The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-02-10
immigration.

immigration.
A committee Of the Legislature, several edi-
ors, and the representatives of some kind OF
All immigration organization. visited
Washington last week, to confer with
the Conservative members of Congress from
Virginia With reference to the subject CT inn
migration, and the best method to induce the
tile to flow into the State. All the members
ih-Congrcss, present III Washington, including
the two Senators, met tile itncrant gentlemen
from Virginia by Invitation, except Hon. W.
II. II. Stowell, wiro being a Republican, was
not invited to the conference, as we see it sta
ted After exchanging anecdotes and opinions.
the committee, or whatever else i. may be call
ell, resolved to urge upon the Legislature the
appointment OF an immigration Agent. And
that is precisely what the whole movement was
intended for-to create an office for some i'm
pecnnious and threadbarc politician.
It is rscles to attempt to deyise any means
to attract desirable immigration to Virginia, so
long as the prejudice that is cultivated amd ell
forced against I'll corners who do not vote the
Conservative ticket prevails. Hundreds of en-
terprising, worthy gentlemen came here after
the war, believing that the triumph of Gen.
Grants policy as it was termed by Mr.. L.
T. Daniel. in the adoption of the Constitution
of 1869, and the election of the ''True Repub
lican" ticket, gave assurance that policy of
libeTality and generosity was to govern in the
administr ration of affairs of the State. They
soon found, f.oaever, that they were mistaken.
':rsuc Republican, was only specious de.
vice, an unworthy trick, by which to attain
power, and no sooner accomplished, than the
err Of prescription for opinions sake commen-
ced. These gentlemen, who had invested their
means aaaa fBeved their families here, discover
cd that nnless they voted the Conservative
ticket the State had no use for thcm-tllat the
railing powers preferred the control of the pet
ty offices, TO the material progress OF the Com
monMealth-and Stunned, and prose ribed they
concluded to shake the dust of Virginia from
their feet. and never return. Many sacrificed
their property. Others left it to take care of
ITSELF trusting to chance to dispose of it; until
the great majority haze quilted lis, never to
return. They eomld net stand the epithets of
'scarpet-bagger,' the associates of negroes
and '-Scaawags." They had been respected
where they come from. TEey could vote as
they pleased without being confronted with
deln,neiation, and they determined to seek
other chimes where the liberties and privileges
of citizenship coaad be exercised without being
booted atand denounced.
Virginia has no need of the kind of immigra-
ton that can be controlled by agents We
have the best class of labor in the werld.-
What We want is capital and intelligent, cdu-
Gated enterprise to utilize the labor. This we
could have had, but for the madness of the 30
lhical demagogues, who cared for nothing but
the Offices of the State. The spirit that has
driven away the northern enterprise that was
settling here, is also banishing from the Com
monweath the young men of independence,
energy and ambition. Tl,ey see that they can
not succeed in such an atmosphere of prejudice
and passion, and are seeking ether fields where
freedom of tlrolght and speech are tolerated
without prejudice.
Let these patriotic gentlemen w'hs profess SO
much devotion. to Virginia, cease their abuse of
native and adopted RepubGcans-Get them
show a disposition ito respect the government
and administration of their country--lct them
in spirit as well as letter maintain the laws and
accept ia good earnest the results of tile war
not by parade scntmentalism OH Northern
show grounds, but ia the intimate and every
day relations Of lie at heRae. and the way will
be speedily opened for the kind0 f immigration
we need, and must have to be benefited.
What ssible excuse can these gentlemen
offer for the slight given the Republicans rsen-
Der OF Congress from Virginia: He is their
peer in everything. lie is gentleman of cul-
ture, of probity, of social standing in his native
State, and iu Washington. His only crime is
that he was not born on Virginia soil and is
Identified with the Republican party. His wife
is a Lady of superior accomplishments and at
fractions, her family wealthy and Influential
where they reside in Mnnesota-her father,
for several sessions, member of Congress
and the lady possessing every virtue that could
recommend her to the best social circles. Yet,
when she came to Vrs mia, she was not recog
nzed in the polite association, where alone
congenial mental and neral attractions could
be found.
Let such wrongs as these be corrected, and
there will be 10 difficulty in drawing to Vir-
ginia the kind of immigration we most reed;
but not until then. And any expenditure the
State may make in reference to immigration
will be worse than lost, for it viii bring here
drones and eeasuEacrs, of which the State has
now far more than her share.
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