Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-07-17
FRIDAY MORNING, JULY II, 1863.
VIRGINIA.

pays the following handsome tribute to the
Old Dominion. The writer is Georgian:
Recent travels through the Old Dominion
have suggested some thoughts upon her ex.
allied character and imperishuble fame. 1t is
difficult to view her in any point of vision, or
in any aspect that does not fill generous mind
with admiration, and flood it with cnnobling
reflections morally, socially, intellectually
| the skill of her Generals, tho courage Of her
soldiers, the hcroism, and scE-sacriticing dero-
ton, and endurance OF her women What a
| field for our cUuntry's historian What a rich
store house. Of historic and poetic literature
for coming ages, when wars dread carnage
shall have ceased, when the war stccd's re-
sounding hoof shall no longer be heard from
the scene of deadly strife, but, tanned and
tempered to the arts Of peace, shall draw the
| ploughshare made from the Implements OF
death, o'cr her now deserted and wasted
fields, and turned up from her b0Od-stained
| soil the relics Of our country's heroes Proud
| old Dominion. mother of States and states
lnen cradle and grave of immortal heroes
where IS there 4 spot On carth, upon which
the light OF civilization has shonc, and where
manhood is not extinct, whose people will not
| learn to lore your unaltcrablc devotion to
| freedom, reverence your superior wisdom,
and to admire your illustrious achievements
What rich treasures are added to your
ovcrflowing casket of historic jewels! What
warmly gushing tears will the enlightened
travellers of all countries and all ages pour out
! upon your thousand battle fields. Tears OF
memory for the brave tears of grief and ad-
miration for the gallant and tho gay who
fought their last battle and sleep their last
sleep there: tears of devotion 10 liberty, that
shall water their graves and from which
shall spring myriads Of her true Suns to keep
rl9ils at her gates and the fires burnin. upon
her altars for Ses and ages to come.
Lee and Johnston. jackson and Ewcll -
Hill and Anderson, Rhodes, Stuart, Ashbv,
Wise, 'Magrudcr, and il host of other illus.
trious Firginians! wLcn in the annals of our
history, will poesv, song, or marble, suffer
their names to perish? Bethel, Manassas,
Williamsburg, Seven Pines, MechanicSvillc,
Coal IIarbor, Malvern Hill, Cedar Run, Fred
cricksburg, Charlottesville! when can the
lovers Of skill and genius, and of glorious gal
lantry, cease to study them as models?
The spectacle of Eirginia's separation from
the old Union rises in sublimity as we reeede
from it in years. Her affections were stlong
for it. Her history was its history her heroes
were its heroes; her statesmen had devoted
their lives and labrrs to it. Its triumphs were
her pride, und its memories her treasures. She
hesitated long, casting'her fearful eye back to
the glorious past, and forward to the dark and
gloomy future. She was TO he the battlefield,
her fields to be laid waste. her herds slaughter
ed, cities destroyed, her sons slain in battle,
her fair daughters driven from the peaceful
shelter Of home, to become the nurses for the
sick and wounded Of the Confederacy. "a
hundred thousand, and more, Of brave men,
from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, and their
loved ones at home will never cease to bless
them.) The birth of the nation was threaten
ed with unspeakable agony, nevertheless, she
looked the tyrant full in the face, and rose t.
the full height of her manhood. She seems to
have said ''if it be possible let this cup pass.
But freedom had not lost her charms, nor op,
preston its Odious hate-reiecting with dsdain
the terms of her slavery, with open arms she
fe ace ner S.sers 16r Twca 81
woe forever with them. Never, tn this day,
has she, in council of state, or on the field Of
strife and death, failed to honor this pledge OF
| alliance.
1t is painful to record q single blur to the
bright picture. The building Of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad through Northwest
ern Virginia, furnished an acquedut by which
| the dark waves of Abolition were diverted
from their natural channel, apd caused them
to overflow one of the fairest portions Of the
State. Hence the disloyalty of that people,
and their fraternity with the murdcrJus le-
gions who invade US. But while Virginia
persstently claims the integrity other an
cient boundary, she proudly disdains the vii
lanous hosts who have thrust themselves
upon her soil to break the continuity Of lrer
chain Of brotherhood, and distract the harmo-
ny of her counsels. May she now look for.
| ward with hope to the time when this current
shall be driven back, when this aqueduct
shall be cut, and the country drained-when
these dark waters may recede TO the black
sea of corruption from which they have
been poured forth