Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-07-16

acquired by tie inspirations Of genius
and the tolls Of industry; not watered wit
the tears ofthe widow and the orphan; no
cemented in the blood of human victims:
founded not in discord, but in harmony
ofwhich the only spoIs are the lmpertec-
tions of nature, and the victory achieved
is the improvement Of the condition Of all.
Well may this be termed nobler than the
Empire OF conquest, in which man subdUes
only his fellow man.
To the accomplishment of this prophecy
the first necessary step was the acquisition,
of the right of self-goyernment by the PEG
pie Of the British North American Colo
MES. achieved by the Declaration fInde
pendence, andits acknowledgment by the
British Nation. The second was the un-
ion of all these colonies under one General
Coniederated Government task more
arduous than that of the preceding sepra-
ton, butat last effected by the present Con
stitution of the United States.
The third step, more arduous still than
either or both of the others, was that which
we. fellow citizens may now congratulate
ourselves, our country, and the world Of
man, thatitis taken. It is the adaptation
ofthe powers, physical, moral, and Intellec-
mal. of this whole union, to the improve
ment of its own condition; Of its moral and
political condition, by wise and liberal In
sttutions-by the cultivation Of the under
standing and the heart-by academies,
schools. and learned institutes-by the
pursuit and patronage oflearning and the
arts. of its physical condition, by asSoclat-
ed labor TO improve the bounties, and to
supply the deficiencies, Of nature; to stem
the torentin its course; to level the noun
tain with the plain; to disarm and tetter the
rauuu surge of the ocean. Undertakings
ofwhich thelauguage Inow hold IS no eX-
argerated description, have become hap
PLY familiar, not only to the conceptions,
but to the enterprise, of our countfymen.
That. for tie commencement of winch we
are here assembled, Is eminent among the
number. The project contomPlates a con
quest over physical nature, such as he has
never vet been achieved by man. The
wonders OF the ancieutworld, the Pyramids
of Eqypt, the Colossus of Rhodes, the
Temple of Ephesus, the Mausoleum Of
Artemisia, the Wall of China, sink into IN
significance before it-insigni6cance IN the
mass and momentum of human labor, re-
CURED for the eXecUtion-insignlfcmcem
the comparison of the purposes to be ac
complished by the work when executed.
tits, therefore, a pleasing contemplation TO
those sanguine and patriotic spirits who
have so long looked with hope to the com
plction Of this undertaking, that 1t unite
the moral power and resOurces-frst, o.
numerous individuals-secondly, Of the
corporate cities of Washington, George
town. and AleXandria--thirdly, ofthe great
and powerful States ofPennsylyania, {w
ginia. and Mary land-and, lastly, by Che
subscription authorized at the recent ses
sion of Congress, ofthe whole Union.
Friends and Fellow laborers: We an,
informed by the Holy Oracles Of Truth
that, at the creation ofman, male, and te
male, the Lord of the Universe, their ms
l,er, blessed them and said unto them
be fruitful multiply, aud replenjsh tn.
Earth, and suJdue Il. To subdue the Fart
was, therefore, one of the first duties as
signed to man at his creation; and now, d
his fallen condition, it remains among tn.
most excellent of his occupations. Tie
subdue the earth is pre-eminently the Pur
pose of the undertaking, to the accomplish
meut ofwhich the first stroke of the spad'
is now to be struck. Thatitis to be struCt
by this hand | invite You to witness
Here the stroke of the spade. #-and in
performing this act Icall upon YOU all TO
Join me in ieryent suppHcation to Him
from whom that primitive injunction came,
that he would follow with his blessing tins
Joint effort ofour great community, to per
form his viii in the subiugaton Of the
Earth for the improvement ofthe condition
of man. That he would make it one ofhis
chosen instruments for the preservation
prosperity, and perpetuity of our Union.
That he would have in his holy keeping all
the workmon by whose labors, it is to be
completed. That their lives and their
health may be precious in his sight; and
that they mayhve to see the work Of their
hands contribute to the comforts and enjoy
ments of millions Of their counrymeu.
Friends and Brethren: Permit me fur
I Their to say, that deem the duty, now per
formed at the request Of the President and
Directors ofthe Chesapeake and Ohio Ca
nal Company, and of the Corporations of
the District of Colombia, one Of the most
fortunate incidents of my life. Though
- 1890 IL E,nnA,n.,- ~ ~, nLlln.nl 60