The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-12


The Cincinnati Gazette has entered into I.
eomparison Of the States Of Virginia and Ohio,
and has arrived at conclusions largely in favor
OF the latter. We are glad that the Gazette re-
cognizes the Importance Of facts in this under
taking, and attempts to- parade them IA this
h one Of that kind of articles in which the
Northern papers occasionally luxuriate, we pre-
sent it at full length to our readers, that they
may observe the mode in which Northern opin-
ion Is manufactured:
VIRGINIA AND OHIo--THE MOTHER AND
DAuGHrER--ln certain generic sense---thnt
Of lineal, legal descent-Oio is one of the
States cut ont of the great Northwestern terri
tory, which Virginia claimed, and was ceded by
her to the government. 1t was one of the
States over which the famous ordinance of 1887
was applied, by the assent if not instiga,ion Of
Virginia statesman. 1t is State to which
some of the worthiest sons of Virginia emgrated
and 10 which many Of their descendants still
live. These facts authorize the statement, that
in generic and legal sense, Ohio Is the de-
scendant Of Virginia. This sort of connection
justiies us in drawing, at the middle of the cen
fury, parallel between them. If the daughter
shouldbe found stronger and more energetic,
and even promising than the mother, there is
nothing unnatural in that for strength and en-
ergy belong to youth. 1t Is not therefore, in
any ungenerous or boastful spirit in which we
make the comparison, but rather to aid in the
solution of certain problems of political econ
0my, which have been much discussed, in ,oords,
but very little in facts
1t is now sirty-lhree years since the passage
of the ordinance of 1887 At that time Vir-
GINA was the most powerful State of the Ameri-
can Union, both absolutely and relatively. Ohio
was nothing The first pioneer band from New
England was just setting foot on the shores of
the Muskingum. Sxty-three years only have
passed away, and Ohio is the third State-Vr-
GINA the fourth! In other respects, the parallel
is even more favorable to Ohio and the daughter
is now in every mode of fair comparison, the
superior to the mother Now, the question
arises hero, with emphatic earnestness Ito Vir-
ginia at least,) hour has this happened? Whal
is the cause! Is Virginia land exhausted! Is
her territory desert? Has she no great min
eral and agricultural resources Or, is the
cause a moral one Is there law of nature
that Virginia shall not progress, except at very
slow rate! Or, has she made that law for her
self? We shall answer that question only by
the facts, and as they can be put in very small
COulpooc tuCy arc piCoCutcu W tUe cyc Ill Tile
following brief tables. First we look at the
natural and historical advantages of Virginia:
Virginia. Ohio
Founded 1908 1881
Area $4,000 square miles, 10000
w.t.redh v The Ohio and The Ohio and I
the Atlantic. the Lakes.
M;n...ls Gold, Salt, Iron, Coal and |
lron& Coal. Salt
Soil, good, good.
The climate is about the same in both States
though there is more variety in Virginia Srcl
are the natural and historical advantages of Vir-
GINA.
She was settled by colonization 1870 years be.
fore Ohio. Her area is as &c to 40. Her min
eral resources are greaier-her harbors, bays and
commercial advantages are greater. Her soil is
not as good, uniformly, but on the other hand
there is great deal more of it. Ohio. in uni
form body of good land, stands first in the
Union; but this alone would not counterbal.
ance the advantage of having nearly double in
quantity. 1t is paIpable, then, thatin 1857 Vir-
ginia held natural advantages superior to Ohio
If, then, she has fallen back, it is not because
she has been stinted by nature. What then, is
the cause! In the first place, take the follow
ing parallel Of population and representation, at
int tcrft pf,yv