American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-07-19

Societies of the Monongalia Academy, at Morgan
town, Na.,on Wednesday evening, June 25, 1856.
Published by request Of the Societies
GENTLEMEN or TIE COLUMBIAN
AND NoNoNGtLIA LIBRARY SOCIETIES: Es
In obedience to your solicitation, | rein-,
quish for the passing hour the forum where my duties
usually call appear; but desire still to maintain
the character of an advocate. leone before you to
urge the suit of our mother, for the homage
and services of her children. am here to make u
plea for Virginia
VIII be said that she needs no advocate? freely
acknowledge that she deserves better one than may
presume to be; but cannot admit that she needs none
at all.
Once, Virginia stood precminent in wealth. in pop
nation, in physical force, and moral influence. In
$780, her population was T48, Q00--nearly twice as
great as that of Pennsylvania and than twice as
great that of New York. She 'sirst in war and
first in peace. Shetwas first in the camp and first in
the cabinet. She was first at home and first abroad
She had just given to the world name of glory unr-
vailed in the ages past and never to be cxcced in the
ages to come. She presented through one Of her
citizens, system Of constitutional liberty which is
still the admiration of the friends of human rights tlro
out the world, and which, in three quarters of CEN
tury, has elevated three millions Of impoverished colo
,nists to the first rank of nations
She started In the race of American States with
greaterrepuaton, greater territory, greater popul
tion greater power and resources, moral intellectual
physical and political than any of the other States-
But how has she fallen behind Now New York has
twice the amount OF her populations. So has Pennsy-
vanla Ohio exceeds her by more than half a million.
Several other States rapidly advancing on her
In commerce and manufactures there has been q cor
responding dccenson and who of ushas forgotten the
modification he felt when the lao census revealed the
terrible fact that $4,000 of the adult white inhabitants
1aiof Virginia codid neither read nor write She & al
most tho hindmost State in the Union in general
education. ,' : :.
For the ten years inhneaiatsiy projecting is 20, tu
ntIprn nf ,a,r Sn. 411t zrI
than three per cent The census of 1850 disclosed a
more hopeful result The dcccnnial increase was Ia /
per cent But look at the other States, during the
same time. i mean the older States where immigra-
ton had but little influence In Massachusetts, the de-
cennia ratio OF increase in the population was nearly
thirty five per cents in Rhode Island was 35 in New
Jersy 81; in Pennsylvania 81; in Maryland "a; in Geor-
ga 3l: Even North Carolina, the Grip Van Win
klea OF the Union, went ahead Of Virginia.
What is the of this comparative rotroeression?
In the matter Of population viii do to alIege that
the climate Of Virginia is unfavorable to health and
longevity; for the tables shew the contrary
During the year ending first of June, 1850, the mum
Der of deaths in Virginia was 49, 053 or as to IA.
which was within fraction of the general average of
the whole Of tho United States. And feel confident
that shall be able to shew that no State has the adj
vantage Of Virginia III natural resources and that her
comparative want OF prosperity in manufactures, COM
erce and agricultre is not justly attributable to any
deficiency in the natural and facilities of prose
cutting these fundamental interests of great State
What, therefore, are the causes? answer that
among these, one OF the most prominent and perncous
is ema9rotaon. Partakng in extraordinary degree
OF the rowing disposition and adventurous spirit, com
mon to the American people, the youth Of Virginia
abandon their native soil in great numbers to swell
the tide ofwestern populaton accelerate the growth
OF Western States And these emigrants in general
constitute the better class of the people They often
embrace young Of education; and almost invariably
consist opersons of energy, onterprizo and industry
Thus, those who have the spirit and capacity to i'm
prove State, constantly distracted from us and
the great body the population is left to the same ex-
tent more inert and stationery. Nor ist this all Cap
1al follows in the footsteps of these enterprising emf
grants. Instead of being employed in the deyelopc-
ent OF our own resources at doors is sent
away and deposited in the hands of foreign usurers
and spectators. Meantime our minerals are cronpno
out of almost every hill side as if to provoke the hand
OF industry and deyelopement. Our rivers flow on.
and waterfalls dash down. UNDECIDED and unappro
pratcd, forever challenging the capital and skill of the
manufacturer The restless waves Of the ocean lash
the shores along our Atlantic coast as if impatient
Tor the burdens of our which they ought to
be bearing awaYto foreign lands. But the captal and
enterprzc and skill which should respond to all these
demands, seek employment elsewhere. They are fell
ing the western forests They fencing the
praries They building western cities and rail-
ways. Ayo They are shycrng with occidental a.
gues! They are burning with occidental fcvers! Thoy
arc falling victims to the pestenta masna of western
swamps and morasses They arc pning and pcrishine
with disappointed hopes amid the rigors and hardships
Of frontier life.
1t has bccn said that the personal character Of the
people Of Virginia has deprecated How could Il be