The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-12


K Virginia Military Institute Mess Hall
tsAnniuersary Dinner Is Judge Shctey
ga Legal Judge?
ssS LEXINGTON, November 2, 1868.
send you few of the awards OF pre-,
miums ut our Fair which were overlooked
IN nv last: W. A. Ruff. best eve and
lambs: F.. S. Tutwiler, best buck ana
lambs. ". A. Ruff, best pen of fat sheep ;
So. Tntwiler, best buck, long wool; W.
a. Rnf. second best buck, long wool; Co
lionel LADY. best eve VIM. A. Ruff, best
ren of three ewes Colonel Lady, best pen
Of three lambs Mrs. P. Wallace, best fine
leans: Charlottesville factory, best negro
leans and best fulled cloth Miss Elite
Paxton, best colored linsey r. Mcdowell,
best plaid linsey Rockbridge factory, best
blankets; Miss Sally Paxton, best coverlet ;
Miss Sally Mckee, best woollen half hose.
I have not, of course, trespassed upon
your space to give al Of the premiums, or
oil of the honorable mentions" but our
town paper this week will contain full
official list, which any of your readers can
get if they desire it.
send you pretty full synopsis of Major
Dorman's railroad speech. By the way, In
the discussion of the railroad, the position
was generally taken by the speakers that
we want the railroad to put us in easier
communication with Richmond.
Major Dorman spoke, in substance, as
follows:
1t was much to be regretted that the au-
dience were deprived of the presence Of
the distinguished gentleman Colonel Bald
win) who was expected to address them to-
day. No one could regret his absence more
than the speaker, since his place would be
very imperfectly filed, and the importance
of the subject to be discussed could not be
overrated. He was glad that the duty
thus thrown on himself was divided with
others, and he would speak briefly and in
general terms, leaving details to his asso-
ciates. He might be excused for lingering
single moment upon the pleasant scene
spread before him, and for Offering congra-
tulations upon the gratifying character Of
the agricultural exhibition. Looking around
upon the fair prospect of hill and dale, OF
forest and meadow, of fields smiling with
plenty and already clothed in the green
harbingcr of another fruitful year, upon
the grand amphitheatre of the great Valley
bounded around
BY peaks aspiring bold.
Like giants capped with helms Of FURNISHED gold
the heart was ready to swell with gratitude
and the lips to exclaim this is indeed s
goodly heritage. And in viewing the vas
concourse, the pleasant and happy faces, thu
grace and beauty there assembled, one wal
prepared to cay, 'Surely the people arr
worthy Of such home" We're they 81
indeed Would they prove it That was
soon to be docided-whether this lovely and
bounteous nature was possessed by those
who could appreciate its excellence and turn
it to the best account. This fair heritage
was not given for merely selfish use and
purposes. 1t was high duty to Improve
this land to the fullest extent for themselves
and for others-for those here now and
those to come after. 1t was their duty and
interest to make themselves Str0nq, not only
for comfort, but protection. The great want
was railroad binding them to the heart of
the whole country. The time for local ieal-
ousies and rivalries was past. No other and
imaginary adverse interest dare now lift a
voice to impede the prosperity of the centre
of the Valley. For the sake of all Virginia
rs well as their own, they should become as
populous and powerful as possible. Look
abroad at the progress everywhere. Steam
penetrates the world. Railroads were north,
south, east, and west of them. The des
tiny Of Virginia was grand. In the near
future could be seen steam lines from
Norfolk and the York river to England,
Holland, and France; railroads to the
Pacific, and steam to China and Japan
the Chesapeake and Ohio road to the great
Mississippi Valley, and connecting with lines
to San Francisco; the Virginia and Tonnes
see road to Memphis and San Diego, the
James River and Kanawha Water Line-the
conception of Washington, and endorsed by
Marshall and the greatest minds Of Virgil
nia-would be made, and Rockbridge would
be passed on either hand by the great COM
mercial arteries of this continent and of the
globe. With the whirr of progress, tie
mighty hum Of active millions in either
ear, would they continue to crawl in the
mudl Shame upon them were it SO He
could imagine county-man visiting Eu-
rope, and, being questioned as to whence he
came, would reply, with pride, from Lex
1ngton, famous for all time for the grave in
your churchyard and the home on yonder
MIL when some cosmopolitan traveller
would mildly observe that it was we'll
known In oil lands as the only place known
10 lame lett In the universe to get to, and
from which you have to aoade in and aoade
out. Let this be corrected. In this criti-
cal time of all others men and money
were wanted and interests in common with
powerful neighbors. Add 5000 industrious
men of their own race to their present popu-
lation, and they could look calmly at any
social dangers that now seemed to threaten
them. Commodore Maury has recently
calculated that one good immigrant is the
money value equal to at least one of the
slaves that have been lost. Make the rail
roads, and the immigrants would come.
Italy supports one inhabitant to every two
acres Of land-here there is not one to
twenty-five acres. Make the railroad, and
their lands would be doubled in value.
A farmer could then sell half have as
valuable land as before, with large cash
capital in his pocket. The increase of
production would be immense. 1t had
already commenced with the necessi-
ties of the times, and its future extern
sion could hardly be calculated. Rock
bridge had taken premiums for wine,
brandy, and bulls at the Augusta Fair, and
there was no reason why the catalogue
should not be greatly enlarged. They had
lime, cement, marble, iron, manganese, por-
Seiain clay, hay, grain, cattle, horses, fruits,
liquors, manufactures, and their water