Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-02-26

s,rcw her valleys.
These remarks arc made in no bosstful
spirit. Oar people have been discouraV aVcd
tesiroio bansla their disconscnt. And
indeed. We have been 90 long deceived by
Others. that think ], high time. we .werN
standing up for ourselves. We havs IN
truth. Mr.. President. "a goojly hcyissge."
aud are false TO ourselves, aud unworthy
the fame Of our noble ancestors. five Rck
the energy to improve, or tho courage %
defend it.
Another prominent causc of tho failure
Of all concerted efforts for Tho iuansove-
ment Of agriculture in Virginia. may be
traced to IN erroneous opinion. extensive:
" prevailing. as u the character and value
ofour agricultural labor. Os;gin ssias sss
very early day. (pcrhaps witt, Mr.. JeiIer.
son. " no. however, wiso as statesman,
was not remarkable for the depth Of lsc
philosophy. or the soundness Of his practi,
cal views ths error soon bcesme gdasral.
The doctrine was taught by philosophers,
statesmen and political economics, thas
slave labor was ruinously expensive and
unproductivc 10 its owners, aud hrrevcr
eHipipytu, CuIIltu uurfcnncs5 anu 0Ceotu-
ton IN it's train. sr
Whatever eviss We endured, whether
arising from natural defect in our soiIs,
which no labor could correct, but fon
which modern science has found remedy.
or from low prices, consequent upon d.
rangcment OF the currency. or a general
peace in Europe. were attributed to this
fruitful source OF all our woes. And when
to these causes OF discomfort, was added
the unfortunate Disturbance in SouthamD-
ton. not comparable in it's extent or vi6-
lcnce. to an cmcutc in Paris. or a theatre
mob in New York, or frcman's riot in
Philadelphia, = panic seized the pullic
mind, and madness ruled the hour. Tho
whole vocabulary ofcpithcts was exhaust.
sd in denunciation OF the hatred institu-
ton. and the most striking pictures ef tho
decadence Of Virginia, which a heated im.
agination could paint. were profusely scat,
tered. through the land. Men Of virtue
und intelligence in her public councils,
seemed TO vie with coch other in The sx,
travagance Of their donuncialions. Her
quilted hills and wasted fields were npos-
trophisrd, and her signing pine tops jnvok-
ed. to chant requiem over tho departed
glory Of Virginia. il is surprising that,
these ve~s. thus expressed with al Ihe
earnestncss of feeling, and of cfoqucncc,
should have deeply impressed the public
mindi The consequence wing. gtnorsy
spread OF discomfort. feeling that slave
properly uus insecure. and tlnt emanci.,
patton either immcd ate or prospective.
would, sooner or later. be rcsoricd to, a
remedy for the supposed evils under
which the Commonwealth WINS suffering,
How far the agricultural inIcrests Of ,ha
State were retarded. by tho memorabIs
scenes Of 1882, II is vain now 10 speculate,
rejoice to know that reason has resumed
her empire. and thar many ofihc most dis,
tingushed actors il that remarkable drs-
ma. have renounced their former errors.
This subject is too comprehensive and
important. 10 be discussed, as mere Incl
dental topic, in m annual address, aud /
trust that some gentleman of,he society, ~
competent talenls and infprmatipn. will,
ut uu earIy day, thoroughly investigate IL.
aud furnish an essay, on the necessary
conncxien. between the institution pf slav4.
ry. and the progress Of agricultural i'm,
provcmcnt in Virginia.
The institution Of slavery is fixed fact;
and as wise and practical men. il is OUT
duty so TO regard Il. Emspripation Is an
idle dream. beyond the reach DC hunaV
power. Its Accomplishment. if ii wera
possible, would be the overthrow, not
only Of all the material interests Of tho
South. but also Of the great fabric Of mod
crn civilization. Let Us DO content with
our condition. We haye a class OF Iabor,l
ers. tractablc, efficient, and proGtahIa.--
Without them Virginia would be wilder.
ness; with them, we may defy the com,,
petition Of the world. Il is not for us. in,
The indulgence Of q mistaken snnGbility,
10 call ia question the wisdom or bcnck.i
cence Of the great auihor Of our being.-
Let the institution go on TO fulfil IL mjssiour
and when in the providence Of God. thq;,
has been accomplished, the same power
that opened the waters Of the Red Sea,
from The exodus OF the Israelitcs from The
land Of Egypt can make dry tho waters
Of the great deep, for t.ie passage Of Ihoi
African to his native shores. 4g
Age may counsel. and wisdom may dj,
rcci, but no great enterprise was ever yct
accomplished without the enthusiasm Of
the young. This We have, berciofore,,
failed 10 secure. Nor IL this wonderful
The chaerlcss pictures that have Leen pro-
senicd, Of the prospects Of agriculture,
were far from captivating 10 the imagina-
lions of youths, who. leaving the SEEMING
ries Of learning with high appreciation
Of their powers, have come into the great
world, with determination TO carve thcis
own way to fame ond fortune. The poll.
cy Of the Staie has caused them 20 be ~,
sructed in every science save that which
would be most useful. They come into &C.
tive life, entirely ignorant Of the principlcs
of ogricnlturc, und turn with contempt
from calling, in which they suppose tho
unletiercd rustic can be quite as successful
as themselves. They press INTO the pra,,
lessions. already crowded TO sunocaiion,
or try their fortunes in the precnrious
trade ofthc politician. Ii would afford an
instructive, though melancholy lesson. if'
we could follow the progress OF the army
OF aspirants that have left our Colleges ~
Virgina during the lost thirty years, full
Of hope and expectation. 10 Battle With the
world How many bavo tainted by The
way-sidcl How many, chafed by disap-'
poiutment. have turned their backs upon
their native homes, TO seek in distsEi lands,
hat may never be atialuedi How few
have reached the goal Of their ambi,ionf
This dcplorable waste Of talent. and en-
erey MIST be arrested. New idcns rnnsl
be infused into tie old and new tastes
formed in the young. Happily. this pro-
cess has commenced. and trust viii rap
idly extend. Many Of our enligmcnta