The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-01-12
DEVELOP THE STATE.

There Is but one way lett IN which virginia
may hope to regain or approach her former
prepondsrance in the scale of States, and that
il, by thorough development of her resources.
She has the area, the mineral wealth, and
the water power she has also outspread acres
of the most productive land and she has va
ried schemes of internal improvement. The
Iron Is hot" Cannot some sturdy arm WELD
the sledges of capital and labor, to forge 80
promising subject into available shape9
Much may be done by concert of action and
energy on the part of the people The several
classes might combine among themselves or
act with individual enterprise so as to set and
keep the common ball in motion. The farmer,
to be sure in many places, has had his fields
desolated in the march Of war; but they are
still there and as fertile as ever. If he cannot
get the full capital and labor to make the
whole available, let him sell part to some
energetic man, and 60 to work, with will,
upon the residue His efforts will tell in the
end, and there will be hardy men alongside of
him working also.
The merchant, too, may have been nesting
on his oars, for an interregnum of years past
His available means may have been lost Or di-
minishsd by events. But let him not fold his
arms. Bruce's spider conquered after having
been six times foiled. His means may be less
but his experience is larger and he may 60 in
and realize the fortune of which he has SO
often dreamed.
As for the manufacturer, we think there
never was a better time for him. Legislation
plays directly into his hands. The tariff is
high, (God only knows how much higher it
will getD and it operates as bid to him to
60 to work and build up his chosen location.
There are fields, in every part of the State, in
viting him to ply bis hands and machinery
Though slavery has been wiped out against
the wish of the people of the State, it leaves
q vacuum, in point of fact, which may be
filled by labor of the most developing charac-
ter and 1t is a duty now incumbent on our
citizens and lawgivers to see that the vacuum
be properly and speedily filed. immigration
associations should be fostered, and the emf
grants themselves should be made to feel at
home among US; while the =" freedman" should
be taught that he will be properly cared for
and proftsd, if he will consent to do his share
of the common toll.
Ifvirgnia wishes ever to be politically great
again, she must seek to regain her influence
rather through the channels of material enter
prise, than through the wisdom Of her states
men or the subtleness of her politicians. Her
glory is gone, perhaps forever; all she need
do now Is to seek her full share Of the feshpot.
Let her encourage the plough, the loom and
the anvil and foster all outside undertakings
that look to the development of her commerce,
Then she may exslaim, with Anchises, when
bsholding in the halls of Queen Dido pictures
illustrative of his country's history:
Que regio in tsrris non nestri plena laborisi
Though she may never again be the Vir'
ginia Of old, with her queenly honors planted
thickly upon her brow, she may yet become
buxon and healthful in her later days, and
wear a matronly dignity in the eyes of man
kind.