The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-09-08
o., .e,s Exnedition--1mmigration

-a,era, F,rzauaH LER and q number OF bis
colleagues of the Fredericksburg lmmigra-
.ion Society to New York. The leading pa
ners in New York city speak in the most
4 altering language Of General LEES mission.
Elsewhere at the North there are varieties
of opinion and sentiment expressed upon
the subject. There is good deal OF
the old prejudice against Virginia INDUCED.
Some editors still maintain the tone
Of the Radical malignants about VIZ
cinia exclusiyeness and the impossi-
bai,y OF anything like fraterniza'ioh
between the people Of Virginia ana new
corners amongst them. We take it that these
editors are the political hacks VINO nave De-
come veterans in the malicious war upon the
South. and now act upon the idea that 1t
Will not do TO give up all the weapons they
have so long used for the purpose Of firing
tie northern heart against us. The presl'
Dental election will require them all, and 1t
would be fatal, in the opinion Of ultra radi'
calism, to make any concessions of kind or
fra.ernal nature towards tae South until
that election is over.
The Providence Journal thinks there IS
one difficulty in the way Of emigration to
Virgins that we had not imagined. 1t is
tina. .syirglnia is not Massachusetts" The
declaration Is equally true, Transporting the
words; and yet we hope that neither Stale
Is greatly distressed by the fact, as we con-
cece il to be- The Journal is arguing that
the emigrant will not be treated in Virginia
as ga member OF the State" and Will moi De
accorded political privileges that will place
him relatively above the grade Of a g supe IN
A tjrst.class thea.re"; which shows that the
Journal is not only prejudgins Virginia, but
that ne knows nothing about her. Sill, VIC
must credit that paper for the following very
kind sentence:
And yet it might well be worth the while
Of man who had carefully and courage
onsly looked all the facts III the case talriy
IN me face 10 try Virginia. That that State
i 20 be one Of the richest, most prosperous,
and delightful sections Of the country at
some time is as certain as that nature has
auuudanily favored her with almost every
element OF health and wealth."
We heartily desire that the enterprise Of
Geaeral LEE and his colleagues shall meet
with the very best success. But we frankly
confess that We have never been OF those
putting very great faith in the immigration
81 cnes. We anticipate no such rush oil
immigration as some hope for. Immigration
into settled country is different affair from
that Of settling upon virgin lands. The pre-
emption right has powerful Influence over the
tide of population. In settled States the lands
are held at prices sometimes too high, and
those that are offered at very low prices have
very forbidding appearances. They are often
very coed lands, but they are generally lands
ii rest, cleared Of trees, and look to be aban.
doned. II is only such lands that are within
I he reach Of very poor Immigrants, and they
arc sure to so for virgin lands, open to en-
siy, as long as they last.
We cannot expect immigrants to come
amongst us and pay for the advantages oil
civilization unless they have means, and
such immigrants will be controlled only by
their own observations. We have, we are
harpy 10 say, gotten good many of this
kind of men, and we believe they will con.
t'"ue to come in.
We believe that rapid influx OF popula.
ton just now might be injurious to immi
grafton itself. This State is gradually under
gcing social revolution, and immigration
must not be too rapid for that change. The
danger is that it will not stick. We must
Ia We the newcomers well fortified in their
occupation. They must have their society,
tier churches, their meetings, their songs,
and their stories; they must be made con.
te1t by the u>ages, amusementS, and
legends OF their falherland. while they are
acquiring familiarity aud knowledge of their
n'w home, and raising up children to be
"n4Iive and TO the manner born" These
Will be good citizens indeed. None but con.
ten ed men make good citizens.
We are here speaking Of foreigners alto.
gether. American citizens cannot be eX-
pectrd TO come to Virginia In colonies, and
theT must come singly or in family. They
know US well, and our stories, and songs
an customs are, with little variation, theirs.
Whatever the northern papers may say, such
Immigrants are received kindly AMI treated
entirely in Il nelghborly manner by our citi-
Z1us.
We would regret to see our people fixing
their hopes too much upon immigration. l,
m hit divert their attention from what
sho lid be the grand purpose of US all: tc
employ our own energies and educated skill
with earnestness. We are too apt to relax
our own energies when We look very intently
else where for help.
Nevertheless, we do not wish to be under.
sto ID as disoouraging any etfort-such a.
sp: eading information about Virginia over
&c world, for instance-in behalf of immi
gcation. Only let us not count extravagantly
BON immigration, no matter what effort
we may make; and by all means let not tn
owaer OF property make any calculations
about the purchaser that is soon to come o.
the laborer that will give him relief; bu
give his own hands to the tiling Of his soil
and, patiently hoping for better days, than!
G ID when they do come.