The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-04
IFor the Richmond Dtspatoh.l
The situation.

The events OF the past fortnight must at
least demonstrate to the people OF the
northern States that they have been foster
ing an clement that is liable at any time to
hurst forth, and not only shake the founda.
tions OF the Government, but to destroy the
prosperity and happiness OF the land.
Many causes have been at work TO produce
the frightful carnage and destruction Of
property that have taken place in the North
under the false name oi "Capital uerSuS
Labor" The nation had just passed through
a fierce and bitter war, and the Govern
ment that was in power ten years after the
war closed has failed to perform Its duty.
So-called patriots and statesmen nave ient
their share to the anarchy ana CONFUSION
that now exist in the great railroad centres
OF the North. Millions OF money nave peei'
literally stolen from the people. Inc x n4h
est sons OF toll were endeavorlhe 10 o:."
nm the waste places; whilst pecnlation'
rings and swindling corporations nave
been tho order OF the day.
Nnch OF The present trouble Is SIMPLY the
outcronninrs of the late war. during the
four wears of fratricidal strife immense
railroad and steamship corporations were
hujIt M: hundreds Of thousands OK foreign
nerc-naries were encouraged to come over
IN this country to defend the Union and the
constitution, and even up 10 the very hour
OF the horrid scenes that were enacted NJ
Pittsburgh these same railroad and steam
Shin CORPORATIONS were holding out false in
ducemcnts for immigrants from Soreign
lands 10 come TO this country. These COM
panies and corporations cannot be ignorant
OF the fact that our labor markets are gut
ted, and our prisons and aSylums filled to
OVERLOOKING; and still in the face OF these
facts they encourage immigrants. by cheap
TRANSFORMATION, to crowd our shores. why
they do this cannot tell, unless it be to Sc
cure cheaper labor.
II seems that no action has ever been
taken by the Government to prevent the
influx OF an element from foreign shores
that must from the very nature OF the CIR
cun1stanccs be drawn from the hoatlng
aera,ian population OF the Old World, ana
representing the poorest and worst classes
of society. II the United States Govern
mcnt were TO require tariff on every lmml-
grant who is shipped by steamship COM
Danies from the densely-populated CEN
tres Of Europe to this country Suthclcnt
to protect our own laborers from the I'M
natural increase that is daily pouring in on
us, and reduce the tariffs on many OF the
nroducts OF the Old World, our country
would then not only furnish ample em-
manufacturing centres would virtually ne
located at such distance from lis that
:. strikes" and other disorderly riots would
be confined to the limits OF those countries
where standing armies arc their only pro-
lection.
Our PEOPLE have now only two alterna-
tiyes left. One is TO prohibit the paupers
CT the Old World from coming here by pro-
hibitiye tariffs or to continue, as we have
hitherto done, to encourage, foster, ana
build up railroad corporations and steam
ship lines in their efforts to flood the coun-
try with an excess OF laborers. Speedy
legislation is required upon this important
subject, and the Government will act I'M
fairly 10 its wards-the freedmen OF the
Soulful it continues TO permit the I'M
portation of laborers whilst thousands OF
coored people could and ought to be profit
ably employed on public works and In the
various channels OF industry that require
strength and muscle. I am opposed to the
Government taking charge OF even part OF
the lines OF the railways OF the country, or
of the Geographic lines. With these in the
hands Of corrupt Administration, the
transfer OF republican form OF govern
mcnt to deSpotism would he an easy |
matter.
The country needs at this period OF its |
existence an increase in its military force,
wisely distributed throughout its broad do
mains, to protect the lives, liberties, and !
property of its~citizens. Our vast Terrific |
ries should be kept for our own sons and |
daughters, and not made to accrue to the
benefit OF railway corporations and steam
ship lines as the decoy-duck to foreigners
and the loose agrarian populations of Etl-
rope. I am not opposed to bona Jide immi-
grants, who come to this country and pur-
chase home, or with capital to invest in |
the wealth OF our mines and minerals, but l
am opposed to that class Of people who are
shipped over here on cheap tickets, with
no visible means OF support after they land
here. 1t is from this class that the troubles
come. They generally display great deal
more energy at the ballot-box and in mobs
and riots than they do in the corn-feld.
The people OF the South deeply sympa-
thize with their friends OF the North in the
wan.on destruction OF life and property by
lawless thieves and murderers, and they
are willing to join them in any wise and
judcious movement that may tend to put
stop to the disgraceiul condition OF affairs
that exist at present in portions OF north
ern States. IL. II. -
FARMv1LLE, VA, July 80, 1877.