ar
;, disfranchised and that negro suffrage trans
;, fers to possessing classes the dispose
l. Of your property, restore the equilibrium
e not by wailing over the unavoidable fat
e which has brought about this anomalou
6 state of affairs, but by attracting ant
,. stimulating the ingress of an industrious
o hardy, agricultural population that shal
J "restore the balance" Once this move
ment properly inaugurated and systemati
a cally kept up, and l assure you it is moral
l ly-nay, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS that tn,
g current towards your border and teward
It your shores will steadily increase from
d year to year. ,.s--.' .-.-
i By way Of calling the attention of Eu
y ropean capitalists and emigrant agents Il
the great future which awaits infallibly, il
}, my estimation, the two coast States of Viz
GINA and North Carolina through this ver5
d instrumentality of immigration, have EN-
e bodied in q circular which had occasion
9 to send to Europe this week some appro
J. pirate remarks, which I trust will do some
=, ); good. 1t was printed in German, and All
u OF these circulars were forwarded.
. The subject to be promoted has had my
). deep and serious reflection for several
g weeks past, and invite free and candid
exchange Of ideas. Indeed, have plan
matured in my mind; others may have
theirs. Let US compare notes. Give me
the opportunity to ventilate these import
: ant matters, and once the movement pro-
perly started andth current Of immigration
set on foot and swelling, and assure YOU
it will not take many years; and / shall
settle among you, along with others, with
plenty of capital, enterprise, and large
families, my own family alone consisting of
/ nine members.
!. Property now selling in your lovely city
for mere song will feel the first impulse
Of the returning wave Of prosperity, and
You will, With smile on your lips, then