Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-24

niss.s,n, n,sc,s known: Heaven aud hAi'n heve
aaorped .e;,er To frame place Tor mar n"oi.d
lion. were i, fully cultivated and 'nnaoie" ~ III
| dusrious people. Here are m"uli'a,ns, "i"s
plains. valleys, rivers and Dfooks' al i"'i , ~
! mos, pleasantly into taIr Bay, coiiPnHs .'' -,
| cept al its mouth, with lrniiul anu uei'e'' ,nh,
landn Such is The picture drawn oy one WIN
had exnlored the four quarters Of the globe oil INT
rich and beautiful heritage that nature has s''e'
| U.s. A., ,o, IN,
Arc not our people the same? Are no. III
| V;,oinians of the present day Of The same gene
rous race with those who laid Inc lonnuauons
| onr History, in whom the various eiehe".s =
| Anolo.Saxon mower and character were 50 iii'He'
and blended as TO give assurance 10 Inc "o''' y
ncn-a race composed OF alternate emisra'ion'
| from The two gseat opposing paf'les' VIM. s''"
Struggles then convulsed the mo'nef county
race in whose veins flowed The mingled pl"oG
| Cavaliers and Republicans, leinpcIinS me zedi
| liberty with the love OF order, and The virtues o
10 ns,,;ot With the sentiments OF The gentleman
and the Christian, There is nothing OF siea
| achievement, in peace OF in war, ol which sucN
| race is NOT capable when lis energies are pFoPe'
| ~ ;mnelled and directed Thalihe VirsinlaES q
the present day have no lost the high capaoii'leS
| of their race, when stirring occasions die pr
| son,ed 10 call them forth, we might WIN excuse
ble pride, point TO recent events winch nave dso'
nisheG the world by The magnitude IL me r'sulS
conrrasled with The smai'nc OF the tiieaiS CT"
Moved in their achievement, and III winch WIZ
hans have horne so conspicuous a part, to bear
w;nssS Why. then, has Virginia "lalien tron'
her high es,atc?" II can only be because lhe
faculties of her sons have moi been s!renuously
eyer,ed in her service and Tor her advancement
They have been uuwiseIy devoted 10 other 90
icr,s or ruslins in Improbable iDacilon
with the hich qualities of the Vi!slnIan race,
il has been generally observed OF them 'ha' 'hey
are somewhat prone 10 sei.lndulsence, ana no'
an, n nsrsevcre in what they undertake. 10
make proper use OF The study OF our history,
we must seek to derive from IL a knowledge OF
our faults, as well as OF our exccllehcles. NC
srca, genius Of England, in fragment nc lei'
behind him of the early history oil MS country
tells US mos, truly and pilhiiy, III II be a h'Sn
point of wisdom in every private man. mucn
more is i, in a nation, 10 know ITSELF rather than
putIed Nd with vulgar batteries and encomlums,
for wan, OF seli-kDowledse, 10 enterprise rashiy,
and come of miserably in great undertakings. !
I'm tracing our history through successive IS,
we shall, perhaps, find reason L. conclude, lal
The very bounlies of nature with when troVl.
dence has surrounded us, in fruitful SOIL ano
climate, and rivers teemins with aouncance, py
lessenine The motives 10 industrious occupations,
have iosensihly formed US TO habits OF 100 much
ease The circumstances of our sister States OF
New England are in this respect strikinSly diher-
eni; and we see there victorious and creative
energy, nurured in a constant conflict win Inc
difficulties of nature, which has carried mem lar
ahead IF us in the career oil prosperity ana I'M
provement. Il, then, We have been heretofore 100
much disposed to cooienI ourselves with The indo.
lon, endowment of what nature has d,ne ur rs, it
is now time that We should do something ur our
no ,.
pros,es.; am, our own seiilcsg. e., 9Th ihr proud
annals OF our State, uarued before oar eyes, can
never per.ni, us 10 taEe Willingly The rear ol of
contemporaries. ,r
In invoking a noble Stale ambition IN behalf
of our ancient Common wealth, am lar lfcn
wishing 10 encourage any feeling oil an aiiii-nh-
lional character, which could cause us 10 regard,
with either indifference or alienation, The com
mon concerns Of our glorious c0n!ederacy. Vlr-
GINA must ever feel the deepest interests ID inc
prosperity and preservation OF mai Union, "nCh
is, in a great measure, The WORK oil her own nahuS,
and for which, we may cerainly say wlhon'
boast or exaggeraion, no other Stale has made,
or had il in lis power 10 make such large ana nu-
nitcen sacrifices II is for the sake nj The Union,
as we'll as for her own sake, that | would wish
now 10 see her arouse her faculties ~ The Visof-
Gus prosecution of State interests, and IN The &C.
ycopmenl of all her dom, site resources, whc'her
ot mind or mater. lie, her, by wise ana Wen
consi ered sysem OF public policy, IN "hich me
means shall be proportioncd 10 the end and the
end To the means push her railroads, her schools,
ner work shops, her factories, pnolic sPiii'eu 'h
prove.nents OF every kind into the various quar-
lcrs OF the Com nunwealtb, and We shall soon sec
her raise her head again amid her slsier StacS,
and speak and ac, with her ancient lnilnehcc IN
their common councils. The more strength and
-, hon lac.
iv will she exert abroad. Every sentiment oi
patriotism. then, nsliona! as well as State, calls
u non the LOYALTY OF Vifcinans 10 devote heiT teSt
cncr.:es lhe fifsl fruits OF their talents ana ibeir
industry 10 the service aud ornament ol their ma
tive Commonwealth.
am not one OF those il such there be, VINO
would indulge the apprehension that 'erVeh' anu
devoted attachment 10 the particular State OF O"I
birth or adoption could lessen, in any degree, Inc
sentiment o: duty and affection we owe 10 our
whole country. On the contrary, oy Ia" o.
our moral nature all our public affections ake
their origin in the small bul magic circle, winch
dpfncs our home, and lheace spread, by success
sive expansions, ill they embrace andreposc up
on our country. The more intensely they glow
n, the cen,ie the warmer will their radiaions be
felt upon The circumference. The more we love
our State the more We shall love The unon OF
which IL forms constituent and nonofed part
While therefore we rcverenliallv subscribe 10 The
sent, nenl Of The Father of his Country, that The
name of dnlsrtcan which belongs 10 Us IN our ma
lional capacity must ever exalt The Just pT'le OF
pa Iio!ism." y: lei us endcavor so to be americans
as not 10 forget that we are also p"gtnidnS. III
a system like ours, where The indivinuah'v anu
Of the States torn the pillars upon
which The massive ediice OF national power and
greatness reposes, The principle of Stale patriot
ism mus, ever be cherished as primary element
of general strength, and a poien' incentive (the
most potent, perhaps,) 10 an emu!ous ana onward
career Of progressive improvement.
II. then the tendency al This Society, 2en''e-
men, shall he. by the study anu eXhiDili.h VI W,
State history. 10 awaken stronger feeling OF
State patriotism among us ana 10 Cali u i"'o VI
,orous action for The restoration oil inc o'a'c 10
her former elevalei position, hy such i'nProye'
mcn,s of every kind as the spirit OF the age ac-
mandS, il canno; fail Ia commend hseh W VI.
sympathy, coun euance and CO operation VI di'
rue lovers Of their Sta Z aud Counuy; Noi -
rs insirumcn,aiy Tor this end confined 10 retio.
,neci;ons of the past. however animating and ins
,;ructive. The contemporary history OF our own
lines. in all that can influence national progress
mr. permanen,lY affect the des!inies OF society,
will necessarily challenge careful anu Attentive
Inves,is gallons oil The divers'lea
national resources Of the State, modern improve
nents in the airs and The applications oi sciehce
to the practical pursuits of Lille, educa'lohai IT,
forms amelioiaiO9s in the social econoiNy, eve
~ thing in shot, whica an active and nquisives
snri,. Stimulated b; PATIO ism and enlightened
by knowledge, can dra" from the h'soiy VI sue
past or the present to minister to The future 40
yancemenl and reuown Of our State, falls WITHIN
the legitimate scope OF this society.
/, was the dignity aud importance OF ,hese 90
;sc,s annsaling so strongly 10 every frSinian
heart, which made the venerable aud lliusl!ious
MalshaII lay aside, for the moment, his judicial
robes. and descend with alacli,y from The Bench n
Of the Supreme Court on which his wisdom 81, r. and
virtues have shed never-lading lus're, TO preside
objects ,sa D ssfy Commended ito the favor Of the
Legislature, which bestowed upon it liberal act
OF interpretations and if we shall now pursue s,,
them with the steadness, z.al and united effort,
which the lust claims Of the Interests at stake so
earnestly invoke they will secure for the society,
| doub, not, the according sympathy and encou-
ragement OF the whole State. 10 any event, gen
,,a,,o, Tho hyead whirh Won shall cast upon The