Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-10-07

THE OLD DoMINroS.-we are proud Of \.
Old Dominion; we are proud Of the high staS S
she has held in the Union, as the nurser,, y
of Office TO which ambition may aspire thsso''
out the Union. There are now, it is said Y
ven Virginians in the Senate Of the T,.,
States, and hundreds, at least filling the bi"S'e.
Offices in the West and South, and We Ss usS
that in every such instance We have lost 81
liable citizen, whose active mind found M s
for enterprise at home. The spirit of ema...
ton is so prevalent. as to make il subiec, :,
investigation. Is our soil poor? have We y"
mineral wealth2 no advantageous sites, orr"
ter power, for the manufacturer? no marks 6.
the products Of labour2 Would it be beIisrs,
that there is, perhaps, greater fund of miner,
wealth in Virginia, than in the same extent n
surface on the globe. There is iron ore in Il. h
greatest abundance, and lead, bituminous an.
anthracite coal enough to supply the world sa,
springs Of great strength, and rich mines n
cold; her medicinal springs are of such celehr |
ty that they are resorted to annually by ,bom
ands of visiters from all parts of the Union h., |
soil. certain distance from the seaboard |,
equal to any not auvial,-and yet. with Il
these advantages, we are losing ground dsir
every census shows a comparative dimipu,c,
of Federal Power.
We call the attention of the serious and r.
6ecting portion Of our community to this suh
iect Although much has been done within,
few years for the improvement Of the State By
rail roads and canals, yet much remains to b.
done.
When our legislators shall withdraw their AZ.
tention from politics, and questions of consttu.
tional law; and leaving State Rights to be de.
cided by the constituted authorities, shall turn
their attention to the development of the re.
sources Of the State-then, and then only may
we expect to advance to our proper station 10
the Union-then may we see our rich minerals
wrought in our own workshops-our cotton and
hemp enhanced in value by our own manufac
turer-and a new, home market for the pro
ducts of our wheat and our corn-felds. With
a proper direction to her energies, what limit
could be set to the wealth and population Of
Virginia?- Warrenton Register.
There was struck the proper chord!-mayw we
see and mark its vibrations and effects through
lowand and upland, and over the mountains 10
the farthest bounds of the Old Dominion
If one-half the zeal displayed by the leading
men of Virginia on the subject Of politics were
to be directed in furtherance of any scheme Of
internal Improvement, calculated to increase
the wealth and prosperity of the State, it could
be accomplished with more readiness than any
similar work executed elswhere. To say in
that instance, would be to do.
What We want chiefly in Virginia are pract'
cal statesmen, who will be willing to limit their
ambition to state honors. and use their talents
for state purposes. The General Government
unfortunately, has such attractions in its inau
ence, splendor and rewards, that il is extreme
ly difficult to prevent prominent public men in
the State from being drawn out of the limited
sphere Of its duty, into service where fame
and wealth are more readily to be obtained
They soon learn to desire the meretricious en-
braces of Power. And once contaminated BY
the connection, they rarely return to their frs
loves" or if they do, it is with scky regulations
worn out faculties, and minds untitled for tn:
eamer pursuits Of mere local ends.
Yet, though hope deferred" is aptto "make
the heart SICK" we do not despair of seeing 50
great change in public sentiment and feeling
in Virginia on this very subject, as to comp,
the leading men, if they wish to obtain the peo
pies favor or support, to turn their attention
more than they now do, to the development o
those rich resources with which bountilul Pro
violence has supplied our Parent State.
Mrs. Fanny Kemble Buffers work will be 81
! mnltaneously published both i'm England ant