The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-02-05

Havo tAc ulSciHuluVtVHi ptfHuy, If1ud, ana CT
I convention, infraetiOns Of constitutional law r.
sumptions in the hour of strength of concede
) rights made with a conquered party in the hou
of its weakness and violations of faith plighte
to its own citizens. 1t assumes therefore that il
members are amcnabe to the moral code, in thei
individual but not in their collective capacity
! which involves an absurdity as great as ths
would be-were We to assert Of gravitation, tbs
tits true of atoms, but its principles are not az
i plicableto worlds. 1t is a work Of supereoga
tisn to dwell, my friends, upon doctrine as de
moralizing in its tendency as it is defective an
illogical in theory. 1t is in part to the applica
ton Of this obnoxious principle that we are in
debted to the prevalence of injustice and oppres
sion, and the attendant evils with which we ar
/ now afflicted, as people. Under its perniciou
influences, earth has been converted into on
great slaughter house and man debased at ono
into Tyrant, Execntioner aud Victim
Our national calamity, therefore, must and vii
learn us to appreciate the intrinsic and eterna
beauty of virtue and moral rectitude in government
as well as individuals, its laws possess the sam
Conference, and consistency which exists in thos
that regulate the material universe And yet
| while discord is prime agent in the affairs o.
human government, the starry worlds still re
volve tremendously in their orbits, Ginning tn,
/ praises, and vindicating the wisdom Of their Al
mighty architect. 1t is true these glorious arbs
| Afc ludulMatc, lT6e uReHCy previous &tCflpute
and chief distinction OF man is withheld from
them, and that they, from necessity, conform te
the original laws Of their creator. But let uf
suppose for example that they are suddenly en-
dQwed with consciousness and with Falltlon, that
availing themselves of their novel privilege they
shoot madly from their spheres, and range at
will through the illimitable space of ether-what
confusion would presently ensue; what jostling
of planet against planet; what infringing Of sun
into
tenn; what war of elements, what wreck of mat
ter, and what a crush Of worlds! Chaos indeed
would have come again, and the plastic hand of
the Almighty would be required to remould them
into form-to place them in their original and ap-
propriate position, to re-attune the broken har-
mony, and to strike again, the lost music Of the
spheres. Such is the order which exists among
the Heavenly bodies, and such the ruin which
would be produced by departure from the es-
sential condition of their existence Striking
examples; but alas too true of the actual con-
dition and relations which now exists, between
the eentripital and centrifugal forces which snce
controlled glorious and grand confederacy of
co-equal and independent Sovereign States. III
recognizing some Of the important results of ma
tiOnal adversely, which may seem marvellous at
the first blush yet there is nothing in them pecu-
liar or strange! They are governed by the same
laws, bearing direct analogy on many others.
Pursuing train of thought suggested by our
subject, we may add that our own country, per-
haps, which had reached the very highest grade Of
prosperity, is now under the operation OF Divine
Providence, suffering the amputation of its morbid
excrescences for the salvation Of its health, and
its national existence. For the waters of the
swollen stream are turbid; but if diminished,
they become pure and pellucid The excisien Of
redundant limbs sna their branches, may, for
time, the beauty of the tree, yet it will give
strength, yigor, and beauty to the remaining
houghs, and SO of other exhibitions-profusely
scattered throughout the kingdom of nature, and
known and read by all men. 1t is true or coun-
try has lost millions Of it's wealth and much Of
its alluring splendor, but trust it will save and
preserve its dignity, its morals and its vrtue Many
who made haste to be rich over the blood and suf-
ferings Of their country during our late struggle
may become poor, property may be reduced to
fair estimate, and many things which we think
Of vast Importance, may be swept away, but let
them all co. so integrity, virtue and industry
prevail and all that is inestimahle in our favored
and lovely country, survive the wreck; we shall
emerge like silver and gold when tried in the
fiery furnace; or like the rocks Embedded in our
native hills and mountains, purified by fire and So
idgiea by pressure. 1t is encouraging to know
that there are many things, even amid our adyer
sity people, which are operating with great
power on the social and individual happiness of
man. We live in the midst of an age which may
,r5;cb - o,nin H. nro,.r,ss;uo TTn5ar;
danca tba br;lliant acb;evments in nemonstra5;ve
Science II ;nduct;va nh;losonbv and i Tho
6na arts ore aa;iv a5din. - M csmfarts and
working imnortant changes in every condition Of
soc;atv And M yvbara E; ]. !, o,e oy s,;c,,o,1 J,e-
plovei than in the yariad branches If Medical
Sc;rn.s In Surgery in phvs;oloou Tho ftrue
basis of rational medic;nal in Hvr;ene which in
the treatment If disease 8as become one If tho
Great medical facts If tho ,lav, hssdss ito hana-
fSc;ol efracts IN tbe nh;losonLv ~ food and tho
laws FIR tho nrasarva fI If heath
Tn Rotanv and Zoologv nv which n,onts and
animals. both aonatic md terrene isre named and
| classified their structures dajinaafad their bah
IT'S described and their nronert;es and uses made
known IN chemistry which il dailv conduc;nc
| az mncb 10 the bealth md oomfort of man decom
poa;ny the forms and disemhodvino the essences
| Of things recomhinino them in different nronor
tions thereby nrodnc;nc ras,lts- tho most mil
liant and usefi,, Tn thesfna arta foo d. wa see
# mov;nr steadily onward and IT, nlast;o mowers
orc No xr5ars M ye consn;cuonslv disnlaved than
u no so;sacs IF lh,s;c rbich draws fortb and an-
nronriatas Tx harmonu If nature. fx;nc and
cbar.ctsr;,;nr ito volatile ond avonascent nroner
ties, associating them in their varied, new and ex
quisite combinations, which takes the ssprisoned
soul and laps it in elysium."
| We SEQ it moulding, with increasing perfection,
the lifeless nexpressible marble, with its soldty
and ragged excresoences, and polished life.like in
to almost breathing forms. We see it guiding the
pencil of the painter in producing the grandest