Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-04-13
THE PROSPECTS OF OLD Angus.
TAI


'lon--a morbid restlesness among the CHI.
zens OF our good old County. This has led
me To enquire somewhat into the causes
which have produced it, & also whether thew
ought 10 produce that effect. On all sides
we hear murmurs and complaints. No one
Is satished with his condition None are
making money fast enough, and all are dis
Euseo 10 remove 10 some more favored cline
:" hence arises this unfortunate disposition (?
IS mere any Just cause for il Cannot la
pour, here, hnd its just reward ~ there
any thing inherent in our climate, or soil. or
society, or laws, which is adj, erse 20 The sue
cesslul pursuit & enjoy ment 81 health, and
wealth, and happiness? Or does il originate
from wild spirit of speculation, from dis
position TO reap without ha, ing sown-,o en-.
joy the reward, without the labor which the
law OF nature has decreed shall be necessary
for its acquisition
u would he well if our citizens would pom
der upon these subjects Ii would be well If
they would consider them uatureJv beGnre
they break up all their social relations. and
move Oil toa distant and cherries land
sunuering all the dearest ties of life, and sac
rincing every Comfort ofeXisience 10 the ac.
cursed thirs, of gain. What will n profit n
man TO gain thousands of acres of fertile Iands
Inc IS compelled ogiya up the society which
e"ueareu 10 MN ny constant intercourse
49," mo S".'uhooo. nat IS the feeling
which impels man 10 the ACQUISITION of
wealth, Is il not to promote the comfort of
his family--to gain glorious Independence
10 De able to educate his children and TO
give them suitable advancement in their
outset OF lie! IL these be the true objects
(and they are the only iaudabie ones, how
can they he accomplished by removal 10 n
wild and savage country, where, but too of,
teh' ,ne en'erprIzing indiv idual or the part
ner oil his bosom, or the children whose in>
terest he sought 10 promote, fall early VIC
TINS oil an ungenial climate Or where. if
they escape the dangerous maIatlies of a
roisoneu atmosphere, they must he brought
up without any OF the advantages of good soci
ETY. or OF sound moral intellectual or religions
Insirnction-,nd, ultimately, lie exposed TO
the fatal influences of lawless association
where h"nesty aud morality, are derided as
simplicity or greenness-w here religion is a
jest, ana The name OF God is only heard in
comnexion with blasph.my
Is this picture over wrought? Go and ask
those who have visited the far west, and south
west, and let your Judgment abide their an.
swer
Is ii not then better for man-particular-
fy man with a family-to be satisfied here
with bare competency, than 10 have ,usaith
an such country' Will his wealth pur
chase him society-or comfort, or health !?
Gan II heal the wounds Of the heart? Can il
restore 10 life a beloved child or wife. or
friend, who has fallen into an untimeIy orave7
Can IT soohe the agony of a parent, who sees
son seduced by the Influence of example,
into the paths Of dissipation and vice
But are all the alluring visions of wealth.
TO be realized Ia those who so con fdentiy cast
their LET in this EIdoradoi How many ach.
ing hearts would respond 10 this question
NO! wealth is not more 10 be acquired
mere, w!hou, iabour, and economy and good
management, than here. Even n,ir specuI,.
tors,--those who are said TO have Teen mos,
successful there, exhibit ia us greater pro,
fusion OF trords than of riches : The same
qualities are necessary 10 acquire fortune
there that are required here, and if thew are
eXeried here they will as surely enable a man
to acquire competency here. True il is. il
VIII he acquired more slowly, and not to such
an extent, but il will follow a, surely. and il
VIII be obtained without half .be sacrifice OF
comfort, oil convenience, of feeling and OF
health
The writer of this article has seen MANY o,
The slaIeso OF this Union, aud lac believes he
has acquired from reading and from the in for
NATION OF correct personal observers, toll
erably correct idea of most Of them & he ha
no hesitation in expressing his concurrence
IN The epInIon which he has heard from ma
ny well informed men that the valley of Vir-
gina, taking into consideration soil climate,
water, health, society, geographical position
teT-power, mineral and vegetable resour.
ces, and the variety and value of lis agricul-
tural products, is the finest part of the
United States And its relative advantages
are increasing daily. They rest on yer
manent basis, and cannot he aztec tel by mr.
binary events. The writer was yery much
Impressed by remark which was made II
MIN, recently, by one of the most practical
ana sagacious men in the commonwealth one
whose keen foresight has enabled him al
though he commenced life without a pennv
10 acquire fortune of near million of dol
lars. Sir" said he "The valley of VIRGIN
Ia IS The finest country in the Union. and
"ouid sooner make an Investment IN the
grass and grain lands there, for speculation
Than 10 any OF the famous Cotton lands Of the
south. Let any man cast his eve over The
map OF The U s. and he will find that the grain
iands' and particularly the grass lands are
hml!ed ny nature, and must continue so I'm.
III her DEGREES are reversed BUTT is moi 9,
win The cotton distucts.-They are foreve,
extending, and must continue TO extend and
ibelr extension, must increase the demanf
Tor cattle and for bread>sluffs 10 SUNNY tboss
VINO work them, and hence il is thai the pro.
ducts OF those districts must increase in cal.
We ana the lands themselves must appreciate
People must be supplied with food am
where The supply continues the same, ever,
increase oil The demand for it must enhance
aus rr'ce, ana consequently the value of III,
land which produces it,
hen ! commenced these remarks il wa