Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-11-06

on the track of investigation about Vir
gina. merely wish to read q sort O.
catalogue of the various attractions anC
ana claims of Virginia upon the consid.
GRAFTON of those who anywhere in the
United States desire to improve theil
condltlon by seeking new and better
homes. Virginia possesses about al
many acres of land-pOssesses an ares
OF territory-about equal to Pennsylva-
ma, and it is one-eighth larger than
Ohio; but its population is only one.
third of Pennsylvania, and does mo-
reach one-half of Ohio. There is, then
in the first place, in Virginia too. great
spaces of unoccupied land. Under your
former system it was the ambition OF
your men to have large estates. your
state, therefore, must be divided into 8
greater number of smaller farms. Thus
1t will be fifty years hence. The popu.
iatlon will increase by people coming
H. l,n. Thus general prosperity will be
the sky, you notice, is Frightening, and
other direction. [Cheers.] AS there is
abundant territory for emigrants to pos
sess, what, then, is the character of that
agricultural friend doubling whether
Your plan was that it was easier to clear
new land than to restore the old. That
has been done in Virginia. Now comes
the time when the soil has to be brought
up again. With capital, skill, and ap-
propriate applications, what is not fer
tile can be made so. Along your rivers
To- oh, do of Id
the Valley, in the Southside, and in the
mountain region, the emigrapt can see
it. He can get it cheap. It is cheap
Virginia is possibly about twenty-five
dollars an acre-good land. That is
cheap, for in my own country land
ranges from $25 to 500 per acre..
In addition to cheap land, the next
thing is market easily reached, How
does Virginia stand in this respect? In
this State the most perishabfe vegeta-
bles can reach market before they are
worthless. And next build up your
own growing cities. You have enough
cheap land. But, says some one, they
are dreadfully taxed in Virginia. They
are low divided over there about the
debt, as they say. Are you heavily
taxed? am not here to discuss before
you local questions. do not mean to
drop words to tell on which side may
be. [Laughter.] l will say this: You
are not as heavily taxed as where live
in Ohio. I will say this also: That
take your State debt and add to it all
the other public debts of cities and
counties of the State, and think, upon
the whole, that Virginia is not heavily
in debt. And here, again, might point
to State in the North the fair State of
New York-or smaller ones, who have
cities to pile their taxes upon. Cities
pay the taxes. Farmers do not live in
the cities, and the wise emigrant knows
that. If the taxes are upon the cities,
who pays for the goods? If the cities
are heavily in debt the farmer feels it,
l say that taxation in Virginia is light.
[ say, then, Virginia is the State the
worthy enigrant is enquiring for. The
climate of Virginia is excellent. The
large muscular men-the men see be
fore me-demand its praise; and the
ladies, too, for the ladies admire, 1t is
good climate. If am not inistak en-,
muscular men Of every race will find
in Virginia an excellent working oli-
mate. Neither the severity of it's win :
ter no. exhaustive heat in summer are
unfavcrab to work. Perhaps nowhere
do we find the original type--the rud-
dy face, muscles well covered, nerves
well protected-that type of the Eng
Flishman, better preserved than in ViF-
ginia. 1t is, then, good climate there
fore Intelligent, good people will immi-
CRATE here. And besides these advan-
tages, Imight allude to that which will
give home-market to the farmer. The
growthfpf manufactures make populous
cities, and these consume the, products
of agriculturists. These material ad=
vantages are supplemented by others,
which to the Intelligent emigrant are
very strong and attractive.
Take the educational advantages. I
think that few States have done so much
as Virginia to improve their educational
system-education for both races. It is
very good and it is increasing. 1t is not
yet what Governor Kemper and you
would be glad to'have it everywhere
But the sentiment of popular education
is gradually growing. This gathers
| from the sources to which I have re-
ferred. have been in the habit of say
ing that among the attractions to the
| best glass ef emigpalts i1 other States
there are none greater to them than the
advantages to be found herein Virginia.
Virginia does indeed deserve that sort
Of praise. Why shall not the emigrant
come here SO near to market? The
great lines completed connects the int
rior with the harbors. Does some one
say there is prejudice against new~cQM-
ers? Descending myself fssm one Of
| lhe easiiast settlers of Ohio, know
how the old settlers felt towards the
new men. At the same time I do not
desire to repel the coming of good citi
zens from every quarter. Is there dan
ger of that in Virginia? 1 have mads
some inquiry. I believe Virginia, upon
that Gpestian, stands where she should
be. believe good citizen, desiring tc
| improve his condition, who comes tc
make his home in Virginia-to be the
home of himself and his children after
him-will find here all the privileges
rights, benefits, hospitality, and friend
| ship thAt Aa40ng To good citizenship o1
the best regulated American society.-
And whenever in Maine or Minnesots
there are families with favorite son OF
daughter threatened with lung disease
here your mild climate restores them
and here your hospitality is ready t
receive them.
! close With the wish: May it bt
among the DEGREES of Providence tt
bless Virginia as well as our whole be-
loved country bless her with riches
honors, length of days-and may bel
ways be ways of pleaassaptness and all
her paths DO paths Of peace. [Grea
cheefing.]
| MR.. EvARTS.
The President introduced Mr.. Evarts
Secretary Of State. This gentlemar
spoke ten or fifteen minutes, and in tn,
| course Of his remarks alluded to Vir,
ginias greatness in the past, then urgeC
Virginians to the importance of devel.
oping their agricultural wealth. II,
dwelt, too, on the unity of feeling tina
he thought should exist throughout al
the States of the Vni9H. 80.
MR.. SHERMAN ItiM,A1.N.
The President next introduced Mr.
Sherman, Secretary of the Treasury
Mr.. Sherman said that he was born ir
that part of Ohio settled by the Reyolu
tionary soldiers of Virginia. These tn,
descendants of Virgl mia siers were all far
mers, he said, and" then paid a tribut,
to the agricultural classes: In the val
ley OF the Scioto, which the speakel
thought was the most productive apo
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