Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1860-06-04

IconfguratiI,n Of the country We inhabi.,
the course of its rivers, the position Of
| its bays, kkes and mountains. without
being impressed with the conviction that
twas designed to Be the home of . great
and united people. Why was il decreed
that the Mississippi. having il source il
! la high northern latitude, should take It's
way southwark, and. rolling its majestic
food through milder chimes, should de-.
liver its mighty tribute in the Gulf, al
most under the tropics, furnishing the
single outlet 10 the ocean Of the most fer
tile and expanded basin which the sun in
his annual circuit shines upon and yivi-
6es !? Why was il ordained that lis trib-
utaries, flowing from remote head springs
on either side. and penetrating regions
wholly disBimilar in soil and production,
should themselves become the bouhda-
RES and ligamenls Of independent States
upon their margin ? Why were Virginia
and Maryland indissolubly united NV a
common interest in the Potomac and The
Chesapeake? Why Maryland and Penn
sylyapia aud New Jersey by the Dela-
ware. and New Jersey and New York BY.
the Hudson, and your noble bayf?2-
Where could the line Of separation be-
drawn Gould Louisiana, Mississippi,
.Tenaessea and Kentucky be cut off from
Iadiana. illinois Ind Dhib ? CelhSYir.
ginia aud Pennsylvania-lthe great centre
States Of the Union, and united by SO
many memories-be sundered from each
other? And where. in such. q family
disruption, would the empire State take
her position 2 Could she consent to be
separated from tile exporting Stateai?!-
4 Could she ignore the glorious recollec-
tons Of the past Could she forget that
il. it was New Yorker who led tlis IT.
tack on the redoubt at Yorktown, twas
a Yirgipian who headed the /" forlcrn
hope" at Stony Point the key toT The
Highlands OF the Hudson !? Could she
forget what we owe to the joint labors Of
her Hamilton and Jay and our Madison !?
OF that il was here, in her great city, that
Washington was installed the FIRST Presi-
/ dent of the United States !? "a nation
may have its birth amidst the throes and
convictions ofreyolution, and spring. into
/ life At a, single bound--like the tabled
origin Of Minerva-or, planted in weak
ness and colonial dependence, we may be
permitted toreyiew the history vi
growth and expansion until, ia theacYcle
1 Of years, it attainsS<t the strength andgPro-
portions of mature manhood So, too,
tby the madness of ambition and power,
"a nation may be subdued> and extinguish-
ed in q day Or the slower workings Of
corruption and misrule may preserve a
miserable existence through centuries Of
decay, conducting to final and gradual
extinction. But for aState in the prime
4 Of its fvigor--iu full possession Of an the
attributes ofnational vitality ard pefpe,
tuity 4-haying the duties Of It's rulers and
the rights Of its people defined and pre-
scribed by a. written constitution with
\ out external pressure or violence, toTcoine
to sudden destruction BY internal dis
memberment, would be without historic
rs sRfqSdtl9 t bss sEsitasSs gale
4 We are not destined to such 4 catas,ro.
sI2rbe. We may be subject to tile ordina-
tI = ha 5Restions incident tomortal existence,
, gregste he indiyidusf or ID tbe ag-
! 5ar5aJ is ha Ibis government was DO.
have Ioyered mon ed ed in a day Clouds
spread The sky. but the 2st 81. ana oser
steadily held its place, ant 1s y. nas
! tight through the gloom. ana .''sa u. ,'s
] bow Of promise and Of hope agaiSS'" 1n n
!. the arch. ! cherish the belief thaRtsNnls
favored land Is the appointed theatrs foSl
an exhibition Of human greatness anA ol
national power and duration hitherto4un
known upon the earth. j have already
adYsrted 10 the admirable and peculiar
Structure Of our government, and i'd nice
adaptation To- purposesfof safety and ex.
!, pansion.N To9Fthis letit be- added. tlla..its
operation has been and win zc6ntinue to
be upon the mingled product Of the best
populations Of the world, brought togeth
or in presence Of Tie grandest scenery
and most sublime and imposing features
Of nature. The influence Of admixtnre
and Of physical surroundings upon The
!, Development and character Rof, races
need NOT be argued Everything points
/. to anew and improved type Of mankind.
4 A new world, new race formed tolin-
habit il. and d new species Of government
devised 10 rule it, would seem 10 imply
design and new destiny. Let US Trust,
then, that our future is to be happy and
glorioas--that the same Almighty hand
which has hitherto guided and projected
us will continue to hold us id It's kespI.
ing, and that when, in some far distant
age, the historian shall come to recount
the progress of our posterity and to de-
scribe the condition of the multiplied
millions who shalithen occupy our place.
bewill be able 10 say that the stars and
! stripes still float over free and united
people, speaking the language Of Shaks-
psfe, Milton and Burke. and Of Webster,
Calhoun and Clay, and vexed byS 10
question Of doubtful fraternity. proud
ly cherishing the memory of their origin
/ in the colonies jamestown and PlymoRth
The lecturer, who was frequsnl| Y as
plauded in the course OF his adore ie.
Tired amid loud acelamations.
| sinking Of a Steamer-Sad Loss III III.