The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-29


On the outside of the paper is very int
resting Paris letter, translated for the DIS
patch. -----
Under Latest News" head viii be found
fuller details of foreign news by the Atlantic. |
VIRGINIA pollrrcs-We have not for
moment an idea of taking any part in the po- |
htical strife which is now agitating Virginia. |
The domain of politics is one in which we |
do not choose to intrude. We cannot how.
ever but entertain deep and fervent desire
that, whichever party should be successful,
the interests of Virginia will not be lost sight |
of. The welfare of this great Common
wealth ought to be the first consideration |
with every true Virginia heart, and to have |
the chief and most conspicuous places in the
counsels which guide her destinies.
1t is useless to deny the fact that whilst
Virginia has not degenerated in moral ana
intellectual qualities; whilst her material in
terests are steadily and decidedly improving
she is still far behind the position III wealth,
numbers and influence, which she ought to
occupy. States which were born but yester-
day; which were bowling forests, without one
siga of human habitation when she was
in her prime, have outstripped her, and are
now greater, more populous, more powerful
than she. Her harbors, in which the navles
of the world might ride with ease, are VISITED
chiefly by coasters and ships of war; her I'M
mense water power, which might buhu up
Lowells and Manchesters within her borders
turn the wheels of but few factories. she
ought to be the first State in the Union III
commerce the first in manufactures-Wha
she is we know. True, in every department
of industry, she exhibits progress but not
such progress as will prevent her from being
ultimately left out of sight by her sister
States, if she does not mend her pace
1t is not doubted now by any discerning
and practical statesman, that Virginia, as
well as the whole South, has committed
grand mistake in permitting federal affairs
to the exclusion of State interests, to occupy
so much Of her attention and her energies
The excitement ofpotics has been her mas
ter passion, and of politics in which she had
no immediate and practical concern, and
nothing but injury. What has she gained but
fame, an empty bubble, by all her exploits
upon national areua7 The general govern
ment has derived new energy from her spirit,
the nation has gone ahead from her counsels,
but where is she? Her Washington achieved
the independence of the nation; her Henry
stirred the hearts of men with splendid elo-
IL lxszsth on inn
mortal pen, the Declaration of independence;
the wisdom of her Madsonillustratedt the Con-
stitution of America and the judicial mind
Of her Marshall gave majesty and dignity to
its jurisprudence; the eloquence of her Clay
aroused the United States to the last glorious
war with England;the military science and va
lor other Taylor and Scott have given the Re-
public new empire on the Pacific, but what
have Virginians done for Virginia? What
have they bequeathed their native State but
laurels What have her ablest statesmen In
Congress accomplished for her advancement
and power? They have not been able even
to keep her in her former position; to prevent
her from falling behind other States in the
number of her representatives,; in spite of all
their ability and State pride, compared with
other States, she has been losing ground
Virginians must labor at home, if they
would secure the prosperity and security of
the Commonwealth.
The State presents at this moment singu
lar spectacle. The largest and the richest
portion of her territory is but just entered by
the railroad. The people of Western Virgil
MIA look to Ohio and to Eastern Virginia, and
on each side of them they see and hear the
iron horse, whilst they are deprived of all
facilities of travel except mud turnpikes.-
Their fields smile with fertility, their noun
tains TEEN with mineral treasures, but there
is no outlet for the riches either of the soil or
the mines. The public works of Virginia are |
arrested midway; her railroads point West |
ward, but having elambered over the noun
tains, they stop, and leave her people tanta |
LIKED with the prospect Of the goblet of Yves
tern trade raised half way to their lips, but
the arm suddenly paralysed that holds it
Again we must express the hope that, which
ever party triumphs III the next election,
something may be done for Virginia; some
thing to unite her with the grand basin of
the West; something to make her the great.
noble and powerful State she was in days
gone by.
HIGH RENTs-The New York Times saws
IL mas never seen, at this season in New York,
so many bills of houses for rent and sale
Landlords in that city abound. but tenants
are scarce. The editor of the Times ssvsbo
rented house month ago, and finds 70 b;s
mort,ncation that his lahdlordrents the house
ext him for fifty dollars lessthan he took from
him for its counterpart, and will, probah,v
month hence, take fifty dollars still les. foy;,s