The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-12-14

AND OTHERS.
The Convention met, pursuant to adjourn
ment, Yesterday nlornin. at 10 O'Clock in the !
old hnlng-room of the Exchange Hotel
Hon. a. Ii. II. Stuart in the chair.
REPORT OF TIE BUSINESS COMMITTEE.
Colonel Hubbard, Of Buckingham county,
from The committee appointed last night TO
prepare business for the Convention, sub
mtted report, which at his request was
read by Lieutenant-Governor Maryc. who
had written the same, and for this reason was
better able to lay it before the Convention.
The report was read IS follows:
"REPoET OF THE COMMITTEE.
"This meeting of citizens of Virginia, ga
thercd from all parts Of the State, EXPRESSES |
faithfully the conviction of all its people in |
declaring that the paramount need and de- |
sire OF lrglnll l. to secure the introduction |
OF capital and efficient labor in utilizing the |
agricultural, mineral, and manufacturing re-
sources OF the State; and that the people |
and the Government Of Virginia will extend
cordial welcome and fostering aid to immi-
grants from all parts OF this country and of
Europe who come to employ these essential
helps within her limits.
g This meeting is convinced that the fol-
lowing are prominent among the means to
be employed to obtain these Benefits
81. The Legislature OF Virginia should
cause to be prepared, published, and dis
Scminatcd under its authority and SUPER
vision, accurate and full descriptions of the
physical elements, resources, and adaptations
OF the State Of its internal improvements
| and communications, It's commercial accessi-
blity, its political and social condition, togc-
| ther with all such information, in detail, as
| is needed by all classes Of people disposed to
seek a home or employ their means in Vir-
ginia.
"2. In order TO this work the Legislature
should constitute such executive agents to
| perform 1t as arc competent therefor; and
this meeting leaves to the Legislature To pre-
| scribe the plan OF such Board, which, in the
Judgment of this meeting need not exceed
! three or four members, should he so cOnSti-
tUtcd as to represent faithfully all the terri
| torial and material interests Of the Common
wealth. This Board could intelligcnly in
vCstiSatc and adopt such otheraidS to immi-
grafton Us il ipind practically available.
This mectin" feels assured that as much as
3d. 900 should he appropriated by the Ic-
! yiSlaturc, and may lie wisely and efficiently
applied III said direction.
THE Legislature should, by its enact
mcnts, extend ill ueediul protection to inn
migrants, and Il fostering policy towards
capital disposed to embark in the physical
development of the State.
-. The railroads of Virginia should lend
their valuable aid, in corporation with the
state. in facilitating the influx of capital
and efficient labor and in encouraging the
same when introduced. And both the rail
roads and the State should encourage, by all
the aid they can reasonably afford, all enter
| priscS for facilitating and chclpcning steam
communication between Europe and Viz
| ginia.
"Whcn all the means above indicated are
actively employed in combination with pri-
vatc enterprise excited i'll the same dircc-
ton there are abundant reasons for the ;ts-
slrancc that the vast and varied inducements
| existing in Virginia for the employment OF
capital and labor will prove sufficient to at.
tract and sustain these indispensable aids to
to her rccupcration and prosperity"
| After reading the report, Licutcnant-Gov-
CrnOr Maryc said that the committee had
| thought it wise and judiciolls TO treat only
on the general subjects connected with inl-
| migration, and he ihought ii would be better
! to let the meeting find expression from gen
llelnen present on the various sections of the
report, so that the whole report and its re-
| commentators might he fully discussed.
On motion of Colonel John VI. Patton, ey-
Governor Montague was requested to address
the Convention.
REMARKS or GOVERNOR MONTAGUE.
The Governor said he agreed with the re-
port in every respect save one. lie thought
Ia
@islature, but hc could not agree with the
report in TIE suggestion OF that numbering,
machine ga bureau" He thought the way
TO reach the end was not through u bureau,
nor yet through a board, but through one
single man. lie knew one man who could
accomplish this purpose. That man was
Matthew Maury. [Applause.] He had
known him When the two were struggling
together for the lost cause.
He could not speak for the Valley or the
Southside, but lie knew well the country
along the Rappalannock, the Potomac, and
the Piankatank. To-day, said he, it is calm and
beautiful and let Inc tell you, Mr.. President
and gentlemen, that in the country have allu-
dcd to, where the land is rs rich rs any i'll Fir-
Sinia, the negro will not do-hc is worthless.
The water is studded to-day with canoes, and
the negroes in my country will make from
two to three dollars on the oyster-rocks. 1t
may be stormy tomorrow and the next day,
but then he will live on that three dollars
until another good day. Why, sir, he will
drive few stobs down in the ground near
the water, and with few oysters and a little
whiskey he is happier than the crowned
heads of Europe or General Grant. He had
much rather sleep under 4 hogShcad turned
bottom upwards than in the Exchange Hotel.
Well, when the oystersare gone, then come the
crabs, and the spots, and the JumpinS-mul-
let, and all the specimens of the 1nny tribe,
which live in millions in the waters of the
old Commonwealth Of Virginia. What we
want, Mr.. President, is Il good, thrifty popu-
lation to supplant these people. We want
labor and capital; but where to get it is the
great question Of this day-the paramount
question of Virginia. In the little piece Of
Virginia where live there are negroes from
| every State south of us. They came to Old
| Point during the war; they came to York
town during the war, and we never can get
rid of them until there comes thrifty set OF
men-white men who will till the soil,
which now is wasting away and growing up
in weeds and briars.
REMARKS OF COLONEL PATTON.
At the conclusion of Governor Montagle's
| remarks Colonel Patton said he would like
! to offer an amendment to the report. lie re-
GREETED that this meeting should endorse
Colonel Maury as their choice now. Ills
talent he knew was peculiar. lie is the very
father of the tclegraphie feature, and one OF
the most eminentIy practical men In Virginia.
| we want 4 man devoted to Virginia, and In
him we have il. He hoped when the time
came for tho selection Of Il man that the Lee
eislature would with unanimity recommend
| him. But The time has not yet come.
He loved Virginia, and lie had been de-