Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-12-21
Hon. R. NJ. T.. Hunter on Virginia.


address of Hon. X. NJ. r. Hunter a, the
late Conservative Convention al Rich
mond -
There is wealth in the earlh-le, US
pillow, dig, and mine for it, There is
wealth in our falling waters and running
streams. They will turn the mill and
build up manufactures. There is wesllh,
BOOKSTORES Of weslh-in our black dia-
monds; they will make The steam which
drives the car. propels the boat, and turns
the wheel. We have streams 10 bear a.
way the fleets Of commerce as far as the
tide may flow, and we have forests 10
build those fleets. II is for the people OF
Virginia 10 say whether we have not The
men 10 develop these resources. De-
lieve we have. have confidence IN my
citizens. believe Ihai mere IS a
great aud glorious destiny yeI IN store Tor
Virginia. | have given, think, reason
for The faith that is 10 me. but, Mr..
President, confess that |. too, have mo-
ments of dependency. When think Of
wha, Virginia has been, OF all that she has
done for the Union, her sister States, and
70, mankind. and then reflect upon her
present condition, may say, in the elo-
queni words Of another, that thoughts,
feelings. and emotions crowd upon my
mind which cannot altogether repress.
sad yet which in humble submission TO
divine Providence | dare no, express.
But thank God that this is not my per.
msneni state Of mind. | do not despair.
The present hours OF darkness and de.
spondency will soon pass away. and Vir.
ginis, if no. exactly her old self, will be
9 great Stale again. The time must come
when she will hitch on 10 the Federal
train as great as any in her contribution
of freight and passengers; and who shall
say that the trumpe. OF leadership may
not be placed once more in her hands.
Mr. President. every man has sometimes
belief for which he csnnot exactly &C.
count, and which seems 10 come 10 him
more from intuition than reason. Such,
perhaps. Is in fact the foundation Of my
faith in the future greatness and prosperi-
~ OF Virgins. | believe, sir, that the
seed Of Anglo American civilization was
first sown down on the silent banks Of the
James for some divine purpose. II is
now nearly three centuries since the An.
glo.Saxon came, the master builder Of
ferns Of governments, with his compass
and square, 10 lay the foundations OF the
immense social fsbric which we now see
around us, embracing almost every vsrl-
ely Of climate and race which are known
upon the earth. From that seed sprang
The "Old Dominion" the mother Of States
and Of statesmen. The "Molher Of
States" for every State south O! the soth-
ernal line OF the Northern line is numer.
ousy stored with The descendants of Vir-
ginis sires. Kentucky was her eldest
daughter, and under her gres, pioneer,
George Roger Clark, acquired The terri
tories which now comprise most OF the
Northwestern States, already the seat Of
empire, freely bestowed by Virginia up
on the confederscy for purposes Of peace
and harmony. The mother Of statesmen
all acknowledge her 10 have been. Ii
was she who gave 10 the Revolution the
leader Of its armies, ano 10 the Union the
man who, more than any other, may be
considered its founder and the preserver of
il in infancy. 1t was che who gave the
author Of the Declaration of independence,
md the long line Of Virginia Presidents
under whose guidance the beginnings Of
empire were laid, which are the most
painful steps in nations progress. Her
great mission seems TO have been TO pro-
mote individual liberty as lar as was con-
sisleni with he existence Of democratic
republican government. We appeal to
history 10 sustain the assertion that when
ever the Federal Government was under
The influence Of Virginia principles, the
people were harmonious, prosperous. and
happy; and so coon IS tina. government
departed from those principles, IrisIs and
disconient have arisen. The old state OF
things has passed away; concentration and
and consolidation are now the order Of The
day. Time will make up the issue be-
tween The old state Of things and The new;
history will record lha, issue, and Impair
tisl posterty will pronounce The verdict.
will not undertake TO predic, what it
will be; but, as a Vlrginian, do not fear
the result.