The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-06-26
urge upon you the Importance Of de-

yOuA SeseD 90 "h os,'ohsiht oAOitVtt Va
strength and happiness, 'The fines
have fallen to you in o pleasant
place, and you have goodlys heri-
tage." On no spot of equal size on
this earth can be found greater ma
tural advantages than are presented
by Virginia. With climate of un-
surpassed salubrity-with d soil teem-
ing with fertility-with an inexhaust-
ible supply of mineral wealth-with
medicinal springs whose sparkling
waters almost rival those of that ia
bled fountain whose taste conferred
immortal youth--with great rivers
upon whose bosom the nayies of the
world might float, and whose waters
could drive all the machinery, on the
globe-with allthe choicest blessings
that Heaven ibestows ION Its most fa..
yored climes, 3 it needs but your
earnest efforts to make this the rich
est and most prosperous land the SUN
ever shone upon. 1t istrne, that the
resources of Your State ARC limited at
present, and that its whole system of
labor has been overturned;l but, un-
der the smiles Of O benefcent, Provi-
dence, you can yet. by energy, per.
severance and sturdy toll, wake from
your smouldering ruins, & your de-
serted fields, your PROSTATE ooE.
merce, all these potent elements
which make e people prosperoGs,1
powerful and free. Shrink not from,
honest toll, from .Tauys mistaken
notion that labor is is q deg iadiiiug; seek
employment in the, useful depart
ments of commerce, sofa mechanics,
of agriculture. Garry, to these avo-
cations not only strong, arms and
willing hearts, but skilled, labor,
trained intellect, incorruptible hon.
esty, indomitable purpose, and you
will dignity your calling, however
humble, while you elevate the honest
labor by which You live. Let me not
be understood as disparaging the
learned professions, for such is not
my intention, but I wish to teach our
young men that these do not open
the only roads to usefulness, to sue
cess, or even to fame. 1 wish to i'm
press on them that labor is not only
essential, but honorable. Nay more,
it is, in the present condition of the
country, a necessity; and to render
it profitable, you must bring to it all
the appliances of skill, of education,
of science. Bring these powerful
agents to bear, and commerce will
lay her rich stores at your feet-the
iron horse will traverse every smiling
valley, and penetrate every rugged
mountainAthe earth will yield up
her hidden and countless treasures
your streams will drive the spindle
and the loom, and agriculture will
make your whole land ''to blossom
like the rose." Above all, you will
have, throughout the broad limits of
this fair land of yours, race of
sturdy, self-reliant, independent
men-men like those who made Vir-
ginia-men like those who, as the
Greek poet tells us, in his glowing
verse, 80 nobly paraphrased in our
language, make State:
"What constitutes o State?
Not high-raised battlement or labored
mound,
Thick wall, or moated gate;
Not cities fair, with spires and turrets
crowned.
No; nen-high- minded men
Men who their duties know
Know, too, their rights, and, knowing,
dare maintain,
Prevent the long-aimed blow,
And crush the tyrant while they rend
the chain"
Such were your ancestors. Such
must you be, unless you are degene-
rate sons of heroic sires. With such
incentives to noble action as are given
by the grand record of your State in
the past, and her sore need at pre-
sent, can you prove recreant to the
patriotic blood that warns your
hearts, un worthy of your glorious
birth-right, untrue to yourselves,
false to your State :?
read your answer in your glowing
checks, and in your kindling eyes,
and know only that you are the sons
of the Mother of States and states.
men" L cannot doubt that the
honor of your State will be safe in
your hands. The object of the coun-
sci 1 have offered to you, my young
friends, has been but poorly accom-.
plished, if I have failed to impress
upon you the great truths which
inculcate that the only safe and sure
guide through life is to be found in q
conscientious and enlightened sense
Of duty. The motto Of the great