Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-03
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY S, 1889.
From, the New England Magazine
VIRGINIA..

both OF the 0eautliui anu uS Stduu VICE S1'e,
Harper's Ferry, and the Natural Bridge. and
many unvisited spots in the mountains, would
be objects of admiration and thronged with WISH
tiers even in Switzerland, that region Of sublimi-
Nv and beauty There are few lakes. but noble
rivers interlace every part Of the state, and the
natural beauty of the Potomac is superior to that
Of the Rhine.
The woods are of kind found only 10 Ameri-
ca Their dark receSses, where the silence IS
only broken BY notes OF the birds, and the MUIR
muir Of water falls, are infinitely more impressive
than the trimmed forests Of England, or the wild
er woods of Germany. The American woods
are primeval forests, which stand now as they
stood when man lived in innocence by the Eu-
pirates. before any cedar was fclled or any ten,
pie reared The woods OF Virginia are so hlled
with the sounds of various birds and tree frogs.
(those delicate sylvans, that have note clearer
than bird) that an old traveller calls 1t "a land
of enchautment,' where so many sweet sounds are
emitted BY invisible sonssters; he may, however,
have been a little deluded b, his admiration, as
he afhrms that some frogs "emit most tremen-
dous roar. louder than the believing of bull,
and with Il striking resemblance to artlculate
words as hosshead. tobacco! knee deep! ANGLE
deep. deeper and deeper! Piankitank!"
Such i, the cnuntry-what is the lord OF lt!-
Morally and intellectually, Nirsinian is at least
as high as other men. and many would say high
er. Yet YOU may never have seen one IN your
life except Judge Marshall, who in some respects
represents the commonwealth. Carol,nians are
migratory birds, or, as Cacofogo says, "casual
things" YOU NAV see them every summer, and
hear them too If you will but praise the tariff
But IA fir.inian seldom quits his soil-he cannot
be well transplanted, and this is one reason why
his c.aracteri'tics are SO strong. Nature has been
ju,, ard generous TO him, and his institutions
have moulded the mind that nature gave him in
10 peculiar character With him "Old Nlr-
ginia never tires" and he is never weary OF talk
in. of Dick Bowling, Sam Washington, Jack
Taiaierro, and Tom Cabell. lie is like the
young Foscari. and would rather die at home than
live elsewhere.
Now. man from Yankee-land, wherever Re
NAV oe, is at home; IN. past and the distant are
no,hlng to him; his thoughts are concentrated up
Oh the present or upon the means Of making ad-
vantage of the future. Wherever he falls, he
allyhl, like ca, upon his feet, nor are these ca.
silly tripped from under him. But displace a
Virginian from his sphere, and he seldom recov-
sr>. and when he loses his property he does not
begin the world again with that confidence and
alac ri,y that distinguishes ew-Englan man.
Those who assert the Vlrgmlan superiority, at
tribute II somewhat tn the great number OF rich
and intelligent cultivators who live on their plan
tations, after the manner of the old English coun-
try gentlemen. This is, indeed, grade of PEG.
pie hat has much influence, and similar class
would be OF advantage in New England. Its
place is but i'll supplied BY people in the profess
siuns, " hose Interest depends SO much upon po-
puar favor that they are seldom sufficient barri-
ers against popular prejudice or cla,nor. Refine
neut "a part of good morals. and man is new
Ell the more honest because he is boorish and
coarse. A Virginian Planter is man in whom
meanness cannot exist; no mutations can make
him sOrdld: his faults are not of this cast; they
are the failinss of generous nature. Such men,
living at frequent intervals over the state, and
with possessions like English baronies. nave great
Inhrence IN tormlng the character Of the class n-
mediateIy below them.-as, for instance, the
smaii free-holders Of Virginia They give high
tone I" public sentiment, and men feel, that to
be visited by the scorn of such body. is a hea-
yier penalty than any Inflicted by the law.
Is there anv other state that has been generally
80 well represented in the national councils as
Nirginas " Your reasons, Jack?"-beCause in
that commonwealth men are advanced in public
life before the intellect feels the chill of age and
= while thehr ambition and capacity for labor are
greatest The Vuginians place their young men
in 'he arenas, where they cap best acquire skill
as intellectual gladiators. The electors have the
sagacity to see, that, it a horse would win the
race, he must be familiar with the course while
he is somewhat of a colt. Now, in a certain
rocky land. northeast from Virginia, | have
kpown many men, of neither political or moral
elevation, nor competent minds, exalted for no
other reason than that they never had an opinion.
These are the bold navigarOrs that always float
down the stream, and would shrink from the
slightest ripple raised by manly opposition to po-
pular feeling or prejudice;-
bu, would forsake he ship and make the shore
When the winds whistle and the ,empests roar >"
Such. however. were not the men who plante,
the colony in the wilderness of New-Eneiand.
There is little cant about Virginian; his DUR
pose is open, and his means are bold. He re-
CARDS words less than things, and, having secur-
Ell the substance. cares little for the shadow
The English names are retained ali the state,
and there is no Legislation to change ancient and
iowa, titles to words Of more republican import.
Some of the counties are King William. King
George, King and Queen, Prince Edward,