New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-06
SOME VIRGINIA ISSUES.

| The Richmond Dispatch copies from tho Chi:a-
90 papers the annual statement Of the trade Of
the latter city and makes it the foundation Of
some yeditabie appeals tn the patriotism Of the
Virginians. Here IL q city, according to this
statement, built on a spot whica. few years
since, WAS wilderness, and which Virginia gave
swsy as comparatively worthless, bat which is
now covered by population more numerous than
any contained In any OF the cities Of Virginia;
which furnishes the largest primary grain depot
| In the world; which leads all other ports In the
world in the quantity well as the quality Of its
beef exports; which has shipping of near one
million tuns; which is the terminus Of 436 miles
| Of railroad, and which is growing with tho same
prcdigious rapidly that marks its physical prog.
ress In all the arts aud refnements Of civilized
| life On the other hand, the cities Of Virginia
exhibit slow increase, if not positive decline
| What can be the cause Of the difference Tho
Dispatch answers with typographical emphasis IS
| follows:
"While our cities are advancing by steps feeble
and slow be hardly psrceptble this nfsot city
of the West is leaping forward with giant strength
colossal strides. What 10 it that thus enables so
young city to accumulate wealth and power 90 rap
lSy 1t il that great WESTERN TRADE which
our forefathers in Virginia the value of and to
obtain projected those grand schemes that we have
begun but have not the energy to push ahead with
spirit to completion. Whilst are standing sill,
every community which has the slightest particios-
ton IN that great trade growing in prosperity and
| POLITICAL POWER. Ii is time indeed for Viz
gDa to wake up Ii 10 time for her to cease her sec
fisual jeaIousies and disputes and TO put her hand
earnestly to work for her common interest, her COM
| MOS sAfETr; for in her poiaica! and ce1Dntrc'A
strength nsa be her chef relidnce Then les us have
Lat, 10, fka
welfare of State the prosecution of her great
works, the pushing her onward out of the slough OF
despond where she has been left by her sister States.
Iheee are Issues compared with which none that have
been suggesed for years deserve TO be mentioned the
same day nay, Lot the same year :"
Nov, we have no doubt that the writer Of
this il perfectly aware Of the whole truth, but
why does he not speak 1t out at once He
perfectly aware that the milestone hung about the
neck of Virginia 10 Slavery-for he hints Of that
indirectly-And is yet afraid to pronounce the
fatal word The reason why the young Western
States, formed out of the body Of Virginia, are
leaving their ancient mother far behind, Is that
they have spurned the dreadful dowry she would
have bequesthed them, and darted forward with
the spring and visor of young ancEppled eX-
istence. No State in the Union has been
more richly endowed by Providence with
alb the elements Of physical and social
greatness than the Old Dominion. With harbors
equal in capacity to the hsrbor Of New-York,
with soil that almost teens spontaneously, with
beautiful streams adapted either TO navigation
or to manufactures, with vast and rich interior
on her western boeders, with climate as lovely
as the climate of the Golden Isles, and with an
original race Of settlers whose vigorous intellects
and commanding virtues have given her the name
Of Mother Of Statesmen" she ia dropping into
decay, if not already quite withered and stag
nant. Can any one AK why! Can any one,
who is not himself enchanted by the fatal spell
which pssies her limbs, fail to see that the cause
OF the disparity between her and the States that
have grown out Of her, is the fact which cons.i.
tutes the sole difference between tnem-the fact
ira. they are free and she enslsved Its Slavery
which has woven the web in which Virginia is
entsDgled which has exhausted the vitality of
her organs, and smitten her mind with delusons
The real issue, therefore, which Virginia ought
TO Taiie, s whether Slavery shall be continued or
eXtiDguished-an issue compared to which, as
The Dispatch says, 'ao other deserves to be men,
"tioned the same day-no, not the same year. !"
And is there no one in the State who dares to
raise tina! Issue IL there no "young and ardent ~
native Of the soil with enough Of the old blood Of
Washington, Jefferson and Patrick Henry in his
veins to risk his fame and Life upon that issue :
Has the political virtue-the true manliness Of
the people-died out with 30 much else Mr..
Wise peIsnbulsses the Commonwealth repeating
speeches on KnowNotingism, and Aboltionsm,
and Internal Improvementism, and confirming the
worst prejudces Of his beguiled and ignorant
hearers, and no one rises up to dispute his insane
and destructive follies. Oh, the terrible bland
ishments Of evil, that its victims grow insensibe