Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-04-21

The recent legislation of Virginia on the sub
ject of internal improvement has attracted much
attention throughout the Union. The Old Do
minion is no longer ridculed for her sloth. dege-
neracy and want of public spirit, but on the con-
trary her example is cited to stimulate and en-
courage others. Our cotemporary of the New
Orleans Bulletin earnestly appeals to the Louisi-
aua Legislature to follow the example of our own
by lending its aid to the various railroads now in
process of construction in that State. We copy
portion of the Bulletins article, but we must pro-
test against the assertion of that Journal that Vir-
gna is 1.-THE best governed State in the Union"
The rulers OF this Commonwealth though not
particularly famed for modesty, would hardly
ture, we presume, to set up any such pretension
for themselves. The bunder of the New Or
leans editor is entirely excusable. however, when
we bear in mind that he lives twelve hundred
miles off
1--WE will however, crafty any doubling and
unbelieving THoMAsEs, if there be such in the
Legislature, by citing to them one single exam
pie as an illustration of the postulate have ad
vanced. Virginia land where is the politician,
tyro or veteran. who does not profess reverence
| for Virginia?) is our in point. Venerable
and revered as was the mother of States for what
she has been, her glory had departed from her,
as her offshoots, growing up to lusty and vigo-
| rous manhood, beheld her in meridian lie but
afflicted with all the symptoms of premature de-
| cay; destined to prolonged existence but with
out the elements Of vitality predominant enough
to give her energy and action. She was then
too much of an old Fogy for young America in a
go-ahead age to venerate and respect. We re-
| member at a social meeting, where double f
| Virginia gentleman land we have rarely seen
| Virginian who was not gentleman in his man
ners and bearing) was boasting of his State and
her glorious antecedents, guest irreverently re-
marked that s'Virginia like hill Of potatoes,
the best of her was under the ground. 1t was
the TRUTH but rudely told, and the Virginian him~
| self freely acknowledged it, But the good old
| commonwealth has not become as degenerate
many supposed. She was not dead but only
sleeping; reposing, it is true, ndolently and I'M
probably in the shadow of past gories and event.
! full memories, aud engaged in the bootless flial
| task of trying to witty the dry bones OF her
cestors, instead of giving action and employment
| to the nerves, sinews and muscles of her living
sons. Virginia may now, as the LacedBmonian
mother did, boast of her living as we'll as of
| her dead ones. The vis inertie which so long
depressed this noble State, has, with the power of
| the desired lever of ARCHIMEDEs, moved her from
| her torpid position She is in active Rccelerating
motion and all her energies 10 full active play
Virginia is fairly and widely awake. Like a
giant refreshed by long sleep, she has aroused
herself and set to work with an earnestness of
will and energy of action which gives assurance
of success.
"Our readers will be surprised to lsarnshow
much Virginia has done and is still doing; how
she has been resuscitated and regenerated by the
exercise and judiciods employment of her own
energies and the means and industry of her peo
pie. Her maxim has been fcstina Lente, 'sgo
ahead Slow" in steamboat par lance; and acting
upon this safe aud prudential principle, she has
achieved position Of admiration and example,
upon sure and permanent basis. We consider
Virginia one of the best governed States of the
Union. Her Legislatures of late years have alb
negated hard as it was to kick against the pricks
her besetting in6rmity of discussing abstrac-
tiens. The resolutions Of '95 suffered to
lapse in the long sleep from which they
aroused; constitutional theories are no longer the
subjects of protracted and recondite disc ussions;
but practical objects-those ofutiity, of general
and permanent benefit, occupy the minds and
employ the time and consideration of the Virgin
ia Legislature 1t is wonderful how soon the
vivifying effects of good government realized;
how vigorous and lusty State, reduced to
dition of almost hopeless hamilton, may bs
stored by the effective remedy of wise and judi
cieus legislation This has been done for Vir-
ginia, and if any one doubts it, we ask him to
look at Virginia twenty years ago, and look at her
ROW."
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