PROCEEDIXGS OF THE FARMERS' ClXJB. 675 



consider him our friend, and from him is to come the renovation of 

 our surface and the revival of our social prosperity. Of course ^ve 

 are at first a little cautious. We "Vi'ish to know whether a man is 

 what he claiiris to be, and whether he will Cjuietly till the land he 

 settles on. "When satisfied of that, the Virginian is prepared to give 

 him a hearty welcome. Looking at migration practically, I do not 

 advise the farmer with a few hundred dollars to come alone and 

 single-handed. Let five or six combine, and pay the expenses of a 

 careful observer who is to visit the parts I have described. Upon his 

 return he can consult with the friends he represents, and they can all 

 buy and move in company. I shall be glad to give such colonies all 

 the aid I can by letters and by traveling directions, so they can 

 ol)tain the most valuable knowledge at the lowest cost. As to the 

 negro question, the older ones will work very well at twelve and 

 fifteen dollars a mouth. But the young blacks are idle, and yearly 

 becoming more so. White labor is steadily displacing them, and 

 they drift soutliward into rich but malarious districts. To the sufirag4 

 question I attach little importance. Ten years hence machines 

 managed by white hands will till our soil, and harvest all our most 

 important crops, and the votes of white men will elect our magis- 

 trates. The negro is, at least in one vital point, below the white, 

 the power of forecasting, and the skill necessary for shaping a policy 

 for the future. There is room and home, a happy civilization, and a 

 sunny future for 300,000 families within the borders of that broad 

 republic, and Yirginia stands ready with open and kindly arms to 

 welcome this great army of peaceful and industrious invaders. 



The chairman, taking him by the hand, said : I want to tender to 

 yon the thanks of the club for the sincere and candid manner in 

 which you have spoken. I welcome you, or any other Virginian, to 

 our meetings. 



General Imboden. — I beg also to extend to every one of you the 

 hospitalities of my humble home, should you ever come to Eichmond. 

 Dr. J. V. C. Smith then moved a vote of thanks to General Imbo- 

 den, for the lucid statements and the information they had heard. 



Mr. T. C. Peters seconded the motion, saying that the general had 

 left out many good things which he might have said of the State, for 

 he had traveled there considerabl}', and could speak fm-ther of the 

 capabilities of that country. 



Dy. Isaac P. Trimble said that he had always opposed emigration 

 to the south, but this gentleman had put so entirely a new phase on 

 the matter that he should withdraw all opposition in future. 



