The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-12-23

WE print tO-uay Valuaole anu interest-
ing communication from the Hon. @. P.
Ramsdell to the New York Times, recon-
mending the agricultural resources of Vir-
ginia to "a Northern emigrants. We en-
dorse his representations most fully. No
state offers such inducements to enter
prising Northern men who have means suf-
ficient 10 start right as Virginia. There
| is no land SO cheap, considering quality,
climate and location, as the lands of our
state. s1.8 81
Nature has lavished upon her every
good gift. We want capital, pluck and
enterprise, and the North IS full Of it to
overhowing. Laboring under mistaken
views, these elements now fill up the West
and carry to it that mighty and enriching
stream of emigration which we ought to
share. There is no need of this, and we
have only to do our part to disabuse the
public sentiment Of false impressions to
secure proportion Of these much-needed
elements of strength and prosperity.
Prominent among these is, that North
ern man cannot come down here with his
family and enjoy social recognition unless
he conforms his political views to those of
the neighborhood.o That there are some
places in this state where such prejudices
exist as to shut out Republicans from So
cial intercourse, we are willing to admit.
Such places should be Stunned, as one
would avoid city stricken with the
plague. But they are few and
exceptional. There are everywhere
men and women in whom the malignity of
partisanship and sectarianism kills out
every sweet and generous impulse ? souls
in whose narrow bounds no large tolera-
ton can find place; who would turn
away from the gates of heaven rather than
to enter it with one suspected of differ
ent creed. We know such people in the
North, but they are so few as to be insig-
nifcant in influence, as they are in charac-
ter. We vel. remember places in, Wiscon-
sin, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, when
fifteen years ago a Republican underwent
social ostracism and even insult. But
nobody was deferred from seeking these
states by this fact. Immigration poured
in and swept over and killed out utterly
this blinded and brutal element, or it
stunned the poisoned atmosphere of pre-
judice and lett such communities objects
Of contempt amid the general prosperity.
Virginia is not to be judged by these Bour-
bons--her superannuated old fogies--or
those silly and harmless females who put on
airs of superiority and make up faces at
Northern settlers aud their families. Good
settlers from the North will find generally,
if they come here to make their
homes and pursue business of any legiti-
mate kind, q warm welcome from the
people. The degree Of social recognition
will depend largely upon themselves. 1t
is not to be expected that strangers will
find the confidence and intimate relations
ships of old acquaintance. But this will
come in time to the truly deserving as
quickly in Virginia as in New York or New
England, or any established community.
Persons who come here. however, should
enquire carefully beforehand andavoid those
communities where they will not be re-
ceived cordially unless they feel as we do;
that we go where we please, and ask no.
hodv,s consent. and care for no social