The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-08-14
Friday. Aug. IL, 1868.
To the Desponding.

Wy ucsponu! w ny look gioomy! WY
feel discouraged? Did you ever read tina
portion Of the history of the first American
Revolution relative to Valley Forge, or tina
Immediately preceding the battle of King
Mountain !? If you have, then hold up you
head and take encouragement, and feel tina
you are man and can brook reverses. TX
be sure the hour is dark, and men talk dis
couragingly, but from the hour that Adam ate
the apple till the present, the world has beer
inhabited with croakers and hypocondriacs
Even Noah's food didn't drown them all
For our parts, altho' the enemy, in formida
bic numbers is still encroaching upon u.s.
and seems for the moment to have the advan.
tage, we feel that it is just as impossible for
the South to be suGugated, as it is for the
streams to fow back to their sources. We
have faith in the justice of our cause, and
just as sure as we trust in the guidance Of the
great Jehovah in this matter, just so sure will
we. finally triumph.
We meet with men every day, with faces as
long as shingle, and who look as if they had
swallowed funeral, who gravely discuss the
subject of whether they would prefer to be
ruled by Lincoln or Louis Napoleon. Such
discussions are about as wise as it would be
for a man condemned to be choked to death,
t. discuss whether it should be done by beef
CIR mutton. We have no idea of being ruled
by either, and never expect to be. If We de-
sire to be independent we will be-'f we are
willing to be slaves, it matters but little who
our master is.
Reconstruction. Some people-not about
here we hope-dream ofthis. As well dream
sot the reconstruction of an exploded bubble or
a rope of sand. None but fools or madmen
could entertain such an idea. The North
and South are forever severed and every mo-
ment of future time will widen the breach.
We are at sea now in our own bark. We can
either bring it to asafe anchorage CT dash it
to pieces among the breakers. Which will
we dos-that's the question. Will we act
ike men and freemen or will We nope about
like "Tribulation Trepid," meeting trouble
and misfortune half way, and wearing counte-
nances of eternal gloom and sadness? Let us
lie hopeful. When things get to be as bad as
they can, they can't get worse, and must get
better. Letus look aloft, and permit the sun
to shine in our faces once more. Washing
ton and the noble men that followed him
would have given worlds if they had had
them, for the chances Of success at our com
mand; and yet, with the Lord on our side,
(else we would have been annihiated long
ago. and as brave an Amy and as skiful
Generals as ever went forth to BATTLE We croak
aud despend. and make ourselves as misera-
BILE as we possibly can. There is nothing at
all absolutely discouraging in the aspect Of
affairs. "The darkest hour is just befare the
dawn" and a bright and beautiful morning
may follow.
Depending friend, did you ever in imagi-
nation. fellow William Tell and his followers
from rag to erag in their uwn wild noun !
tains, or Robert Bruce from glen to glen in
his own native hills? Did you ever read the
history OF William Frederick, or ponder the |
of the Waldenses and Nestorianse
We haven't the room to narrate them here |
but hunt them up and examine them, and
then feel ashamed that you ever felt discou-
ragged. You are in possession If the most
beans ful, diversified and healtLful country
on the globe, with men as gallant. soil as
generous, cause as just, as the Gun ever !.
shone upon. Up, then, and be doing. relying
upon the God of battles, and victory is rust as
sure as you strive for it.
We are pleased with the cheerful view Of
he Status Of affairs taken by the Mobile Re-
sister, and fer the encouragement Of the des.
,onding here submit it. Says that paper:
.'From the yet extensive land boundaries
# the Confederacy come up cheering words
# strength. Hhe great State of Texas, is
n empire in itself, and conquest single
landed of no ordinary magnitude by the most
powerful nation, stands intact in her strength.
Jot Federal soldiers footstep poIlutes her
oil, nor is ont of her ports in hostile posses
ion. Louisiana west of the Mississippi CON
uered and overrun six months ago, has been
ince wrested from the grasp Of the foe, and
nth all the strong points in our possession, is
offended by skilful Generals and the bravest
f troops. Mississippi is only occupied on the
orders of the great river, and to these bor-
ers the enemy can be restricted if Mississippi
7ill put on. her armor, send back her truant
oldiers and gag the mouths Of her timid
Ruggles and Chalmers
ach with an ARMY, and at least eight thou