Staunton Vindicator

We have the statement from an unquestionable source, that at one of the precincts in Amherst county, on election day, a negro after voting, said to the officer in charge that he wanted his "forty acres of land and his mule." An explanation being asked for, he stated that he had been told that every negro who voted was to have forty acres of land and a mule given him, immediately after voting, and he wanted his then and there. The disappointment, disgust and indignation of the deluded darkey were intense, when told that he had been fooled, and that neither land nor mule were there for him. The old negro further said that numbers of others on the ground had also been told the same that he was, and had come to the election with the same bright anticipation of the riches that were to be their.

The question as to how the people of Virginia shall treat the Constitution, to be framed by the Radical Convention, seems to be a bond of contention among the press of the State at present. Some argue that the apathy exhibited at the late election should be utilized and that all conservatives should remain away from the polls and thus defeat the constitution, by the failure of a majority of registered votes to be cast on the question of its ratification. One objection to this is that it is not likely to work. Some of the 18,500 white majority will vote for the ratification of any constitution framed. That is certain. There are also some conservatives, who, without perfect concert of action, will cast their votes against it, and thereby swell the vote on the question to more than a majority of the registered voters in the State and the result will be its ratification by a majority of the votes cast.

The true policy, we think, to pursue is to organize in every City, Town, Precinct and Neighborhood. Let there be thorough organization of the conservatives of Virginia, as was the custom in days gone by, and there will be no laggards at the polls.--Virginia will then place her protest of an emphatic majority against any iniquity attempted to be thrust upon her. This would be far preferable to Virginians to lying dormant while dearest rights are dallied with.

It may be objected that the places of voting are so few and distant and the apathy of the people so great, as just exhibited, that the full vote can not be polled. We know a number who failed to vote on the convention question, being undecided on account of the multiplicity and variety of advice given, who have since expressed, in measured terms, their regret and who will never again fail to cast their suffrage.--This, we take it, is the feeeling of all those conservatives who failed to vote at the late election and who will need but little incentive to be present at the next election.--However, to trust the defeat of an objectionable constitution to "remaining away from the polls" or to "voting it down," without organization to that effect, would be the height of folly.

There must be organization -- thorough organization in either instance to ensure success.

We are decidedly in favor of voting it down as the more feasible plan and far more to be desired by Virginians, but we are willing to act in concert with any plan to defeat the attempted radical sway in Virginia.

We urge, under any circumstances, the necessity of a one-ness of purpose on the part of the conservative press and people on the part of the conservative press and people of Virginia, and thorough and complete conservative organization throughout the State. We therefore suggest to our City cotemporaries to take the initiative and call a meeting of the Conservative Press of the State at the most accessible point, to unite all in one well devised and predetermined course, and to perfect a plan for thorough conservative organization, without which it were worse than folly to go into the next election.

The question of immigration is being more casually considered by the people of Virginia [unclear] at any former period. All [unclear] necessity of introducing white immigration into this State speedily in order to restore the State to the hight degree of material and political prosperity, which it enjoyed anterior to the extinguishment of her former reliable system of labor. The demoralization of her former laborers, by incompatible conditions thrust upon then, renders it absolutely necessary that white labor should be brought and retained within her border to develop her resources, cultivate her waste places and aid in controling the destiny of our beloved "Old Dominion." Whether from the densely populated neighborhoods of Europe or the farms and manufactories of the Northern States, white labor can find employment here and will be heartily welcomed.

We publish below the resolutions of the State Board of Immigration, ans ask for them the careful consideration and hearty co-operation of our readers. let us prepare to sell as at reasonable prices, whatever lands we can not use profitably, to those desiring to settle among us, and let us one and all aid the Board of Immigration by what pecuniary assistance we can afford and thus assist in bringing about speedily that influx of white labor, acknowledged by all to be so essential to the interest and prosperity of Virginia and Virginians. Read and consider the resolutions appended and let us give that impetus to immigration, which the times, circumstances and our necessities imperatively demand.

At the meeting of the State Board of Immigration, held on the 2d day of November, 1867, at the capitol of the city of Richmond, the following resolutions were adopted:

"Resolved, That an earnest appeal be and is her[unclear] to the public and railroad and manufacturing companies to subscribe $10,000 for the purpose of developing the operations of the European and Domestic Agency of Immigration created by this Board on the 9th of August last, under the authority of the act of General Assembly passed March 3, 1866.

"Resolved, That the Commissioner of this Board and its European and Domestic Agents are requested and authorized to canvass, jointly of severally, the counties in which the immigrants from abroad are most needed, and to solicit and receive subscriptions to raise the above-named sum of money, either at the public meeting, should calling them be required , or from the individual citizens and corporations that are disposed to lend assistance to carry into effect the immigration scheme adopted by this Board, which is intended to redeem the Commonwealth from its prostrate condition, material and political: Provided that no authority is conferred on said Commissioner and Agents by which a pecuniary responsibility could be affixed upon the State or this Board.

Resolved, That the lists of the subscription be filed in the office of the Commissioner of Immigration, and that the subscriptions, when collected, be deposited in the bank of Lancaster &; Co. to the credit of the Commissioner, to be expended under the direction of this Board for the purposed stated in the first section.

R. B. Haxall,

William H. Macfarland.

"By the Board of Immigration,

William H. Richardson, Commissioner.

The Lynchburg Virginian of last Friday says:

The propriety of holding a public meeting in regard to the subject of labor is discussed on the streets. Some persons are in favor of cutting loose at once and unconditionally from the negroes, since they have leagued themselves together against the whites: others [and these in our judgement hit on th right plan -- Whig] wish first to lay down the terms on which the whites will continue to give them employment, viz: That they withdraw themselves in hostility against the Southern people; and others are anxious to inaugurate prompt measures for the introduction of labor from Europe. These are the subjects which it is proposed to discuss and determine in a public meeting. They are important and deserve grave consideration.