The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1864-10-20
WEEKLY REGISTER.
hTheLYaIIsy Of the shenandoah.
WINcnasrER, or. 10, IsG4.

M'J OuHOT'-h RIeAt ueal Hhh DeeI
said thrsgerd 10 the beauty and fer
tilhy of this portion Of The old domin.
ion. But otter oil the glowing descrip
tons that have been given, we presume
that it would no! be saying TOO much
when we say that the half has novel
been told. II stretches from the POto
mac to the head waters Of the JameI
River, a distance of two hundred miles
and averages in width rs miles, making
an area Of 500 square miles, and almost
every foot Of it iS rich, lillibls SOIL
From the PolomGe 10 Strasburg. is it,
widest portion, Al this latter point. in
descending the VOlloy tho Bluo Ridge
'GeakS of to the right and the North
mountain In the same msnpOr circles of
to the left. forming most beautiful and
magnificent amphithcGtro. In passing
up the Valley on the main pike, you oc-
caSionAlIy ascend an elevated portion oil
the country. From these points you
look northWArd overa wide and beAuti-
full plain variegated with alternate
clumps of woods and cleared fields
stretching 10 the base Of The North
Mountain, which lifts its lofty summit
we'll nigh above the pathway Of the
clouds. You turn TO the South and The
same grand and diversified scenery pro-
sents itself to view. You cast your
eyes to the front or rear and its magnif.
cent landscape unlurl itself, onward ard
onward, until It'll, lost in the bazy dis.
lance, or shut out from view by ito COM
ing in contact with the horizon. On
either hand these mighty rSmpnrts which
only the hand Of Omuipotence could
erect stand as immovsble as tho thrown
of deity, and apparently designed as
Northern and Southern protect n
against the Entertainments Of the cue.
mics Of tho inhabitants who have been
SO foriunate as TO have their lot cast in
this most delightful spot Of the earth.
From Slrausburg up, the Valley is
more undulstiug and uotuo wide but, is
nevertheless, a most lovely county
The whole Valley is bed of limestone
the rapid and constant decomposition Of
which is invariably adding to tho rich
ness and fertility Of The soil and the IN
conceivable quantities of this rock will
make its soil absolutely inexhauslible. =
Its springs Of water are the finest in tho
world, 10 which every one who has tray
eled in the Valley will bear testimony.
But there has always been Two great
causes 10 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, l refer TO this land mon
o2oly and human slavery. These two
have cursed the Valley and they will
curse any country l care not how propi'
tious every other consideration may be-
But there is career Of glory and great
ness awaiting it in the future. Slavery
is gone and with it must perish the land
monopoly. These extensive and magnid'
cent farms must and will be divided into
100 and $50 acre lots and given into the
hands of energetic, industrious men who
with their own hardy hands will ill their
own soil, and, then, sir. will the Valley
"bloom and blossom as the rose and
the solitary places thereof be glad. =
God never designed that so beautiful .
spot Of bis earth should long remain I'M
der the dominion Of so black and with
ering q curse as that of human slavery
or that its good acres should be in the
possession of the hands ofa few to the
exclusion and detriment Of the many.
We are glad to see that the loyal cid'
zens so fast as an opportunity affords
itself, are organizing themselves under
the government of our own West Vic
GINA. This Valley properly belongs 10
West Virginia and the loyal people there
OF arc determined 10 throw ;heir destiny
in with US. All We have to say is
"come and 90 with US and we will do
you good, Tor the Lord hath spoken
oood concerninv our gRllant little State "