New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-08-02
0Id yIrgfnia-and New.

VALLEY or the stirring adventures Of a still more
soo,berlv region, her political power and infu-
ence vi.ibly waning, her resources and products
dwindling. she has seemed smltten with pre-
mature decrepitude and doomed 70 speedy
downfall.
! Yet it ought never 70 have been 50. In climate,
soil. navigable waters, and natural advantages Of
all kinds.-in the qualities which should invite and
the capacity to sustain large pOpulaton-Nr-
ginia is probably the first State in the Jnion her
soil produces all the fruits and grains cultivated
among Us her climate Is healthy ana one Oh the
finest on earth: her mountains and bills are nchiy
stored with all the valued minerals from gold ana
/ silver 10 iron and coal in water power she mas
no superior in natural navigation hardly an equal
Two-tbirds Of her soil is probably still covered
with the primitive forest, and Of course unexhaust-
| ed by Slave culture much Of 1t is still shaded by
excellent timber while fish and game are every
where abundant. If such and 20 extensive re-
| gion had been discovered on the Paclhc Ocean. we
should have seen il flooded with immigrants IN
ten wears and thousands starving in the gorges OF
the intervening mountains in eager quest Of this
land of promise Yet Virginia for years has Ian
euisbed--and no man an be ignorant OF the cause.
1
The brand Of degradation burnt into the brow OF
Useful Labor by Slavery has paralyzed her ener-
gies and blasted her promise. Her nobest sons
are exies and wanderers, earning in distant lands
the bread which to earn at home would have been
deemed degradation.
This cannot long continue. Slavery has already
exhausted the elements Of its profitable subsist-
ence in Virginia. There are not half dozen
Counties in the State where 1t could now pay It's
way but for the new markets constantly opening
10 it in the Southwest. Slave-breedIng now
keeps it alive: stop the export demand Tor
slaves. and Virginia would soon abolish Slavery
We trust she will not long delay it at any rate.
The read ustment OF political power between the
East and the West is to take place in 1850, and
then the question Of Slavery also will come up for
decisive action.
Meantime. the decline aud decay of the patri
srchal Institution is Kidding whole Counties sub
stantially of Slaves, leaving their places 70 be
supplied after an interval by Free Labor. Eau
auier and Fairfax Counties, near Washington
City, have already acquired large and valuable
farming population from this State and we note
a recent settlement Of over one hundred persons
This process is destined TO 90 on with increasing
rapidity Lands deserted for the rich prairies
and bottoms Of the South by Shareholders and
their slaves are now abundanty for sale at - TO
slO per acre-far less than the cost OF clearing,
building and fencing-and in some instances fair
farms offered for ess than the cost OF the build
ings alone Many Duchess County farmers have
sold out at $50 TO 500 per acre. and bought lands
naturally as good and favoraby located near
Washington City for $40 per acre. These are
steadily working in rs eia~ors dos and in
few years the new corners will form the majority
in several populous Counties. The change their
cultivation effects viii be readily imagined.
We wish portion Of Eastern and European
emigration of the best sort could be attracted 10
Virginia. Land is immensely cheaper there-al
things but Slavery considered-than in Illinois
Iowa. Let a man have fair tract given him in
the West and he cannot clear, subdue and fence
il. putting up the neediul buildings, nearly SO
cheap as he can buy good a tract in Virginia.
But it is idle to talk Of mixing up Free Labor with
Slave, unless in exceptional cases. The practical
bic course is to have hundred to a thousand
heads OF families unite send out iudcious explorers
with power and means TO purchase ten to forty
thousand acres in a body to be apportioned among
those interested according to their means, with
mutual solemn covenant that no slave labor shall
ever more be employed within its boundaries.
This could soon be extended 10 Counties. We
trust the Convention OF 1850 will give each County
liberty to abolish Slavery within its limits on fair
notice and by direct popular vote. hitwih, the
peculiar institution will soon be confined TO hall
dozen of the tide-water Counties. Every family
Of Free Laborers mot noisy offensive Abolition
istsl who may meantime migrate thither will be
so much vantage to the Right in view of the com,
ing struggle.
Beside those sections which have been hitherto
noticed in our columns the district about Freder.
icksburc has been reliably described TO us as emil
nenty deserving the attention Of immigrants and
settlers. In the first place, it is in this heart OF the
Gold Region of Virginia, lof which we will speak
hereafter.) and whether gold mining prove profit
able or not to those who follow it, it is frstrate
for the neighborinC growers of Corn and Potatoes.
Farmers, Mechanics and nearly everybody dowel
in such egion If they do not attempt TO mine
and perhaps if they do. Fredericksburg is but 300
miles or less than twenty hours distant from this
CITY, and 90 miles from Washington-a stirring,
growing country town. at the head Of navigation
the Rsppahanock $50 miles up J on the great
Railroad line North and South, in a healthy, beau
tul section, where all fruits and grains grow thrift
tly and in abundance. A Railroad is chartered
to run hence TO the fertile Valley OF Virginia.
Here is Canal giving sixty feet OF fall on the
waters Of the river, creating a wster-power equal
to that OF Lowell. Upon this mills and factories
are going up but the chances for more are sui
ample. Ii gold mining heresboui succeed half as
well as is anticipated, Fredericksburg is destined
TO rise to Importance il not, its great facih
ties for manufacturing ard the extreme chespness
Of good land around ii must secure il solid growth
Such an assemblage OF advantsges-cheap Lands
Home Markets, Navigation, Water Power, Gold
mines, Railrosds--have rarely been preferred by
single locality, and we cannot doubt that the IN
aux Of Northern Labor into the region adjacent
| will be rapid and extensive.
DEATH OF Mas. J. w. WEBB.-The sad tidings
reached yesterday of the death Of Helen Lspensrd
wife Of Col James Watson webb and daughter of the