The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-02
THE FARMERS IN COUNCIL
PETERSBURG CONVENTION
rnooEEpINes OF THE SECOND DAY.
AFTERNOON SESSION.

word "lien, as used in the resolution.
Colonel Ruffin said the object of the reso-
luton is to get the Legislature to pass a
law giving the merchants collateral in the
future for advances they make TO the
farmer.
Colonel Cochrane, of Culpepper, fol-
lowed in brief speech, advocating the
adoption Of the resolution, and the passage
Of the lien law by the Legislature. lie
hoped the President would exercise great
prudence in the appointment of the COM
mittee. 1t would have to digest the plans
and details Of the law proposed.
Mr.. Ragland, Of Halifax, here rose and
requested, in order to facilitate business,
that the chair enforce the rule Of the Con-
vention that no member shall speak more
than ten minutes, or more than twice on
one subject. He thought that the
man who cannot strike oil in ten minutes
is boring with very bad auger. Mr..
Ragland expressed himself as entirely OPP
posed to a lien law. The farmer has too
much credii now. 1t would be better for
him if he had less or none. No law is
right that would give one class of citizens
presumption over another class.
Judge Mann, of Nottoway, said that be-
fore the Legislature is memorialized to
pass q law for the protection of the mer-
chants, the farmers should have some guar
antee of protection in this--that he will get
fertilizers that are worth something. They
sometimes pay high prices for fertilizers
from which they never realize any benefit.
He hoped the resolution would not pass in
its present form.
Mr.. Keller moved that the further con-
sideration of this subject be postponed un-
til the next meeting of the Council.
The Convention then adjourned until II
O'Clock.
NIGHT SESSION.
Convention was called to order at u
o'clock.
Mr.. John Dodson, Of Dinwiddie county,
presented the following as the
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON IaINII-
GRAFTON.
The committee to whom was referred
he following resolutions, to wit:
RESOLUTIONS.
Whereds, 1t is necessary to have some
union for plan or charter for the organiza-
ton of land and immigration companies in
the respective counties of Virginia and
Nerth Carolina.
Resolved, That committee of seven be
appointed by the chair to draft such char.
ter, to be submitted to an adjourned meet.
ing of this Convention, said committee to
have power to fill vacancies in its own
body.
Rssolred, That said committee be hereby
empowered to digest some plan for regis
ter, an officer who shall be the central and
State authority to present and make sale of
such land as may be subscribed by respec-
live county organizations to nonresident
immigrants and actual settlers on such
Land, which digested plan shall also be SUBJ
mitted to the adjourned meeting Of this
Convention.
DR.. Rives spoke in support Of State
Board Of immigration, without which he
argued all efforts would fail.
DIR. George Rives offered the following:
RESOLVED, That the committee be author
lied to memorabilia the Legislature at its
next session, in the name of this Conyen-
ton, to enact such law as will accomplish
this vital object.
Mr.. Wright, of Nansemond, submitted
che following:
kesolred, That the committee recon.
mend to oil the counties in Virginia the
formation of settlers and immigration so.
cieties auxiliary to the present immigra.
ton aid society at Norfolk.
Your committee have had the subject
referred to them under consideration, and
have prepared an act accompanying this
report, and recommend its adoption.
The subject under our consideration your
committee regard as of vital importance and
arefully sensible ofthe difficulties ofpresent-
ing plan for the effective promotion of i'm
migration free from defects--yet they feel
satisfied that with the aid, the experience
and intelligence Of the Convention this act
now submitted may effect great success.
This subject has for several years occu-
pied the public attention, in various forms
Of land companies and immigration assoc
Citations, but without any marked success.
In fact, so far from the success desired,
many of the plans of land agencies and
associations have created positive mis-
trust ia the minds of land purchasers to
remedy this mischief and avoid the errors
Of the past. The plan now submitted not
only ignores all purposes Of speculation,
but gives assurance to oil land purchasers,
whether from our sister States or abroad,
that the opportunities rendered them for
the purchase and settlement Of our lands
are for their direct social and material adj
vantage, and incidentally beneficial to the
present lana owner Dy the Increased value
of his remaining lands, dependent upon the
immigrants success. To do this it was
necessary that the lands offered should be
at a low, fixed and unalterable price, bring
sng this plan as near as practicable to the
Public Land System of ne United States,
with which immigrants are most familiar.
In regard to that feature of the subject
looking to the creation Of Central State
Register by authority Of the Legislature,
in our opinion it is impolitie, uncertain
and impracticable, and we have therefore
recommended central agency to be APP
pointed by the respective county organic
cations, at oil times under the supervi-
sion Of such organizations, and thus avoid
ing the delays and uncertainties Of leglsla-
ton.
In accordance with the resolution Of the
Convention, the act provides that the lands
shall be purchased only by nonresident
actual settlers. Your committee regarded
this provision as essential to success.
Without it the whole plan would be unas-
eertained.
twill bs observed that the terms Immi-
grafton and Immigrant have been substi'
tuted by this term Land Purchasers.
To the casual observer this change may be
regarded as immaterial--upon examination