Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay [pp. 431-439]

PROSPECTS OF THE SOUTH.
wisdom and prudence- we must have wealth and strength, men and
money. How is this to be done? Surely not by burning invectives
or useless complaints; not by throwing straws in our opponent's way,
or fighting for a phantom in the shape of Kansas; not by wasting our
time and our energies in embittering our domestic relationship and
severing our bonds of Union-our ties of consanguinity-while our
Northern neighbors are working and wresting strength from their stubborn soils and their bleak mountains; their contact with the earth
gives them increased vigor, and even the elements conduce to their
strength and pleasure. Here, where nature has generously scattered
her more propitious gifts in profusion-where the earth yields [more
abundantly and largely, what would not Labor, Energy and Enterprise accomplish, if properly directed to those infallible sources of
wealth, and strength, and greatness-of influence and power? It is a
thousand times a pity, a circumstance to be deplored —nay, it is a
crying shame and a sin, that the talented and able press of Virginia
and the South, should devote its wonderful influence, its magic eloquence, to aggravate the bitter feeling it has produced, pampered,
excited, and lacerated to madness; that it should add oil to the fire of
discord, disunion, and civil strife; that it should attach importance to
the silly vaporings of the fanatical journals of the North, and frighten
the credulous with bug-bears which do not exist. In fact, to waste its
strength and usefulness in fighting a windmill.
Instead of destroying an empire which gains strength by union to
defy a world-instead of dividing our nation against itself; and thus
insuring eternal hatred and enmity, if not destruction, the press
could promote the best interests of the South-its honor, its independence, and aggrandizement, far better-indeed it is the only way-by
following the peaceful and magnanimous advice and example of our
common Father and by encouraging the people to enterprise, to internal improvement and development and to commercial and manufacturing pursuits.
In the Kansas war of words, mountains have been piled upon mountains, and the country has been agitated ffrom end to end, yet nothing
has been produced, not even "a mouse." Had half the ink and
paper, with the eloquence and talent, which have of late been wasted
on less than fruitless themes, been devoted to practical purposes, public spirit and Southern ambition would have received an impetus in
the right direction that no power could stay, no force could stop.
Unfortunately the press seems devoted almost entirely to unproductive politics-to the Herculean task of emptying the ocean with a
sieve; and we cannot wonder that it has no time or strength to aid
in the great works of developing our industrial resources, or promoting
the wealth, strength, and influence of the South.
We have, however, of late, made many and rapid strides towards
Southern aggrandizement and importance. Ten years of comparative
advancement will place us beyond the control or monopoly of the
North. But this gain is due, not to mad secession oratory or fiery
editorials, but to the determined exertions of a few enterprising and
energetic individuals, who have. long battled, and are still battling,
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