The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-03-03
PErEssBuRo, March 2, 1858.

49, prrERsBURG, Mafcn z, le66s
mn. .,r,arnus cases In bankruptcy
s,,.;r. .bs last month have had depress-
~. ntsact' on the merchants, from the fact
the. chew are in daily receipt Of notices
from their customers whom they had cre-
dited for various articles on the faith of
the incoming crops. Some rather hard
cases are spoken, Of. Many persons have
hurried into bankruptcy from the belief
that after the LIST of March, the conditions
would not be SO liberal. It appears now,
however, 10 be generally settled among the
legal gentlemen that debtors may make an
unconditional surrender OF, their property
at any time before the month of June.
Had they been aware Of this, it is hard to
suppose that planters would have been
eQually Indifferent TO the settlement Of
Obligations recently contracted TO enable
them to make final effort, and those of 8
period dating years back. But IN the pre-
sent condition Of the country it would be
uucharitable, to Judge any man harshly.
Is is now settled point that nearly every
body will be under the necessity Of begin
ming the world anew. -, 81 rc..
Looking at the matter in q humane, II
not In legal aspect, it is to be regretted
that such Q large amount Of fees is neces-
sary to enable the bankrupt to file petit
ton, It is only small number, compare
lively speaking, who can raise a hundred
and fifty dollars. The inability to do this
has doubtless prevented thousands from,
ayailine themselves Of the provisions OF
the act. The fact is, the money is not in
the country, nor the produce to bring it.
In the county of Brunswick, for instance
and the same will probably hold good of
nearly every other county in the planting
region--it is stated on good authority that
forty.nine ont Of fifty Of those who were
formerly in easy, circumstances are now
hopelessly insolvent. This class embraces
all who were once rich. For each one Of
these to have the above mentioned sum in
hand would imply the presence of apretty
fair circulating medium!
It Is impossible that the prosperity OF
the country can revive until the agricultu-
raj classes relieve themselves from the
pressure which now weighs them down ;
and for public as well as private reasons, it
is desirable that every man should en-
deayor to do this. It is duty he owes to
the community. 1t is believed that every
friend Of this numerous and important
class, at all acquainted with their distresscs,
would be ready to counsel this course.
The following is gathered from the pro-
ceedings of fhe Common Council at its
monthly session, held this afternoon
The Rev. DR.. Sears, in communication
addressed to the Mayor, made a special
appropriation from the. Peabody fund of
$4,000 for the purpose of aiding in the
initiation ofthe educational system adopted
by the Council.
For the months Of January and Febru-
airy the Wood and Fuel Committee have
distributed 1851 cords of wood to the in.
digent, a part Of which went to the colored
people. ~. :,
The following gentlemen were appointed
proxies to represent the city in the ap-
preaching anpual meeting of the stock
holders of the Petersburg railroad
namely, E. 0. Hinton, J. T. Young, D. Arcy
Paul, and Andrew KevaD, with Mayor
Collier as chairman. S.!