The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-24
9itI1n,ol1d Qispatth.
neutrality-suspicious. "a, 1868.
A Word to Country Merchants.

We have dearly learned the fact that
"Might is Right" and now, instead Of de-
voting our time and labor to politics and
the cultivation of a staple the chief profits
of which flowed to the communities of the
North, we should be exerting every nerve
and employing every talent to develop our
own natural riches, to increase our own
commerce and our own population and
wealth.
There is no portion of the community
which can more readily perceive the utility
of this policy, and the Overwhelming neces-
sity which should impel US to resort to II,
than the mercantile population OF the rural
districts. They can readily understand
that an increase of our own commerce and
manufactures will increase the size of our
cities; and that large cities in the heart Of
the State are home markets for the products
of the farmer; that they make q demand
for that sort of variety of agricultural pro-
ducts which are most remunerative, and
therefore lead to the increase of the farm
ing community, the improvement Of the
lands, and the greatest possible increase OF
thrift and wealth of the agricultural COM
munity. Thus the trade Of the rural dis
tricts is increased by the multiplication of
customers and the abundance Of money. is
not this grand aggregate result that each
citizen should take a pride in helping to
accomplish
Now, on the other hand, what follows the
opposite policy? The country merchant Is
sort of common agent of the people. lie
supplies their wants in things they do not
themselves produce for a commission, as 1t
we're, which constitutes his profits. Ii the
funds of the community in his hands are
taken out of the State and expended
we may say misappropriated-they DO
that for foreign communities which
might be done for our own; they help 10
build I'D in other States the tiourlshlng
populations which absorb the general
wealth of many States. The country mer-
chants thus become drains, conducting away
from their own homes the fertlllzlng
streams that, turned upon their own lands
would make them rich, so that they woulu
fill the land with abundance. In short,
these merchants deprive their people OF
near markets, they limit the variety OF the
crops, restrict the increase Of populatlon'
retard the improvement of the country, put
O bar TO the increase of their own custom
ers, and doom their country to inactivity,
unthriftiness and continued stagnation.
Now, we dare not assume that a commu-
nity so intelligent as the mercantile classes
Of Virginia are not animated by feeling
of patriotism--that they are devoid OF that
noblest sentiment of the heart next to de-
votion to the Supreme Being-love of coun-
try. And therefore we cannot believe them
wanting in the cordial aspiration for the
prosperity of their State. But even If that
sentiment were wanting, or existed IN
feeble degree, here are practical considera-
,ions of the most convincing nature 10 adj
monish them to pursue that policy which
will establish in Virginia, for their 0'cn
sakeS, an independent commerce, good mar
kets at home, thrifty agriculture, IN
creased population, and increased asgre-
gate wealth. In short, no part of the COM
munity is more deeply interested than they
in making VIRGINIA POWERFUL IN MEN AND
MEANS, that she may be the better equipped
for the trials of the day in which might
makes right"