The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-01-07
Farming in Virginia.
BY EX-GOVERNOR HENRY A. WISE.

/ the eXlstance OF cold IN the North and heat
in the South, lies beautiful Virginia. It is
in every respect, SO far as natural resources
are concerned, one Of the best States in the
Union. We commend to our readers the fol-
loving extracts from an address delivered by
Ex-Gov. Wise before the Virginia IIorticul-
tural and Pathological Society" excepting his
reference to so called slavery, of which he
seems TO have SIcarncl nothing nor forgotten
nothing
"With every variety Of temperature, eli
mate, soil, production, power, minerals, navi-
CATION, game and fishery, sites for residence,
sublime and beautiful scenery, and hygeian
springs, there is no people of the habitable
globe who cannot fud the choicest localities
in the limits Of Virginia, to suit their respect
i've tastes, habits and pursuits, however various
and opposite, better than anywhere else on
earth, now to be settled aud developed. These
various large, rich, grand, beautiful and
healthful scctioas, Of countless capacities and
resources, still lie waiting for skill and labor
to come and develop their inexhaustble trca-
surcs. They were scarcely touched by the
plantation system, which, with its. African
slavery, has been demolished forever. It de-
veloped nothing but its own evils, and that
they could be prevented in the future only By
civil war and its blood and crimes. IF that
be done, aud if that could only be done by
the war, and if civil liberty be net destroyed
by the victoFs Of the war, then tie war was
not in vain, was NOT 50 much a crime as might
first appear to the short sighted and to the
selfish aud It may more than compensate for
all its blood and battles, loss and COSTS If made
to cease ia all its effects, now that its main
cause has ceased and its main result has been
accomplished. IF the war can only be regard
ed as a messenger an ambassador, sent by God
to remove the evils Of African slavery from
among US, and not to scourge and harrass,
and enslayc each other, then the fear Of God
aud charity among men, aud pure and unde
filed religion, and the love Of peace, and jus
tice. and truth and the sense Of honor and the
price of patriotism, will heal the nation, I
have mistaken faith in the conviction that
this was Gods own war with evil to free US
from negro slavery, that He will not permit
it to be made the means Of enslaveiog any
portion Of the white race. and that He will
awfully seourge any who dares to press its
consequence to extremes Of oppression beyond
or beside His own providentia designs. FL
they can only be fully seen and followed, we
and our children children shall be more than
compensated NC and they shall be blessed.
The plantation system prevented in fact re-
PEELED, a dense population; it did not cncour-
age the mechanic arts. mining, manufactnr
ing ship-hnilding. and commerce. nor, indeed,
oonsort with them. The first thing to be
done by our land holders is TO give encourage
nient and premium to our own white laborers,
and our young men particularly, to turn their
attention to agriculture under system OF
small farming The young men Of the best
intelligence must devote their studies to the
applied science Of agriculture. [ had rather
plow field for myself than sweep aud dust
offices and wash spittoons for any one else
it is much more respectable, and certainly
more Independent: Tt is we'll, perhaps, that
now young men can not run to Washington Or
Richmond for Office, and that some of them
may be forced to take to the manly and dignl
fed pursuits Of agriculture. We must invite
and tempt the people of the densely populous
portions Of the United States to come to US
NO more as invading armies, pht 10 come anu
repair the devastations Of war Welcome
them to come and pitch their tents and house
hold gods in our pleasant places. If they
have conquered us by force Of numbers in
war, let US conquer them by kindness to make
US strong III numbers and in the arts Of peace
This would be a reconstruction worthy Of
great people. None Of the other avocations
Of life can prosper unless the landholaers and
cultiyators Of the soil are strengthened by
every meqns in our power. Iiio lands must
be divided Into alternate sections Of fifty or
one hundred acres. and rented or sold to Gun
ming artiGcers Of fortune. II We cannot sell
or rent, VIC must give away parts to make the
remainder worth more than the whole