The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-16
stsssrs Editors of the DISPATCH:

The following graphic picture or virginia
and its economic condition at the period in
dcated by the time OF its inditing may
serve not only to interest, bat to enlist Serl-
ously the minds Of your numerous readers.
Il manifeSts clearly and concluSively that
the present are not the first dark ana de-
spondent days which have orershadowcd
Virginia, nor vet the first time that our clti-
zenS have borne onerous burdens OF taxa
ton. and above which we have risen or may
rise triumphant 1t may nc demonstrated
that Virginia was as dependent on English
manufactures then as she has allowed her
self since to be on those OF New ErGlan d,
and that the poverty and proStration sue
cceding the struggle with Great Britain was
even greater than that following our late
iDternecine conflict. 1t cannot be substan-
tiated that relief was due to an abro9atlon
of honor and honesty, or to the wholesale
reputation OF the paper-money debt, state
and Federal "a principle in its personal
application | am convinced alike unlYer-
sally damning and reactive ultimately upon
the individual bcne1iciary); for tumultuouS
times and another war speedily succeeded
during the still-pending financial embar-
rassment OF our country, and before our IN
dustrics and our commerce were fully re-
instated. To all material interests, pecu-
mary values, and private contracts. as
CLEAN from diary kept by the late Thomas
rutherford "a Scotch merchant, capitalist,
and landholder. widely known and unlver-
sally venerated for manly and Christian
WORTH, was the war OF 1872 demorallZlng
and disastrous. Yet the Firginlans OF those
DAYS. Jealous OF their own fame, never once
brcathed Reputation. Thus self-sustained
by conscious integrity and consequent
ha
battled, borne, and surmounted. 11oot
upon the shade.cowering Virginian who
claims browning disaster in the loss OF the
irresponsible, lash-driyen, and throughout
life ever-dependent African-his pecuniary
value or inefficient and embarrassing man
ual aid.
To the plow, young man Were there
more workers and less croSs-road political
bawlers nowadays we would hear nothing
OF reputation. IL our would-be statesmen
would look little behind the light of their
own noses and rely more upon the cogency
OF historical truths aud parallels in their ar
guments, place less confidence in special
pleading, and be less eager in selfish pur-
suit of personal interest, dispensing patron
age and ambitious ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, all fear
OF the visitation OF want upon or the in
vesture OF our glorious old Commonwealth
with irradicab1e dishonor would be speed
lily dissipated.
AssuredIy, now when we are almost out
OF the slough Of despond, and better and
brighter days are bursting upon us-based
upon an influx OF capital from unusually
rcmuneratiye prices from prolific wheat
crop gathered, and from as generous crops
Of corn and tobacco promised, and the pros
pective employment Of our mechanical in
dustries. contingent upon the demands Of
the belligerent Powers in the East-most in
auspiciously and contemptibly does the self
abusing, repulsiye, and reverberatin@ cry OF
reputation. OF qualification, strike the
pure ear and honest mind.
The original OF the following letter was
addressed to the "Revd. Robt. Dickson,
Narrow Water, Newry, Ireland,' and
stamped "Ship Letter." without mark OF
postage charged. 1t was recently presented
to the Virginia Historical Society by en-
Governor John Letcher, through }. ID.
Davidson, Esq.
Very truly yours,
r. A. BROCK.
pi,I.,onJ Up Iu1v 10 1877 ...