The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-05
A word 10 the Legislature.

Editors DISPATCH: So far as my OBSERVE
tion extends, the better class OF our citiZehs
repret the result OF the late election ana It's
consequences as exhibited in the action OF
the recently-assembled Legislature. Weaii
desired peace, and entertained the hope that
fair trial OF (he McCulloch bill would
eyince the capability OF The Commonwealth
10 meet the requirements OF com
promse which was equally accep'aoie
TO both creditor and debtor. We coun-
try people deplOre the spirit OF repud'a-
ton which is becoming rife In thls stare
because OF its Injurious effects upon our ma
terial prosperity. All we have LETT 10 us Is
orr land. of which MANY OF us have SUI
perabundauce. An influx OF industrious
labor and capital, which now is indefinitely
most poned, would make this land source
OF revenue instead of a burden. Brought
into competition with the rich soils OF the
West. our lands have ceased to be protifa-
Bile agrIculturally. Our Legislature should
devise new schemes by which our people
NAV be saved from the financial ruin that
threatens us. Nature has formed Nir-
pjpia for manufacturing empire. Her
| mountains are filled TO overlooking
with coal, iron, and copper, and her
streams, having their Source in these noun
tains, invite transportation to her factories,
and thence to her seaports, the finest IN the
world. Her water-pOwer and her genial
climate afford natural facilities for manu-
fractures such as no other country pos
sesses. Take your own city OF Richmond,
and we all who have seen its maSnlhcent
water-power can bear testimony to the truth
OF Mr.. Clay's assertion that 1t is unsur'
passed by that OF any other city IN the
United States.
Now. let the Legislature cease worrying
itself over the financial troubles OF the
Commonwealth, and 90 to work TO devise
some means Of developing the resources oil
the Sirte in manufactures. Suppose law
were passed by which all capital hereafter
invested in manufactures shall be exempt
from taxation, State and municipal, Tor the
pei iod Of ten years from the investment
In ten years from the date OF the passage OF
such law the population OF Richmond
would be doubled. The prosperity OF Rich
mond would have reflex influence upon
the country which would he felt through
out its eXtentY While the factories oil Ken
mond would pay no taxes for ten years. the
taxable value of all other property would
be auintupled in all probability. Lynch
burg. Petersburg, Fredericksburg, all
would feel the benefit OF such law. Man.
I uIacIufIug CapnaI from H'bfunu would IN
simultaneously tlOw to this its natural centre.
In ten years Virginia could pay 25 per cent.
upon her present Indebtedness, and not feel
n as much as she now does the payment OF
8 per cent.
II is with communities as with indyid
uals- each should do that which nature has
best suited it for. That farm that pro.
dnces one bushel Of wheat 10 the acre with
the same labor that produces ten bushels TO
the acre upon another, can never compete
with that other in raising wheat for the
market. But il the farmer whose land only
produced one bushel to the acre knew that
there was a rich gold mine in his land, and
persisted in raising wheat instead OF min.
ing his gold and buying his wheat, we
should call him fool. Virginia, as a
general thing, is agriculturally poor In CON-
parlson with some Of the States OF the
Union, but she possesses a mine of wealth
in her natural facilitles for manufactures.
Let her Legislature devise some means OF
turning the attention OF capitalists TO her
vast manufacturing resources and she can,
when well started, compete with the world.
She has not to contend with the bitter cold
OF New England or the scOrching heat OF
the South, or the murky atmosphere of Old
England. A benencent Creator has blessed
her with climate that nurses every phySi-
cal sense and contributes to the develop
ment OF all that cOnduces to longevity.
HANOVER.
The law recommended by our CORE
spondent would he unconstitutional Rich
mon1 is already manufacturing city. She
has now 565 manufacturing establishments
at work whose products last year were sold
for over twenty-three millions OF dollars.
We trust that the number OF them will in-
crease rapidly; but we don't think the
farmers or other landowners in town or
country win ever allow such a law to be
passed as " Hanover" suggests. We must
not rely upon such measures.
Nevertheless, our respect for our CORE
spondent has led US to give him the oppor-
tunity OF presenting his views to our read
ers.
| Some Pifhy and Pointed ODiniOus nv