Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-03-10
lCOllMCNICATED.

cause for which Lee fought and Jackson died lie,
tEe mgntnihss oil Heaven blast me, and the scorn
OF al good men and true women be my portion"
-lGen. Jubal Early before the Association of the
Maryland Line in Baltimore.l
1t has often been related that for wears
alter the grass had been growing green over
the grave OF President Jackson. certain be.
nighted voters from away down in Teunes-
see, used to come out regularly at Presi-
dental elections to vote for their beloved
"Old Hickory" as they called him, whom
they supposed was still the Presidential can
didate. The ignorance Of what was then
going on in the world as shown by those
voters, certainly has It's parallel in this
case.
1fJubal Early has not even at this late
day, perception enough to known that the
idea OF secession as promulgated over
twenty years ago, was forever adversely
decided by the results of the long and dis
asterous civil strife. which followed, and
which decision all sensible men in the
South rs we'll as in tho North have now ac-
| ceptcd in good faith, and are practically &C.
quiescing in, some of his more discreet
friends ought to enlighten him, and dissuade
lions which every now and then we hear of
his making.
1t is in no captious spirit and certainly
with no desire to provoke controversy that
make this circumstance the subject Of my
remarks. Although a northern man hv
birth and Union soldier from the begin
ming 10 the ending OF the war, and conscen-
tio,siy committed lroin first to last to the
| preservation of that beneG cent govern
ment which had been chetest concern OF
Washington. Jefferson and other wise states
men to establish, was, at the close of the
struggle, satisfied to remain within the bor-
ders OF the South and devote nv small
means and influence to the promotion Of MI
her important material interests.
With this purpose in view, have cvor
avoided the discussion Of all sectional cues
tons, whether relating to events pre-
vious to, during or since the war in any
way involving inimical prejudiccs, as INV
many Southern friends in your civ and sur
rounding neighborhoods with whom have
had business transactions can testify. | am
no carpet Dagger" tarrying here only till
The end of official probation to prey upon
the Government. have settled down per-
manently TO that employment which the
wise head OF Mount Vernon declared
TO he the most healthful, the most useful
and the most noble of all the occupations of
| men, | have been earnestly irving in these
few years to practically demonstrate the
capabilities of Virginia soil TO successfully
produce grass, corn, potatoes, pork, butter
apples, peaches, pears, grapes, strawberries
raspberrles, &c. And so far, | am free to
confess that | have had no agricultural ex-
perlences to change the favorable opinions
which first determined the choice of nv
present location.
have here to say of Virginia soil that it
is naturally good. | do not believe that any
other can be found in our whole country
which will more readily respond to we'll
adapted fertilizers, or will more bountifully
or more certainly repay proper, juGicious
cultivation. have to say of Virginia elm
ate, that it is healthfu-not too hot in sum-
lner, nor too cold in winter for wide divcrsi-
tyof agricultural productions i; and be.
ieve If there could bo an ample utilization
OF the capabilities of the great varieties of
soil throughout our State, and proper de-
velopment OF the vast mineral resources lIn-
DERIVING great portion of il. in connection
with an economical appliance of the num-
berless streams OF water now running 10
waste the 'Old Dominican would, ere long
stand one OF the very foremost among the
wealthiest and most prosperous States ofthe
! Union.
But instead of this desirable consurnma-
ton OF things. how stands the case at the
present time? For lack of the necessary
promotion ana encouragement Of all these
kindred and intcrdcpendent industries to
which We have alluded, we are compelled
TO send annually millions OF dollars TO other
and distant places for nearly every article
and implement Of every day llsc in all our
occupations which, ought to be manufactu-
red at our own doors and by our own arti.
! sans.
Ii We need wagon, Il plow, or harves-
ter we 80 to Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin or
some other Of the great Western States,
which, although entering and making the
start IN the role of industrial progress and
prosperity nearly two hundred years later,
have long since out shipped our own las.
glng state because they have cast old fogy
notions to the winds and in their place saiZ-
ed hold ofnewer and better ideas, and made
them subscrrc their efforts for success. Our
scythes, axes, hoes, knives, saws hammers
nails, bolts, screws brooms. ropes, tubs,
buckets, &C., all come from aE,r. Our tan
ned leather is shipped away hundreds of
miles, and then reshipped back to us in
boots, shoes and harness; and thus. I might
so on enumerating kindred articles. for
which we depend on the mechanism of
strangers and whom We have 10 pay well,
| for their skilled labor until had illed IN
your entire newspaper.
But hear somebody Of that numerous
class of men in our midst, ever ready to
| apologize for mistakes no matter how culpa-
! bic. reply, "Oh, we have not the necessary
capital nor the skilled artisans 70 compete
with distant manufacturing establishments,
nor would our people buy home made arti-
eles. ;" Now briefly in answer to these ob.
Jectlons: Why have we not the capital?
simply, because we are yearly, as already
stated, sending abroad millions of ready
money to pay, somebody else for doing what
we ought to do ourselves; and if we have
now only certain number Of millions left
and II we shall keep on thus unwiseIy ex-
pending our capital without regard to the
laws OF political economy,--without in the
meantime producing anything to export and
bring 1t back, other than the pittance of
tobacco, corn, wheat, &c., which we now
send QUITS tia difficult arithmetical uues.
ton to solve how soon orr renidlv v-ost;,o