New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-28
EMIGRATION SOUTHWARK.
HOMES FOR ENTERPRISING MEN.
A LETTER FROM GEN. 1MBODEN.

Ibad with YOU in this city in june 1867 regard to the
past condition and probable future of Virginia venture
now at the beginning Of new year, to address you
very frank letter on the subject Of Northern emigration
TO the South generally, and this State in particular You
will pardon me for saying at the outset that think Of all
men living you are under welghtest obligations to
use your influence the dense populations OF the North
of Europe In favor OF large migration TO the South
think so because journalist and politician you have
been many years the recognized leader Of that por
ton of the people Of the North who maintained that AT
rican Slavery the sum Of all viainies in regard 10
the negro and blight upon one section OF inc Country
In eneryang influence the white man. ana IN TO-
pressing the spirit Of enterprise which distinguished inc
North from the South.
The soutb differed 80 widely from you that resist
nnce TO the practical application of your theories in the
administration Of the Federal Government In violation
Of our view Of the Federal compact ended in that terri
Bile conflict Of which has overhrOwn Slavery for
ever and oOmpes acceptfOr the future yOur poco
economical and social organization instead Of that which
had existed here for more hundred years 1t
now remains whether the Of your pot
zeal philosophy and overthrow Of will benefit
mankind rather that portion Of it inhabtng these
Southern States.
1t would DO worse than waste Of time now to discuss
the question whether you right or wrong in
the contest 1t settled definitely and irevoca
bly, by the sword You are the yictors we are the van
who faced your armed millions Of men In the HELD for
four years In deadly strife have the remotest idea OF try
NIT beyond the possibility Of cavl dispute that you
want it, and that we have to take it just you have
made il and, it is the only Government we have
have, and government is indispensable to our
existence are, and must continue to be an integral
part Of the American nation aud are most deeply inter-
we intend do evel best to secure all the DEMENT'S
be able the caianities it may iafict by bad admnisra
tiOn We intend honestly, fairly, ana fuly TO test
see whether in fact the result will prove
that you have been right and We wrong all the time IN
to- into Ne
10 make best Of situation and see whether Win
the downfall S of a2S ye Re" GTf h an
incubus growth In respect TO the Border states
the Cotton States Of the late Confederacy" will have
population and wealth unknown before inc waT
wealth OF many generations ana tbaso S0gS bai
the present P0puS Snare by our Snnded
efforts We have the bass OF rapid reeuperaton III our
aud waor powers but few people to build up rapidly
on me- SPS9k 6s UL s Of The nero
the plantation s. ten OF agcsGFe PerS I9 top fe t6s
%oGa honJ M u1ruTng agencies don't think the
negro Will exist long But do not intend to discuss the
eDce They have been severed after than 200 years
associated existence and as practical men, we must
oT have been the advocate Of small farms and dense
uIl snrnd and onr neope now accent n We
are ready aud subdiyde the large plantations
ST not more than an average Of onehTd the value the
@so gee r e owners are too poor to give away their
lands merely for the sake Of dividing large tracts
because they have means fence, build upon and en
tvse them. General subdivision ana proaneuve Gut
walton can only take place when immigrants arrive IN
large numbers as purchasers and permanent settlers
how great the Inducements really for them to come
Virginia. This Information they can only OBTAIN rom
ourselves or from those VINO iA9 5ou'''i- ""'0 O''
With the knowledge you possess Of Virginia and her
people and the power yOu weld over the tens OF thou
sands Of the readers OF THE TRIBUNE can give an I'M
later will take place from colder regions Of this coun-
try TO our genial climate Mhen you INFORM ten ou Tns'
railroads. canals mines fisheries. forests and manufae
Sot and come; and you may thus stimulate a mi
grafton TO Virginia that in IT'S results may, even
10 your lifetime. prove, what you maintain
that your political philosophy sounder than ours was
At all events think you owe it to your own philosophy
and political creed and to people whose GheTS d I'm
sututloas yp nE now rnainS 10 adant fhemselves TO
this new order Of things in Their midst by your con-
aud labor to offer lands equal any this continent
for the growth Of all the grains grasses and animals OF
cIpois cbnrches bebways mills and markets Of easy
NAV We not expect you aid In the work OF
eQiazng populations and values, by using your lnnu-
ence to turn emigration this way1
am no politician and take part In political afairsi
not that am Indifferent to the course OF events but be-
with parole in my pocket not yet three years ga
which accepted as an armed enemy Oh tue Nhl Yea
States hardly think Y becoming 20 thrust mysen i9r
ward beyond the sphere Of strictly private acts 10 the
political OF the parties who together constituted
some uneGuiyocal assurance from the Government
that am again an American citizen invested es,e
words 1 don't think it COMFORTS with self
respect with the terms OF my parole TO push myself
therefore since the fall Of the COnfederaoy applied for
pardon IN good faith have observed the laws and
am deyong al my energies toward repeopng my desc.
lated State, feeling that whatever government tho
people OF the United States may be content with my
duty quietly 90 submit TO and support as long as re-
main IN the country ana am nalkto say that expect
20 remain here these terms ana conditions Tor with
all ts faults as they appear TO- me- Know 81 n no She5
time has cooled of the passions OF the war; and the Peo
pie North ana South come TO know each oher as Wen as
their soldiers did OF the close OF the will like
other well enough to work together III our common
material Advancement Both sides were TO blame, In a
degree, for the and both sides 10
blame extent, for present prOstratiOn In
the south have found out from good deal OF inter
course with Northern since 1866 that we Will have TO
each other better before misunderstanding and bit
teness removed have found much personal KIND
ness IN my Intercourse with NOrtheIn men u DOM par
ties since the war; and an conscious OF such change OF
feeling myself that rarely indulge III tAe old camp
phrase which designated our people as id 1anKees
decent respectable strangers are too glad
10 welcome them If they here 70 settle IN good
TO show them anything but the utmost courtesy
This L affirm as a fact that you have YOuched by
hundreds who have TO Virginia since Quit fight
field Secretary Of War; but then in command here, say
party OF gentlemen from PeDnJ wanna, that he be-
leved there was crime and violation Of law in Vir-
gna than in any population Of like extent in the North;
and 10 currently said here that Gen. btoneman, our
present commander, a few months ago, in reply
e. an inonirv from washington whether he could snare
troops for Tennessee, sad they might have all as
lie found for them here. The four years fight
settled the old Of quarrel and don't deem poll
worth squabbng over now. In fact we don't sym
psthize very warmly with either party in the North in
asmuch not particularly Interested In what we
regard mainly struggle between the "ins" and
"ous" for the spells OF Office aud as we are 10 get no
Leans who whipped Us, or the Democrats who in
1861. swOre they shouldn't do it, but when
idea s prevalent here that about the only either
party has FOR Is that the monkey had for the cat IN
EXAMINATIONS this matter OF Federal politics begin
ming 10 suspect Of tho bag varieties Of the