Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-07


yond compare; and, if the happy in6uapea
OF climate and soil can contribute 10 mars
elevation, socially, morally and inteIleefu-
ally, We have reason TO hope for a devolor.-
ment here, that wiz surpass that Hitherto
known to any climate or country ,svilanc-
ing our Indebtedness TO that Great FafIer
whose power and goodness i alike sboUT1
in the mystery of the growth Of the plant
in its conversion to energy in man. and i3
the adaptation of our climate to his won
derful development.
The recent change In the system OF labor
in our devoted and unfortunate South-re-
sulting from long train of political events.
eliminating in civil strife-which would be
out of taste to criticise ON an occasion like
this, has had much effect, and may have
more in contributing to the dignity OF labor.
1t Is as gratifying as it is worthy of COM
ment, to see people who had been aecuS-
toned to the ease and luxury coneomitant
with wealth and station, and used 10 con
troll labor as property, when deprived of il
by the force of arms exerted through the
strength of numbers, turn with grace and
dignity to their fields as though it had ever
been their daily vocation. 1t might per-
haps, have been expected, that man, in the
strength Of his nature, could Withstand the
shock Of sudden misfortune, and with true
philosophy, turn into his field and make il
smile with the fruit of his own labor. But
the chief sufferers are the delicate and de-
voted women of our eontry-women, who
were raised in the lap of luxury-unaccus-
toned to labor-refined, cultivated, sensitive
and sympathetic. Woman has been swept
by the tide Of misfortune, from her throne
OF domestic retirement and authority, into
the eddies of toll and trade, to which she is
unused. 1t is for her, that the heart yearns
in warmest sympathy, as we look over the
field Of desolation. Yet, how refreshing to
the patriot-philosOpher Of the times, 10 see
with what christian fortitude and native
dignity, she bears il, as she accepts the
loom and distaff for her portion Of the mis-
fortunes Of her country. 1t is her native
grace, her modest worth, her refined culture
that imparts dignity TO labor not before
felt and understood. As she now appears,
in our sorrowStricken South, she is as the
diamond, crushed and ground to powder by
the mills Of the gods--with its particles
scattered and glistening in the dust Of mis-
fortune-but when, in after times, the Uliad
OF our woes is sung by the historic muse
these scattered and glistening particles viii
be gathered and cemented into the bright,
representations OF the true herOines Of the I
"LOst Cause" As the flower, plueked
from the garden, is more redOlent Of It's
virtues when bruised, so win she, for being
thus rudely bruised, give sweeter incense
TO our alter of sacrifice, and impart richer
aroma 10 the page of our history. The
mothers and wives; the sisters and daugh-
tiers Of the South, have shown patriotism
and devotion in our late struggle, which
not only challenges the highest admiration, |
but is equaled alone by the philosophy with 7
which she meets her fate. IN this, her ex-
ample amounts TO christian virtue, worthy !
alike of being praised and followed.
Then, my felloW-citizens of the sterner J
sex, should we not take heart, and profit /
by her example? BEST with a soil at once
fertile, easily cultivated, and adaptable alike (
TO the cerials, 10 cotton, tobacco, and all I
for man. A soil, filed in its ma 4
tive state, with forests that rival, in all that I
IS grand, useful and beautiful, the iame.I I
Ardennes, before the rude hand Of war had !
marred its symmetry. See but its surface, I
as ii stretches out in graceful undulations
Of bill and dale, with the veins Of LIQUID
silver coursing natural channels, ready alike /
10 Slake the thirst Of toiling man. or turn I
the wheels Of mill and factory, until, gath /
ering in sufficient volume, il invites the \
lazy barge 10 float, and stirring steamer, to
ply its wheels along its bosom, freighted /
with the wealth of teeming land, and /
noisy with the life OF commercial trade. !
Situated near the centre of the Temperate !
Zone, We have climate that not only COLI :
tributes most to the development and eleva- I
lion OF our race, but is the most ENJOYABLE
on earth. We have the proper proportions
1t sunshine and rain, and are, comparative
y, free from the earthquakes and storms Of !
he Tropics. Populated by An industrious.
thrifty AMI enterprising race-as valiant in /
war as il is gentle in peace-with govern |
ment that guarantees freedom of speech; I
with no prescribed faith as a test Of political /
or religious liberty ami with educational adj
opening up 20 the rising genera
ton, for future usefulness and glory. Al /
ready, with comparatively sparse popula- /
ion, the church and the school. are seen a. /
Iule-marks along our progressive high I
Nays, and on each, tinger-bOari pointing
he way to great temporal, as well as.
.ternal hereafter.
May then, our young men-the hope and
tag Of this wonderful counfry-strive for
agricultural developments, as the chief
OuTce Of individual and national wealth
md glory and may they learn that the
unshine Of the fields hath more Of health
md JOY than the city's fascinating glare
hist the blue sky is but the Temples arch,
With earth and air as trancepi-and our
asst forests but the clustered statuary Of
latuTe's sacred characters, whose vernal
rapery annually springs from the tomb of
winter as type of the resurrection and
ne life while the 4" music of the spheres
) but the refrain Of her grand old choir that
himed in symphony, when 'the morning
tars together sang the anthem Of the
leSsed. Nay they realize that the field is
ature'S true altar, they its officiating
RESTS, and the fruit they grow the aecepta-
lie offering.
Who can set limits 10 the destiny Of this !
Mississippi Bottom" with its boundless
Of material wealth, when its pop
lation equals that Of the present United
tates? With all modern implements and
cientific appliances in full play upon her
OsOn, will We not lift, as it were, the vail
f Isis, ever iInpenetrable t0the inhabitants
f the Valley Of the Nile? The sun. in his
ally course, from his morning greeting 10
is sweet goodnight, looks not upon land
D best. And as he wheels his burning ear
trough winter solstice and summers YER
al path, be smiles on none so sweetly as
Il his tOiling "partner the plowman-
who DiOdS his weary W3V"