Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-01-28
EOrfOIk. Vu,

lCoTtespondence Of tho Alexandria Gazette
llEWLErr's. Jan. 27.-Virsioia cYsrts o
strangely wonderful Influence over ell her chill.
drcD. There is not loot of her soil on which
one OF them can stand. whore no does not feel
that it Is his-bis Own dear pasivo laod. lie
points proudly to hor mountains and vallira, her
rivers and buys. her forests end fluids. her cities
an! villas. and cxultiog'y exclGims, "Al those
aro m} country Tho name, tho soil, tho
m ountalus. tho plains, tho rivers, tho climate,
orsoMcthlng. cx:Tts CO &c Ithoic icluonco over
tho MID CT her soma. which causes them to
rejolc, 10 her prosperity, ard gticvo over hor
mlsfortuncs. 1t is like uato tho 1.-Two OF "a loving
child Tor iond pHIcIt-it grows deeper and
stronger with age and misfortune. Tho sacrot
OF it all may DC tho noble and exalted character
OF her matrons. who hsvo been Oaskelcd within
her bosom, from whom sprsug such levels o.
Washir e ton, Lc', Henry, Jackson, Jefferson.
Mason, Stuart aud thousand moro Of resplsn.
daut lghtuoss, who adoIn Virgnias brow
aud el1op 10 hor var Scared bosom. Unroll
Tho scroll of history from tho earliest aga 10 tho
present time nnd no land or c)untry, no milton
or cmplro, can produce such galaxy uf war
riors, oratols. statesmen, iuliSts and patriots 10
any hundred years OF its history as virginia
has 10 tho last ono hundred years.
Wearlod ond worn as cho has boon fJr two
decades -mang!ed and torn, abused and wronE.
cd, thoro IL rising spirit of vitality manifest
Ing itself hero and thcro in her borders which
prcsagos grand and glorious future. Lot Us
mount tho tide as it fl)Rs, and ridu on to 70.
noWcd famo and fortune.
As stood unon Tho Point" the western
terminus of Main street, in Norfolk, short
limo sgo, watching the SUD IS it seemed TO bo
gently descending into tho placid waters of tho
Elizabeth, bohcld o sight sufficient 10 rayish
with delight every trus VirRioan' heart. AS
far as tho oyo could reach l saw forest of
mss s. sails, steamers. chips, sohooncrs barks,
sloops, bargcs, briggs and boats-somo lying
lazlly at case, some passing 10 ono and somo 10
another direction. Whlo ever and anon somo
noble steamers oamo booming up to tho wharf,
heradCd by the startling notes Ct cannon.
Thoro wore long ships and short ships, big
ships and little ships, high ships and low ships,
pretty ships and ugly ships, fast ships and SOW
ships, sail ships nnd steam ships, foreign ships
and homo ships, ell c)mipg and going. to bring
and bear the increasing treasures of tho sccoud
cotton mart Of America, and, probably, the
third OF tho wolld-Firgioia' city by tho SOC
Norfolk.
. Ga either sdo Of mo, AID but few yards
distant, would be hoard tho terrific Kissing of
tho throo busy cotton prots,s. from oach ono of
which dropped compressed bale every three
tourths OF minute Around me on all tho
streets lois. warehouses, wharves, &C., wero
piled thousands of bales OF cotton. Busy hands
Wcro heaVing thu heavy buttbcus into the wait
Ing ships, and oil was life. animation, cxctc-
mont nDd hustle. With system aud order SUI
preme. Ever aud lnon The shrill voice Ct tho
ste7odofe could DO heard Us he urged on the
sons OF toll, while the briny sweat was covering
their black and brawny faces.
Whilst gazing, in wrapt contemplation UPON
this busy and transporting sconc, little Bob
Williamson. whom had never seen, nor heard
OF, sprlghtly and enthusiastic youth, and
great admirer of Gen. Malone, whom, he
thought, gave Inspiration to al this mighty
rash Of business, approached and accosted mo
10 tones and manners gentle and polite. This,
ho said. is tho Boston whsrf. that is RoYnoli's'
that ship is from Maine, that from New York
that from Boston, that fr5m Cuba, that from
Liverpool, That is coaster, that is river
craft. This wharf is too email. Billy Mahone
is building, up yonder, from tho Berkeley to