Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-09-18
I|nR TIE WuIG-
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA

" iii'' Eoi oF VIRGINIA.,
ind espcciniIy those achO reside bet,oecn Richmond
and Tie mouih IF TIE Great Eanacha
There is tide in the affairs of men,
Which taken at tho flood, leads OH 10 fortune:
Onittod,-ail the voyage of their life
Is Bound III shadows, and in misercs;
On such Il full sea we now aRoat;
And we must take the current when il serves
Our lose ventures.
SHAKESPEARE.
In the above trite quotation, Shakespeare saws
OF Individuals, what is also true in regard to States
communities as well as men, have their lucky pc
rlods,-ther prosperous Galcs-and their adverse
fortune. When fair opportunity offers tn = ma
ton to advance lis interess,-and the Same * mo
elected through tmiditv, indifference or any other
causc'-thcrc are one hundred chances to ono that
repentance VIII come too latc;-thc golden moment
Will have passed, and the recollection of ,nisCnr
tune Will be embiticrcd by the folly which produ.
ccd il.
These remarks, fellow citizens arc apnl;cobIo 10
the present crisis. Let us pause for a .,mon,
and consider the situation in which we ar, placed.
the necessity, the nbsoIuic necessity of prompt and
energetic action,-and above all, the disastrous
and lrrctriovabc consequences which will follow
our sIoih' indifference, and what is worse than
every thing else, our pGrSimOHY
For Heavens sake, # we love cur native State
let us do something to cXtricac her from her diff
cnliics. both present and prospective Let us drop
NoLlhcotic" Cor while, and leave its discussion
to the lcry spirits of the South;-ct us for n mo-
mcnt wave the Presidential election that most YES
ttiouS and disracting of all questions let us look
nearer homo,-asscmhle ourselves as it were
around one common aitar,-fUrget our fcuds and
antipathcs, political otherwise and resolve in
the spirit of fr1ternal concord, that we will make
one vigorous effort to raise our venerable mother
from her present state OF depression and preserve
her from that still condition of decline iuto
which she must fall without great and uncommon
9XcTtiOn
Do VIC not still teach our children to be proud
that they are Virgiuilns? Do we not often tell
them that their native State is the land of genius
and cioqucncc; that our fathers were pure. and
wise, aud patrotic that the father of his country
was born this side of the Potomac, and that we
have given at least four Presidents out of seven TO
tho United States? If continue to tell these
beautiful stories TO our offspring, and yet do no.
thing ourselves for our blessed Commonwealth
Will they not say when they grow up, that their
fathers great i'll words, but dimnutvc in act
lon2-tlat they talked much of ancient reputation.
but did not speak Of the languCr Of industry-thc
decline Of commcrce-the decay of towns and vii.
lagcs-thc iupoverishmcn oc the soil-thc loss of
population-and above all, they did not say, that
'he yoUHCest StGtcs in the UHiOH cerc r0pidIy
ccipeiDg our OtrR in rcdIH aHd poirer7
What then shall we do to prevent this rcproacb
from poserity? / viii tell you, fellow citizens
Let every man, according TO his circumstances
'ld IN The Erc0t scheme Of UHfiYg The Ja,res amt
hd"gtrha Rircrs! This great plan of Improve
ncnt once accomplished, and Virginia will rise
gain in her glory. She Will take that rank among
'cr confederate sisters, to which her ample re
ourccs enti:lo her, and from which she has only
'con driven by The superior enterprise Of some o:
me states. The golden opportunity is now offer.
'0' aud may never again occur. Now
W " h''St tax" tic current whom IS ,csgc-
''''r 'o'" 'ur ventures"