-Fsofn tfe Abingdon Yirginian. Z
GAM A VIRGINIAN." r
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- EN..tL


The appellation of I" Virginian," 4 HIsihonWghy W y
manv covers all the imperfectionS to which nature
is nrone. Go where you will, TO Name, or Loulslz
ann. and if YOU meet son ofthe Old dominion,
no matter how degraded, beSotted or ignorant ne
deems it only necessary to say--ssl am a Virgi-
MAN." to elevate him head and shoulders taller
than those around him. The Senator in Congress,
ors-tbe REPRESENTATIVES in tho lower House feels
nroud and towering when he can exclaim-" l
hail from the mother Of States and Statesmen-I
am an old VirginianW The Governor OF the
Commonwealth, in submitting hisannual message,
never fails TO congratulate the world that he
breathes the air that was breathcd by Washington
and the very acme of all his aspirations appears to
be to exclaim-" l am Virginian The
pcttifoggers and demagogueS in our Legislative
halls. cannot present petition for making some
muddv little creek lawful fence, or for imposing
tax upon Jackasses without prding himself
anon the spot of his birth, and exultingy exclaIm
-a am Virginian " Indeed, this is the Gus
tom with orators of every grade, from those IN the
Senate of the United States down 10 the smutty-
face urchin who drawlS out.


You can scarce expect one otmy age " &C
and all alike take peculiar delight in being VIr-
oinians WHY is this so Is it because OF any
DecuIiar enchantment in the air of Virginla2 Is 1t
because she is potent in wealth and numbers
+ il because she is rich in native virtue or war-
like and invincible in arms ? Is it because her
children are more patriotic and intelligent than
othcrs-her statesmen more wise and energetc
her soil more prolifc-hcr streams broader
and decper-the grandeur of her hills and noun
tans more sublime and picturesque No no.
it can be for none of these reasons. Although
the upland portion Of this State is. as healthy as
anv country on the globe, the lowand or larger
potion is the reverse, where men, 1t is sald some,
times shake their boots off. As TO her wealth and
numbers, she has nothing 10 boast-nmelenlhs OF
her population are poor whose poverty and inert
ness combined, keep the elements of her wealth
locked up in her bowels She is not more
virtuous and warliac than her sisters. Her chill
dren are not moro patriotic than tht Sc Of other
States and. as a mass the fact is selfevidcnt that
thew are less intelligent. Her statesmen are less
wise and energetic than those of other States,
for proof of which we need only refor to her crab
fashion. retrogade march, for a series Of years
past Her soil, for the want of markets for pro-
ducts has been neglected and abused, until fields
that were once as luxuriant as Eden, are now as
bare and cheerless as a goosc-pasture. Her
streams although affording the finest taclll-
ties for machinery in the world, are permitted
to rush unchecked to the ocean, and her hills and
mountains, although filled with the elements OF
wealth and greatness, slumbcr in eternal rePose
upon her bosom.


The arrogance that prompts the boast of " l
am a Virginian" is only excusable from the
startling fact, that there is greater amount Of
ignorance in Virginia, than in any other State in
the Union. This is as true as humillatlng. Let
us look at the facts. The following table shows
the number of white persons over the age OF 20,
who cannot read and write in each State OF The