Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-17
Truth From virginia.

Truth From Virginia.
We take the following extract from an arti-
Gle i'll The Times and Gazette of Wheeling, on
occasion of the agitation there of which cor
respondent lately gave some account in our
columns. 1t is rafe thing of late years to
hear such sentiments from Virginian
Weoppose the. extension of Slavery over ter
rtory now free, because Slavery is opposed to
the whole tenor of our institutions, as estab-
hshed by our forefathers, fought for by them,
and left to us not for the one or the few, but
for all ; not to build up an idle aristocracy, but
to secure happiness and protection to vast,
industrious, useful white population, demo-
cratic in their character aud condition, equal i'll
their rights, stations aud privileges, and look
ing to the greatest freedom practicable under
law, and the nearest equality available under
the natural constitutions of men.
"Slayery opposes this and therefore we re-
gard slavery as an evil that ought not to be ex-
tended, i'll this country, where it does not
now exist and that the new territories that are
on our west should be exempt from it.
"In regard to the States in which it does
now exist, we freely say five were situated in
the extreme South where we were hopeless of
making any arrangement for its future extir-
patton, or where there was danger of the dis
cussion inducing the servants to rise against
their masters, we should regard the discussion
of the question of its benefits or evils as dis
cussion uncalled for, and one that might be
productive of evil but i'll the State of Virgin
Ia Kentucky and Maryland, it can now be
productive of no evil, and as the subject is no
more sacred than any other subject, and as its
discussion must ultimately lead to good and
can do no INJURY, we contend that a citizen Of
the State has aperfect right to discuss it with
out molestation, and if he can convince the
t,atf how ho hoff of 70 faLo
steps for the removal, he is doing his duty as q
citizen, and that he who opposes such discuss
ion is not aagood citizen of Virginia, and faith
full to her laws, her interests and her institu-
tons, for 1t is the duty of every citizen to do
all the good he can for the State and country
in which he ives
awe are in favor of taking the earliest pos
| sible means for getting rid of slavery in the
| State Of Virginia, with justice to the master.
| safety to the State, and comfort and convent
| fence to the laboring population now in it.
awe desire it because it has retarded the
| progress of the people since it became State,
impoyerishing its inhabitants, reducing its pop
ulation, and staying the developments Of the
vast natural resources that abound in the State
to greater extent than in any other. State i'll
the Union. Had it not been for slavery, Nor
folk would now be what New York or Phila-
delphia is Norfolk has the best harbor in
the Union, and the natural soil that extends
from the coast to the Blue Ridge is among the
best in the country. Had that institution
not existed there or if it should be removed
how long would it be before Norfolk would be
among the first of cities, and the worn out
lands in that region of country, that are now
owned in five hundred and one thousand acre
tracts, and hardly support family at that
would be divided into fifty acre tracts, each of
which would not only be titled by the hands
of hardy and intelligent republicans, not
only to yield support, but competence and
riches, to large and happy family-happy in
their industry and intelligence
"Noone dare deny that such would be the
result. Is it not right, then, that we should
express such opinionss We are parties inter-
estcd as well as they, for what benefits or in
lures one part OF the State benefits or inlur
the other parts.
" In Western Virginia there is but small
proportion of Slavery but still Western Yir-
ginia feels the effects of it. She feels the
effects of it in the want of energy and apple
cation in the Legislature. The internal i'm
provements of the State are left to anguish,
roads through the territory never have been
constructed to open the soil to ifes to immi-
grafton and to a market. Owing to Slavery
and large tracts of land, the consequence
thereof, the population have been kept sparse,
scnO0lS nave not Deel eStdOISQeu y IuOSe WHO
have c,me in to settle Western Virginia are
without schools or churches, and the masses
of them, in some parts, of necessity grow up.
to great degree, ignorant and irreligious,
while their lands are kept low, and they are
forced by circumstances to live upon them
half cultivated and in houses that barely shell
tered them. as
!. Let any man look through thousands Of
acres and miles of Western Virginia and see
if what we state is not the fact, see if this
the Oldest State in the Union, having rich
soil, a glorious climate, ahealthy, possessing
vast water power and mineral wealth, is not
far behind, Il comfort and population, in in
telligence, morals and wealth, the free terrific
ries of yesterday. He will not dare say that
there is anything else the matter than the ex-
istence of that institution under which chill
dren arc not taught to work, and practical
thought is made a source of condemnation in
the ewes of the few who assume to control and
direct public opinion and public action. To
this there are noble exceptions and they are
daily seen. They have struggled from under
the incubus and shown themselves the noblest
of Gods works. nef
$50 long as this. was the case in Wheeling,
so long as her mechanics and manufacturers
were considered as second rate men and real
application to labor was discouraged, SO long
Wheeling failed to prosper but when men, in
defiance Of the prejudices against labor came
in from free States and settled here, it became
prosperous, it rose like giant in its strength.
Would to Heaven all Virginia were so. IA
"Bat no; within hundred miles Of this
city, there is more iron ore than the world
needs fh century. 1t is of the best quality,
rich and easily worked; but till within the
last two years it has lain as though it wezenct
lit has numbered the earth. This is want
ed by the manufacturers of our city and else
where, and would bean element ofvast wealth
and product. ss.s
1t would fill our sheet to even enumerats
all the disregarded elements of wealth, pro-
gress, aud improvement there are around us;
Wa nannnt 40 Il now Let the reader travel