The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-07-03
s'The Mother of Statesv- blow to make
her q State.

tHlS tUHIlHeuG. lHeTe is al lHteIcSC do-
tached to Virginia and Virginians which
no other State or people enjoy. 1t was
Virginia who gave Father to his Coun-
try" and Henry to the great Revolution.
Her Jefferson wrote the Declaration Of In
dependence and developed the true prin-
ciples of Republican Government in her
Bill Of Rights. She furnished the line Of
Of Presidents, Soldiers and Statesmen who
made the United States what it was before
the war. She was the shack bone" Of the
Confederacy during the war, and the tai
ent and genius of her sons have given
laws to other States. In her princely
generosity she has given away an empire
and peopled it with her children Alas!
that some should have returned to stab
her in her desolation and distress, while
others aided her enemies, in the Halls Of
Legislation and at home. Still, with all
her faults and absence of sel6shness, or
rather suicidal domestic and foreign poll
cy, she stands to day-despoiled, robbed,
devided as she is-the first State and peo-
pie on this Confident, socially and moral
", with her material wealth but half de-
veloped, and her future full Of promise
We have already alluded to the influences
that have heretofore forced her children
away from her, and made her the "Nloth-
er Of States" This is proud title, but
bought at too dear a cost. These causes
no longer exist, and our planters and far
mers have but to take hold of the work
before them, with energy, guided by their
known common sense, to make Virginia,
| not only the ssMothcr of States" but the
| State of the Continent. They must no
longer force their sons to seek, in new and
hostile States, the position their talents
and energies justify them in claiming at
home. They must divide up their farms
before a "But.ler" or "Stevens" does
it for them. As the 'sboy" becomes OF
age give them hundred or two hundred
acres on the "old place.; build him a
house, stock the farm and help him along.
This 'sboy," may have led men during the
war and hates to be living on the sold
man." or working on "board wages" He
wants little place and wife of his own ;
he wishes to be Independent and rely on
himself Ifyou start him, hewill soon show
that slittle farm well titled" for ones
self, can be made as profitable as the whole
place, under present management, He
will be good citizen, worker, and a COM
fort to you in your old age-and he will
build up our old State, instead of the Great
West
And don't stop with providing for your
own s'boys." Look around in the towns
and villages, and on other farms. You
will find honest, Industrious, but poor,
young men, marked all over with noble
scars, RECEIVED in defence Of your big land
ed possessions others with a wife and lit
tie ones, living from hand to mouth, on the
meagre and uncertain wages Of trade
Take them by the hand, sell them little
place at low rates and on ample time
Give them the aid of your credit and ad-
vice. and in few years they will work you
out of your troubles, increase the value of
your still large estates, and form the most
intelligent and prosperous body ofsmall far
mers the world ever saw. This requires
cxertion, and a seeming expense, on part Of
land owners now, but the consciousness Of
duties well done and the actual enhance
ment of the value of what remains, will
more than repay you for all you do. Don't
say "you can't don'tlook over your thou
sand acres and sel6shly hug to your heart
the delusion that you are "a wealthy man.
and must keep up big show, but learn
wisdom from your empty pockets, and be
men worthy Of Virginia's past renown and
her mighty future.
We have, more than once, spoken ear
nestly about the causes that led to the
war, and the triumph of the Northern or
free labor idea, over the Southern system.
That system had much influence in for
cling our young men to leave home, but it
is crushed out, forever, and we must adapt
ourselves to ssthe situation" as it stands
now. 'Free labor" fought for this mag
efficient country and it is coming to settle
here, and that sooner than We expect. The
petty political troubles and excitement, of
to-day, will soon be over and, then, such
tide of immigration as will ponr into the
South was never before seen in the world
We look upon it as certain and hail its
coming joyfully, for it will adapt itself to
our social life, and settle the negro ques-
ton, while the efervesciug froth, at
Washington, is bubbling over it. Every
indication North, and in Europe, goes to
prove what we say They are coming to
make their homes here Denocrat, Radi-
cal. Yankee Soldier. German. Irish, all,