The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-11-20
THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN OF VIRGIL
IA.
BIZ wILLouGHBY NEWTON, ESQ.

O! Gives, Gives qunrenda pecunia primum
Virtus post nummos-Hor.
To the Editor of the Wing:
The oentlemanly manner in which |
YOU have been pleased to remark on GER
tain supposed views of mine. calls FOR
respectful notice of the errors into when
| Won have fallen. Having arrived At tiat |
| time of life, when in the course OF La
ture, especially in the present condition
| of the country. | can have no polltical
future, am not at all sensitive as TO
what NAV be Thought or said OF my opln-
ions upon any subject. Indeed nave
at all times felt free to express them OH
all public questions, and no donot nave
sometimes lost public favor by attempt,
ING to stem the tide rather tIiah laii
quietly into the current OF popular de-
| l,isions.
I am not aware thas | have ever eX-
prcssed the opinions that you impute to
] me. have never advocated a do moth
Ing policy. either by precept or exam
ple. On the contrary. no one mas peeil
more earnest in his appeals TO the peo-
ple. bothorally and in writing, to exert
All their energies for the renovation OF
the Commonwealth. My own personal
efforts to the same end have bccn, un-
der all the difficulties Of our situation,
constant and persevering. lt Is true
that have not given in to the opinion
that the race of Virginia country gen
tlemen must become extinct by the re-
, suits OF the war, and their descendants
must abandon the country anu take re-
fuee in the cities and towns, III ofdert 10
preserve the ancient rehnem ;le ahd
a,,itiyatjon of their race. On the con-
trarv. my confident opinion is that there
;s No such necessity and IL we had been
allowed the privilege of flee govern
ment instead of being domineered over
bv military satraps, and Threatened with
negro government, the condition OF the
State would now demonstrate the sound
ness of this opinion. Nor did advocate
the policy OF giving away, or selling at
n nominal price. the only property we
have left to pay our debts, and to pro.
vide for the independent existence of
our people, that the lands might be oc-
cupicd by adventures and stral. gers, to
the exclusion of the natives of virginia.
But have said not word against I'M
migration or the sale OF our surplus
lands, hut. on the contrary, J nave ad-
vocatcd both most earnestly. ana IN tne
agricultural address. which has been the
s1biect of so much comment, at home
5, and abroad, there is not a word in oppo.
sition 70 the views now expressed. II
II is true that have artlently desired to
Vt preservc the ancient characteristics Of
the Virginia people, which have given tc
the Commonwealth a renown iinsur'
I passed, if eaualled, by the most celebra
led States of ancient or modern times
who that has a soul would not desire II
see preserved the gentleness, delicacy
q refinement, pietv aud devotion to every
D. rood work. which distinguish the wo
men o. Virginia; and that noble chiVai
rv. s.the unbought grace oflite, the cheal
defence of nations, the nurse OF mani;
sentiment and heroic enterprise. wllic
equally distinguish her gentlemen. .a tt1
IF the gentlemen of Virginia! By whic
expression we mean not excluslvei
men of wealth or high birth. as is some
, times mjurionsly imputed to us, on
- men who. whether rich or poor, are nan
tually kind. polite aud courteous 10 al
and who act on the Christian precept
doing unto others as you would hay
others do urto you. Richard Henr
y Lee was the truest type of Virgin
country gentleman, yet he gives us
one of IFS letters n striking account
:, the narrOwness of his circumstances.
How many of the noble soldiers OF u
late war, though of obscure birsh, prove
n, themselves til, bravest knights and tr'
,sh ost Uentlemenl In settled monarch
ds; thew would have earned II peerag
lgs, thonph not of high birth or rich, thu
Hl were not with antecedents. Ihey cam
- as have often heard them say, OF ne
eat families, and loved Virginia al
would fight for her to the end. TIE
and their ancestors before them. had !
criyrd then training by intercourse WI
n the enlightened men of the STATE, en-.
y, lv at the great school OF the people, q
e's' county courts, which in he rage for l
noyation must now be swept away
rive place to Yankee townships a
Councils. IL is for the preservation
this race that | plead, which has IT
nished not only the distinguished men
Virginia. but has given to other Stat
in every department. of life. the n,en u
on whose achievements rest tn
5 &c strongest claims to greatness and
nown. The mill boy OF the slashes
came not only the greatest orator a
most distinguished statesman, but
. most gallant and courteous gentlem
of his day. | have in my minds G
nj, many men who emigrated irom the
tle county of Westmoreland 0bsct
boys. and who have since filed high
m, cial and political positions III otl
ants States. aud given tone to the society
5 fol which they moved, What part oil
South and West is not occupied by '
Vinians and their descendants! A
even in the populous North, how ma
NC of the men who have given character y
'ho' dignity to the institutions OF learn
and to the professions have been natl
'cks, of Virginia? This aptitude for ira
9 on plantation seems to be peculiar cl
81 aptnrlstic of Nirrjuians, The r0ugt