Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-10-26
Correspondence OF Spirit of Jefferson
LETTER FROM STANTON.
October Is. 1869.

emigrarts to the colony of West Virginia"
might at times be visited by twinges of con-
science at your desertion of the mother State,
which would still excite an occasional interest
in her fortunes. And to show you that the
generous heart of the Old Dominion has not
been weakened by your detection, she sends
you kindly greeting as to truant children, for
whom she has in readiness good cheer and
robes of honor, when you tire of the husks
vouchsafed you by "the citizens of that
country"
Let me speak for the good people-of Au-
gusta and say that they hope ere long for the
resumption of our legitimate civil relations,
and for the completion of connecting lines of
railway, which shall unite us as we should be
in sympathy and interest and social inter-
course. And meanwhile, let US have an oc-
casional chat with that champion knight of
the quill, who is ever foremost in the cause of
progress, and always ready for charge upon
the political vermin infesting now the old
county of Jefferson.
Well, the Upper Valley still fourishes,
spite of the drought and Gen. Candy. The
hardy Scotch Irish above us are used to per-
secutions, and the Dutch below are constitu-
tionally phlegmatc. and the soil Of the Valley
is generous still We have never been de-
pendent on the institution of slavery. The
negro will never WELD local influence among
our people. and the better class of lower Vir-
ginians, seeking refuge from their depreda-
tions and their insolcnce, will be welcomed
hither. Our farms cotimand such prices as
they brought before the war, while in the vi
cinity of Richmond first class lands are in the
market for a mere song Science is begin
ming to control our agriculture. Our minerals
are attracting attention, and Investments, from
l. H., a., a. =
Chesapeake & Ohio railroad, the great con-
Meeting link of trade and travel between the
oceans, will in a few weeks pass into hands
of men with the energy and the capital TO
push it to completion. Our Valley Railroad
chartered from II attisohburg to Salem, with
such a man as Mathew T. Maury to head the
enterprise, will soon be thing accomplished.
Your extension of the Maryland route rests
with yourselves, for the people of the Luray
Valley are in live earnest, and the upper cOun-
tics need only little delicate manipulation
of the pocket nerve.
In fact, nothing save the uncertainties of
orr civil status, while under the ban of
Radical Congress has retarded SO long our
public improvements and individual cnter-
prise We are now reviving somewhat from
that paralysis.
In politics, at present, we are eminently
Observation-Disclosures accommodating -faV>
ing experience of a neither milestone which
YOU have escaped as yet The only staunch
State Rights Democrat 1 have met of late,
was an old line Wing from Chicago, who
swore that he would never yield to the I'm
political weapons at the Appomattox of last
March, and have our coats off and sleeves
rolled up now for " development of material
interest" We ignore your State motto for
the present, and affect that of your neighbor,
Maryland True, our Virginia physic was
nauseous dose, but We trust in time it may
purge the whole body polite. And if ever
the reaction comes, for which we wait, we
mean to have a different class of men at the
head of our State government from that OF
former days-livc men, not icthyolites of the
cold Red SandstOhe.','.
But enough of a distasteful subject Let
us talk instead of an enterprise which has
awakened great interest in this community,
and Which yours, think, would do well to
initiate. l aludo to our County Fair, the
second annual celebration OF which, just con-
cluded, has proven complete success. 1t
was inauguratcd in 1868, by one of our towns
men. whose public spirit does him no less
credit than his legal arguments Seconded
in his views by few of the liberal-minded,
officials chosen and a natural amphitheatre
of some ten acres of ground selected near the
town. which would seem to have been devised
by Providence for the site of County Fair.
Last year there was only gate and shanty
and a good advertise ment to start with The
proceeds of the first admission fees, with the
small quota paid up by corporators have since
enabled them to enlist an accomplished archl-
tect. to erect capacious rotunda, and several
smaller cdifces, to complete the trottlng
course construct carriage ways, and adorn
the grounds in true artistic style. 1t 10 now
our " City Park" and very popular among
the Young people for evening drives and moon
light stroliing The object is to make the
exhibitions as general as possible, and the
competition for premiums is open to all corners
At this, the second Fair, the display of agri>
cultural products and machinery, and OF the
mechanic arts generally, surpassed anything
have seen at the Western Fairs, and the
blooded horses and cattle from this and ad-
! Joining counties far exceeded my expectations.
But the best part of the show was the people
and one of the best features Of these gather
ihgs perhaps is the interchange OF ideas and
experience which they promote. On the End
day we had several impromptu speeches one
from Col Randolph, of Albemarlc, who, after
| some pleasing "reminiscences of the olden time,
gave some excellent modern advice on ma
nures Another from Mr.. Mines, our Con-
gresham elect. who advocated the develop
ment of our mineral resources: and argued for
the construction of railroads. And another,
/ from Mr.. Stuart, who predicted our speedy
restoration to citizenship, termination Of
the apparent conflict between labor and capt.
tai, and mighty revival of our industrial in
tercss. We heard also an address from Pro
fessor Mallet, of the University of Virginia
upon the mutual relations Of science and prac
teal agriculture.
The number assembled on yesterday was
] znrinnslv estimated at from seven to ten thou