The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1864-10-27
The ynIIay Of the Shenandoah.
WINcnEsTER, 90. 10, 1861


M, Eaitor-A great deal has been
said with regard to the beauty and fer.
tiIity of this portion of the old domin.
ion. But after all The glowing descdp.
tons that have been given, we presume
that it would not be saying TOO much,
when we say that the half has never
been told. I! stretches from the Poto.
mac TO the head waters of the james
River, distance of two bundled miles;
and averages in width rs miles, making
an area of 500 square miles, and slmost
every foot Of it is rich, tlIiblo soil
From the Potomac 10 Strasburg, is its
widest portion. AT this latter point, in
descending the Valley the Blue Ridge
bresks off TO the right and the North
mountain in the same manner circles of
to the left, forming . most beautiful and
magnificent emphitheStre. In passing
up the Valley on the main pike, you &C.
casionaIIy ascend an elevated portion oil
the counlry. From these points you
lock norlhward overs wide and beauii.
full plain variegated with alternate
dumps Of woods aud cleared fields
stretching to the base Of The North
Mountain, which lifts its lofty summit
well nigh above the pathway OF the
clouds. You turn to the South and the
same grand and diversified scenery pre-
SCENTS itself to view. You cast your
eyes 10 the front or rear and its magnifi.
cent landscape unlurI itself, onward ard
onward, until it is lost in the hazy dis
lance, or shut out from view by its com.
ing in contact with the horizon. On
either hand these mighty rompar'S which
only the hond Of 0mnipotence could
erect stand as immovabe as the thrown
Of deity, and apparently designed as
Norlharn and Southern protection
against the encroachments Of tie enc
mics of the inhabitants who have been
SO fortunate as 10 have their lot cast 10
this most delightful spot of the earth.
From SrauSburg up, tho Valley is
more undaiatiOg and not SO wide but, is
nevertheless, most lovely county,
The whole Valley is bed Of limestone
the rapid and constant decomposition OF
which is invariably adding to the rich
ness and fertility of the soil and the in
conceivable quantities Of this rock will
make its soil absolutely ineShaushble.-
It's springs of water are the finest in the
world, to which every one who has tray.
eled ia the Valley will bear teslimd ?
But there has always been two great
causes in existence in the Valley which
have ever operated against that rapid
increase of its population and wealth
that marked the history of other sections
oil the country, refer 10 this land mon.
opoly and human slavery. These two
have cursed the Valley and they will
curse any country l care not how propi'
'ious every other consideration may be.
But there is a career Of glory and great
ness awaiting it in the future, Slavery
is gone and with i, must perish the land
monopoly. These extensive and magnif'
cent farms must and will be divided into
100 and 100 acre lots and given into the
hands of energetic, industrious men who
with their own hardy hands will till their
own soil, ard, then, sir, will the Valley
"bloom and blossom as tho rose and
the solitary places thereof be glad
God never designed that SO beautiful
spo, Of his earth should long remain un-
der the dominion OF 50 black and with
eriog curse as that of human slavery
or that its good acres should be in the
possession Of the hands Of a few to the
exclusion and detriment Of the many.
We are glad to see that the loyal ciIi'
zenS SO fast as an opportunity affords
itself, are organizing themselves under
the government of our own West Wiz
ginin. This Valley properly belongs 10
West Virginia and the loyal people there.
Of are determined to throw their destiny
in with US, All We have to say is
"come and go with us and we will do
you good, Tor the Lord hath spoken