New-York tribune., 1869-05-22
VIRGINIA IN 1869.
LETTER FROM GEN. MBODEN

,uiroruly courteous and most valuable ser
vices of the reporters, the cheering words Of
encouragement and kindly attentions re-
ceyed in my daily intercourse with many
of yOur prominent business men-and particularly
the WISE and strikingly practical sugges tons made
by you in conversation this subject and your gem
erous offer of the columns of THE TRIBUNE as a
medium Of communication with the classes wish to
reach call for public expression Of my thanks ana
an acknowledgment Of the profound conviction
made upon my mind by all these facts, that the day
OF full harmonious, practical reunion is daWnng
upon the whole country. Men Of all parties ana
shades Of political sentiment-men IN civil hfe ana
men with whom had met Oh fields of carnage IN the
dark years gone by have expressed tom me- without eX
ception the same earnest, cOrdal, active sympathy
IN the cause Of emigration TO the South, and their
wishes for a speedy restoration of our prosperity.
All have evinced the liyellest satisfaction III my posi-
tive that IN Virginia the great body OF the
people accept with the most perfect good faith the
results Of the as a tinal conclusive, and IRE
yersiblo decision of the issues that were involved
and that no one among us is so wild madman as to
indulge the thought for moment that we can ever
assert and maintain successfully our lOngcherlshed
theory OF the Constitution and Government OF the
United States-that we are resolved 10 take Things
as they exist and make the best OF our sltuatOnhat
therefore we welcome neighbOTs and friends all
respectable men and their families who come 10
abide permanently with us, as an active element
IN future social, business aud pOLuCal Hie-tnaI
the cold shoulder turned to none but those haes,
who Stunned by all decent ard honorable men Al lHe
North quit it and swarmed down upon us IN Ile uaIh
est honIs of our distress and added 10 the genera
gloom by iullamug the negroes against US ana ou
fb.ir simpie-minded credulity, and untutorcd pas
slg,s foistiug themselves into POSITIONS lhal we Hdt
been always taught to reverence because iu9 E|leat |
and good men of past history had occupied Jntnh
that IL Is these creatures alone who sun seek TO
keen alive the passions and animostles OF the war
The present political canvass gong on IN Virginia
ought 10 satisfy all reasonable men that what
I,r i;fll,ert q Walker of Norfolk a Northern man
y,'l hp W.
engaging iona fde in business there, and gaming by
dis high qualities rs man. and uneNcept0nable ue-
lnympnt as q gentleman, the public cOnhdehce, mas
!, en- nominated as the Grant Republican candidate
for Governor in the approaching election, ana IS to-
lv supported, with rare exceptions, by al the re-
urctabr Northern men IN the State, ana VIII be YOte9
Iurhy the entire body OfnatlNe white suIlasas; ana
she more intelligent portion OF the negroes: nave
no doubt of his election by IRON oOOO 10 3OOO ma
iorty and that he will be an able popular ana sue
Ccs,ful Governor of the State. / have known INN
for trcc years and long before he was thought OF as
q candidate for Governor, and know that as the type
Ui tGc Northern men we welcome, ne mas Oeen All the
time respected and treated with the consideration
lis merits deserve. His is not an exceptional case
] could name scores who like Col walker nave come
there and fuund pleasant homes and associations and
enjoy The confidence OF everybody. Two OF JhISe
will name because they We're prominent IN the red
Cral amy before they resumed the aY0catOns OF
CIVIL life and settled with They are Gems. Stone
and 1iulford, and Col. Ordway, two OF them from
York. To these gentlemen, and the hundreds OF less
public note hut Of equal private worth, VINO nave
gone 10 live in Virginia, confidently refer, and ask
thcu am in error. to cOntIadlctme, as living intel
ligcnt fair minded witnesses upon this subject 20
further and ask you, Mr. Greeley as the leading
journalist Of your party, whose word on
This and an kindred topics has more lntiucnce IN tins
country and abroad than any other manln the united
States, TO say III all candOr ana lrankhess Whelher
yUU do not heeve-Or rather kAOW that the sehIl-
meut OF my State Is as have represented II nave
dWelt upon this topic, because the Jlhc mas come
when want 10 see the public mind OF the North so
completely satisfied, and the question so emphatic
olIy settlgd that people Will cease make the in
,lto41ta is fa
family 10 settle in Virginia. In my opinion all that
remains to Je done 10 restore perfect harmony ana
good Will u both sections, Is FOR the people 10 mluSe
more freely with each other, and reestaDllsh thclr
old business and social relations on tAe OASIS
of a ce.-@.1n interest IN q common cOuhuy.
JiG, can o.ilv be done by a large emigration from
tlr North 10 the South. The Southern people can
ilut and ought not to move to the North. we nave
too much need for their labor aud enterprise III our
vast and productive Southern country TO spare a
tnau. On the contrary want millions more Whlte
neu to belp MS in the development OF our resources
These must come from Europe and the Northern
states where population is dense and emigration
either a necessity desirable for the pTomotloh OF
individual happiness. My aim is to place IN 1alr CONF
Detltion with the West, the attractions OF my own
State 10 the industrious and entcrprSlng classes OF
the North, who contemplate change OF residence,
and have some means 10 purchase lahu' however
modest the investment may De.
1t takes but little money 10 buy home IN VII,
qiDia Leaving ont the rich Shenandoah valley ana
u few counties east of the Blue Ridge, Virginia now
offers probably the cheapest lands IN the world
Hundreds OF thousands OF acres Of good lahu-IaIls
Opened, fenced, built upon, improved Win al tle
advantages of reads, mills, schools, clNl anu soclI
order a mild, genial and healthtu climate, ample
RAILWAYS canals and rYer highways, ports ana mar,
ket towns surrounded on every hahu WIN unHSe1
water mower, in the midst Of mineral Weaith OF
almost nitess extent, with perfect sOcla ana cyIl
order and the stability OF an Old clNlllZaloI every
couuty-cau be'purchased at 3, $40 SO ana gu per
acre None of the sellers intend 10 leave the couh-
try but they have too much land and cannot manage
it, They are wise TO sell the surplus beyond lhelf
immediate wants. o.,
Another immense advantage we offer over the
West Is the abundance of cheap labor IN our MIDST
come land owners. They as all know very poor.
They will generally remain 50 from lack OF that
prOvidcnt forecast winch the white man possesses
They must therefore continue TO be mere laDOleIS II
wages and farm labor Is that best snlted 10 thelr
nature and capacity. The best OF them are
excellent farm hands aud with careful SUI
pervison and guidance, all may be made use
mi They are hired for about $lOO TO
20 wear for men and $50 to eco year for women,
:ud their rttiOns Of peck and hali Ot meal ana
thrce pounds of bacon per week IL is Wllllh tle
reach n.u o.. every small farmer 70 command ample
help in Virginia Can he do SO IN the west
/ am convinced from my own observation con
frmed bv the knowledge of some OF the best IN
formed men in this city, that theTe are t0uay IN
New-York and its enyirOns not less than peoPe
I'm families who find il difficult on small capital OF
from 800 to. say 5000 70 i've mere VII the nOst
active and wearing industry. Although wages seem
high 20 me- / find the cost OF hylng even IN hlgheF
proportion than with People OF tins class IL az
sisaus find II necessary, in protecting themselves
against actual want and suffering 10 unite anu OF
ganize trades unions and societies ior mutuaI
sunnOrt in the contest between capital and labor
that exists in all dense populations All these
people it seems 10 me, would greatly
improye their condition by purchasing
lands where even their small capital
would secure enough to support their families IN
comfort aud make them independent OF the ylclssl,
tudes of trade Virginia Is 50 near 70 NeW-1 OfK ana
other great consuming centeTs that even few acres
well titled will yield in surplus products after sup
sum paid i'm New. York by many hard working man
as rent for part Of crowded tenement house, would
far more than meet the nstallments OF purchase
M