The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-29
PETERSBURG LETTER.
of the Richmond Dispatch.
The Brkeuiue Contention-Iaterest taken
IN Gathering up The Confederate Dead
along the Lines. :H-.
PETERSBURG, June 81, 1868.

-. PETERSBURG, June ~, looc.
The proposed convention of landholders
and others interested in emigration, to be
held at Burkeville at an early day, is at
tracing good deal of attention among the
people of the southside counties. The con-
dition of this section of Virginia is pecu-
liar, ,inasmuch as the negro population
largely preponderates over the white. ut
may also be greater in some other districts
of the State of more limited extent; but
here, unless we can offer Inducements suf1t-
GENTLY, attractive to emigrants, we
are in great danger of being Afri-
canized at no distant day. Whether
such inducements can, or rather will,
be offered, may depend in a great measure
on the action of this Convention. Every
body knows that the first consideration Of
an emigrant is the price Of land. If be-
yond his means, however great may be the
natural advantages, there is an end of the
matter. 1t must be made to his interest to
come here, just as it is to 60 West, by put
ting large quantities of land in the market
ut fixed price within the reach of men of
very limited means. This is q proposition
which none will dispute. in the abstract;
but the question arises, How is it to be
done - "11 '. ..s p. ~.
Not proposing to enter into the inquiry,
and leaving its solution entirely to the wis
dom of the Convention, we would amply
appeal to the proprietors in Southern Vir-
GINA to act in the most liberal spirit in view
Of the transcendent importance of the OBJ
ject. If they hold fast to their acres under
the delusive hope Of getting good price at
some indefinite time, they will only leave
their children legacy which will eyentu-
ally be swallowed up in taxes. Do they
expect stable and equitable government
when all their property is put under the
control Of ignorant men who have no pro-
perty Of their own and men, too, of an
other, if not an antagonistic racer We
have thousands and tens Of thousands
yea, hundreds Of thousands-of acres OF
land which can never be brought under
cultivation with our present population.
As long as this redundancy continues, the
price will be merely nominal; but make
an offer of one-half Of it, divided into sec
tions of suitable size, and at a low price
or even no price at all-and the other half
will soon come to be worth far more than
the whole now is. Whether men are capa-
BILE of making such sacrifice for future
and contingent good Is matter Of, grave
doubt; but unless there be some concert of
action CT this kind, to be made Of binding
effect, it were perhaps better that the con-
yention should never meet, 1t may pass
resolutions well enough in themselves, but
If no practical measures are taken to carry
them out they will be Of little more worth
than the paper on which they are written.
An earnest effort is now making under
the auspices Of the Memorial Association to
gather up the Confederate dead, still lying
near the lines, for final interment in the
Soldiers cemetery. Previous to the late
celebration considerable number were re-
moved, but there are probably thousands
yet remaining unhonored and ,unwept.
Now that the land is being brought again
into cultivation it is no unusual occurrence
for, the bones Of some poor fellow to be turn
ed up by the plowshare. Will not thosesat
q distance, who sympathized5 with the de-
feated cause and who probably lost friends
or relatives on these memorable battle-felds,
contribute something to enableithe devoted
ladies Of this city to complete their workf