The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-03-04
Southern Prosperity.

The Washington Evsning Express says:
Our readers have doubtless heard of the
statement made by Ex-Governor Wise, Of
Virginia, with reference to the increased pros
sperity of the Southern States That distin-
guished gentleman speaks for large and
growing class Of our Southern fellow citizens
We congratulate him on the facts which war
rant their position.
The South has facilities of the very rarest
and choicest character. The great and rich
Northwest contains many verdant prairies,
many strudy forests, many mountains tcem-
ing with precious ores but it has its deserts
and its frosts, its volcanic ranges of barren
cliffs, its boulder coated soil with which it must
ever contend. As whole, the South has more
cultivatable area than the North, ann it only
remains for her rightly to improve. We
speak to her as her friends; we appeal to her
by her ancient love of Democracy; we recog
nize her power, and rejoice in her welfare.
/ In ancient times the best evidence of ma
tlonal prosperity Was found on the banks of
the streams Of the south. The greatest and
most productive waters of the earth were
found in southern ATTITUDES. The Mississippi
does not rise to the measure of its greatness
until it passes the gates which open up its
southern courses. The little streamlet that
ripples forth from the retired shores of the
small Lake Itasca swells on it's march to the
south until, from brook twelve feet
wide and eleven inches deep, it broadens to
an inland sea Of four miles, in width at
the levees of the Crescent City, and
deepens to the soundiugs of fifty fathoms-
Such is the fitting emblem of the growing
prosperity of the South That single river
covers in its onward southern flow nayiga-
BILE water area Of seven thousand seven hun
dred and seventy-six miles What foun-
tain of wealth for the industry and skill, the
union and patriotism, Of the southern part of
our Republic. a..
Ii We come along the Atlantic shore of the
South, from the Belize and Delta Of the Mis-
sissippi to the splendid harbor of Norfolk, we
see one continuous chain of maritime advan-
tages. There is no bay in this country ia all
respects equal to that of Hampton Roads
! There is no inlet from and no outlet to the
sea in America that is fully its equal. The
point at Fortress Monroe, the highlands Of
Newport News, the beach at Hampton, aud
the cove at Norfolk, are, without exception.
among the best 10 the world for commercial
enterprises. They touch the liues of naviga-
ton that lead to Europe, and those of inland
travel and transportation over fruitful inte-
rlor, almost without parallel.
In the comparatively remote North and
upper west there are SHOWS to imp ede rail-
waya, and ice in the harbors to obstruct the
steamships, while hero at the shores of our
Southern borders the navigation is always
open, and the country is all clear of the
dominion of the frost king from sea to sea.
What an area for the strong hands and
plaVe aearts OF the gallant South to labor
and to succeed! r.-s
The South has coal, iron, silver, and gold
grains, fruits, and vegetables, timber, mar.
BILE, rice, sugar-canc, and cotton, beyond
any other similar extent Of country on the
surface Of the globe. All the elements of
permanent prosperity are in her own hands.
She may and will De her own mistress. By
union, industry, frugality,, economy, and
prudence, she may acquire and hold what
she will. The music of the water wheel
and the hum of the spinning jennyiare wait
ing to be wakened in her broad lands. Her
rivers call to her from all their banks, her
hlllsides and valleys from all their forests
and their soils, that the real blessings of
the American Union may be hers forever.