Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-11-06
from the Fredericksburg Ledger.
To the Young Men of Virginia.


they be productive of great good to our young
| men.
Ever since the downfall of the Confederacy,
there has been a manifest disposition on the
part of a great many young men in Virginia, to
leave their native State and seek their fortune
elsewhere Many have already settled in North
ern cities, while others have gone West. Their
excuse is, that the course they advocated has
failed there is general prostration of business ;
that financial distress prevails throughout the
State, and hence they could see no chance of
success so long as they remained here. Others
have begun to reason in the same way. They
are already becoming Respondent, and in the
end will probably be little better than mere
reckless adyenturers on the sea of life, having
no definite aim or well settled plans for the fti-
ture
Tt is not strange that men who have never
known fear in the face of the enemy, should,
when misfortune overtakes them, show signs of
despondepcy. Unexpected calamity often dis
covers childish weakness, where we expected
naught but manly virtues Even the great Ma
poleOn, whose name was once terror to all Eu-
rope, who stood unawed under the most appal
ling fire, could not bear great reyerses When
the great hero reached the place of banishment,
1t IS said that he turned to his companion in
exile, and with heart well nigh crushed by
modification and grief, he asked most piteously,
''hoW are we to live on this desolate island ?''-
Many men are courageous; a still greater num-
ber are brave, but few possess genuine fortitude
The man OF fortltude is one who can endure de-
feat as well as brave danger As stars are seen
only during the night, so true fortitude shines
most brightly amid the gloom Of misfortune.-
1t rises superior to reverses, to Affections and
sorrows and torture, and looks unawed even on
dungeons and bastiles and iron fetters.
At the commencement of the great struggle
through which we have passed, the sons of Vir-
ginia responded with alacrty to her call. And
during. the entire war, on every hard fought
patriotic devotion which fired the breasts of
their god-like sires, had not died out on the al
tar of liberty. They stood by Virginia then,
and we want to see them now, in this signally
trying emergency cling to her with more than
filial affection Then she needed men of cour
age: now she needs men of fortitude
We have already exhibited to the world the
spectacle Of a people, who dare contest their
rights to the last extremity, Let us now show
that We know how to suffer the adverse fortunes
Of war. Let us link our fate with that of our
State, and resolve to stand or fall with her =
Let no prescriptions, Or taxation or civil rights
bills, or freedmen's bureau, or exclusion from
Congress, or anything else, drive us away from
the fair heritage bequeathed to us by our IA
theirs.
That would be defeat more lamentable than
that which occurred at Appomattox Court
House. We say to the young men of Virginia,
remain where you are, and help to 'sperpetuate
the civilization handed down to US by our an
cestors = Let not your sacred birth-right pass
into the hands of radical fanatics One great
object of radical misrule is to render our condi-
ton intolerable, and thus force us to abandon
10 nd a!c to
bauble. There never was a more deep seated,
cunnngy devised, and Internal scheme set on
foot, than the ultimate aim of radical legisla-
ton.
Again, we say then to the young men of Vir-
ginla, remain where you are. If you have not
done SO, make up your minds to go to work
There is no sort Of reason why young man,
blessed with health and strength and brains,.
should fail to make support in Virginia Vir-
ginia possesses within herself all the elements
of material prosperity, and every desirable facil-
ity for social enjoyment 9
Her broad and fertile lands still remain wa
tered by the same bold rivers that were the
pride of our ancestors; rivers abounding in lux
ulies to procure which, costs nothing, but on
the contrary, affords the most delightful enjoy
ment. Here we have climate most salubrious
and adapted to almost every variety of produc-
tons, from the tender vine to the hardy grains.
Here too, we have our ranges of lofty noun
tains, hardly surpassed in beauty and sublimity
by Alpine scenery itself. And locked up in
those mountains are vast deposits Of mineral
wealth, awaiting the enterprising s'hardy sons
of toll. m
We have an ancestry the proudest in the
world. Our history none can read, without
thrilling interest. Throughout the whole of
that history,s from the adventures of Captain
John Smith and his rescue by Pocahontas, down
to the present time, are recorded touching events
of the most romantic and poetic nature, while
on every page We meet with names Of heroes
and sages, as ilustrious as any that ever adorn-
ed the annals of antiquity.
Why, then, shall we leave our State? Now
| is the time when our service is most needed =
| Virginia needs men to cultivate her productive
| sol; ; to develop her great Water Power to
| bring forth the hidden treasures imbedded in
her mountains to rebuild her fallen temples
and shrines that have been rihed and ruthlessly
destroyed by sacrllegious hands; to push for
ward her great works of internal improvement
which are to make her the great highway for
the Western trade. All Virginia lacks is per-
sistent energy on the part Of her people.
They must shake off the tolls and entangle-
ments Of idleness and learn to appreciate the
true dignity and important results of labor
They must recollect if they have forgotten that
labor is the substratum on which every other
| interest rests
Lawyers, doctors and professors, we could
dispense with to a great extent, but the men
we must have, the men that are Indispensable
are the educated mechanics We must cherish
in our midst such men as Arkwright and Ful-
ton, encourage the mechanic arts-cease repip-
ing, bend our whole energies to the great worl,
of restoring what has been lost; ever looking
with confidence and hope to the future. Then
will the Old Dominion, phenix-like, rise from
her ashes, and enter with renewed yigor On her
proud career.
Throughout her domain the busy hum of In
dustry will greet the ear Foundries will be
erected as if by magic. At our forges will be
heard the ponderous blows of cyclopean harm
mers and the joyful sound of the loom and the
spindle on every hand. The white winged sails
OF commerce will crowd our rivers and harbors
and classic fields now waste and desolate, will
wave once more with beautiful crops of wheat
and corn, and from the full horn of plenty
the rich rewards Of toll will be scattered with a
prodigal hand, by the Giver of all good.
j. r. RANDALL following sketch Of
the author of "My Maryland" is from the
Atlanta Neao Era
Mr.. Randall is yet young-we should Judge
not over twenty-eig ght-and we may reasonably
expect from him greater things than he has vel
accomplished. He seldom writes poetry. which
fact gives the public a greater relish for his
productions but we think he might write more