The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-02

country. lie believed that we could Oller
them many superior inducements, and
thought that we should give the subject
more attention.
The essay was referred to the Executive
Committee of the Agricultural Society,
with the request that they publish such
/ portions of it as they see fit.
Mr.. Watts, of Roanoke, differed IN toto
from the gentleman who had preceded him.
Instead Of inviting immigration, he thought
| the Virginia people had better keep their
own boys at home. He was told that ten
thousand Virginians were in Baltimore, and
twenty thousand in New York. lie knew
| that the West was full of them. He
| thought that our farmers had better divide
their lands among their boys and girls, and
keep them from emigrating. If Virginia
could not support her own children, she
could scarcely afford maintenance for
newcomers.
Mr.. Thomas r. Branch complmented
very highly Mr.. Graef's essay, and while
not subscribing to all of the views present.
ed, agreed with its main propositions. What
we wanted, in his opinion, was educated
labor. He thought we could never reach
any degree of prosperity without such a
class of labor. Virginia wanted new in
fusion of life. She wanted more enterprise
and more skill in the conduct of aericul-
ture. He liked the negroes as laborers. but
he liked the intelligent white man little
better. We would educate the coored man,
and in time make him a valuable member
of the community, but Just now we must
have migration-immigrants of the right
sort; men who would bring with them fresh
ideas, and the experience and intelligence
acquired in their old homes.
Mr.. Watts explained that he made no op-
position to the introduction of Immigration:
on the contrary, he liked to see them COM
ing here with their goods and money, but
he believed the very first thing to be done
was to stop emigration. He wanted to sec
no more Virginia boys leaving their home
he wanted efforts made to keep them here.
That done he was in favor of encouraging
immigration.
Mr.. Nelson, Of Hanover, thought the
country in more need of money than of
men, and he begged somebody to tell him
where that much needed article was to be
obtained.
Col. Lee, of Orange, thought that little
light had been thrown upon the subject
II such an assemblage could not come to
some determination in the matter. how
could it be expected that the General AS
sembly should legislate with reference to it
wisely. He recommended the Agricultu-
raj Society to offer premium of $500 for
the best essay on the subject, and he
thought that would bring out some practical
scheme.
Mr.. Eston, an English gentleman, now a
resident Of Gorlonsville, was introduced to
the meeting, and spoke warmly and with
great effect in favor Of immigration. lie
declared that with proper effort large num-
bers of his countrymen would be induced
to settle in Virginia, and asserted that no
part of the United States was so well suited
to them. He favored the appointment of a
commissioner of immigration. and insisted
that statements coming from such an officer
would be productive of better effects than
the best-intentioned unofficial action. The
immigrant wanted accurate, full, and official
information of the country he contemplated
making his home, and the best way to give
it to him was through the authorized agent
of the State.
Mr.. holland, of Fredericksburg, warmly
advocated early action on the subject ofim-
migration, and he besought his hearers to
cast off their old prejudces and to adopt
some of the new-fangled notions of their
Northern brethren. lie cautioned his
brother farmers to treat well the new
comers, to aid them in all possible ways
and to encourage them to perseyere in their
efforts. The discussion was further con-
tinued by Messrs w. G. Scott, of Charlotte;
John A. Washington, of Caroline; d. T.
Williams, of Richmond, and Col. Lee, of
Orange but the limited space at our COM
mand compels us to omit extended mention