The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-02
Tho New Year-Richmond.


The New Year-Richmono'
Today IL the first business Gay OF tt1e
Va we have hidden adien TO the
OH left e behind, and taken our departure
,,non the new way Of the year to come.
Let us consider the situation, see what may
DC done to improve it, and endeavor' as
far az we can. 10 free ourselves from ever!
feeling Of depression from events Oh "a.
past-recollec:ing only what is agreeao'e'
and disppissing from our minds as wen 10
we.may all that is disagreeable to memory,
and proceed upon our way with cneeliu'
hearts and buoyant hopes. :.
We have had series Of lnissortunes ia
the last fifteen years that were enough ~
have Frustrated to the earth beyond tne
hope of recovery q people OF fair enoo"'
ments In the virtues Of courage ana 'o
titude. When we see how our c','Zens
have borne these great calanities' anu w"
they have struggled and fr'uupueu Wv.
them, ours should be amongst .ne n ~,
assured and confident oil communities. Ahe
world has been amazed at the succession OF
terrific events which have fallen upon US,
until it has become common to call Rich
nona "the beautiful but devoted CITY,"
The world has been prompt, however, to
award to the people the honors due them
for their faith in mistortune-their con-
stancy in the hour of calamity. If such
virtues are displayed by them in such ex-
igencies, what may they not achieve under
favor Of good fortune, good seasons, relief
from calamity, and aided by the artificial
and natural advantages they enjoy?
No adversely, however terrible, has yet
caused this people to quail or to despair.
They have never lost confidence in just
Providence, or in their own spirit and ply
hcal energy. All their calamities are ascriba-
bic to natural causes. They are not in
Inundated by superstition; but, triply armed
in an enlightened faith in supernal justice
and their own manhood, they are ready
still to stand up resolutely against casualty
and disaster, and prove both their courage
and piety by trusting to the benefcence OF
Providence and the faithful performance Of
their duties.
Adversely Is alike the nurse OF virtue and
the mother Of independence. Never were
people better schooled for the practice OF
the nobler virtues, and especially for that
of selfrehance. Reasonably, we may trust
that their education In these virtues being
complete, they may now be spared further
teaching in the way of misfortune, and that
the noble qualities with which calamity has
endowed them may now be employed in
the grand work Of recuperation the in
crease Of the wealth and power Of the State
and city the improvement of industry and
art the expansion Of commerce, and the
development and employment of the natu
raj resources of the land.
With NIL her sad disasters, what do We
see in this city y-topographically one o
the most beautiful in the lard. Her bright
river joyously winding along her shores
and playing with the graceful islets which
deck her bosom. Beautiful as laughin!
waters and gay shores and islands can make
her. that noble river possesses power ant
multiplicity Of benefits which entitle her
In q practical sense, almost to ldolzatlol
by this community. Supplying us with ths
best water for daily use, it gives US a mo
tive power which is destined to move nun
dreds of mills. 1t bears to our city th'
wealth of rich and extensive region, ant
Il constitutes part Of depressed route
easy grades for rail and canal, running tWC
hundred and fifty miles westward toward
the storehouse of production of the riches
region on the face Of the earth. Along tina
valley there are conduts located Zone o
which is near ccmplction) that promise t.
Inr, fluf nf
Indies. So that this fair city presents u
the world the charms of beauty and tn
solid advantages Of manufacturing poWe
and of commerce that are rarely equalled
These characteristics should strongly form.
the energy and hope Of our people, ana III
near approach Of the connection Det"ee
them and the people Of the MISSISSIPPI
Valley by the most rapid known mode
conveyance should inspire them with a.
energy andhope they have never yet known
We need rot 90 into the particulars rela
tive to the railroad revolutions we have
frequently referred to. The movements i
this direction prove TO us the importanc
of the interior and foreign commerce
Virginia, and foreshadow the activity an
thrift that will soon animate the countr
and enlarge and populate this city,
five turn to politics we are encouraged
Our Government is rescued from faithles
and mercenary adventures, and we haV
every reason to be assured that the tru
people of Virginia will retain the directlo
of their own public affairs to tho exclusio
OF ignorance, depravity, and falthessness
The people of Richmond, then, schoole
to fortitude and sell-relance-cheered b
the combination Of favorable events an
natural blessings assured by the brigl
promises ofthe early fruition OF some ofth
grandest enterprises for their advantage
may look upon the new scar with buoy
ancy Of spirit and Of hope not surpassed b
that which animstes the breasts OF the pee
pie oil any city. None have brighter iu
. ture-none more cheering prospects. Wit
these things to animate Us, let us wipe ava
y the tear at the recollection of the sad event
OF the past, and gladly welcome the new
year.
Railway from Washington to Rich
mond.
We trust we are to have the present yea
u.