Valley Virginian

The National Intelligencer, speaking of the present condition of the country, says:

The South is to have no peace; every incentive is to be used to create and intensify the antagonism of races at the South, and every outbreak will be so much clear gain to Radicalism. We have fallen upon the unhappy times, when selfish partizans find that the best way to attain power is to unchain the furies. What will liberty, what will property, what will life ultimately be worth in this country if this horrible diabolism is sanctioned by the endorsement of the people.

Staunton is fast resuming the energy and industry which were leading characteristics of its business population before general adversity fell upon all parts of the country. In no department is this more discernible than in its fine and capacious hotels. Travelers, once partaking of the excellent fare and delightful quarters they receive here, go on their journey more than pleased. The old and well known Virginia Hotel is one of the most complete establishments in the country. The Messrs. PEYTON, in reopening its ample accommodations, have spared no expense in giving convenience, style and elegance to the apartments and the outfit in every particular. With their own is given the polite attention of the superintendent, Mr. B. F. WEBB and Mr. BERNARD PEYTON.

The guest, on his entrance, is made to feel that he has around him not only the ease and freedom of "Old Virginia" hospitality and courtesy, but that he is invited to all the comforts and luxuries of a first class city establishment.--Richmond Whig.

It is certainly very gratifying to a dweller in our lovely Valley, to note the rapid progress our people are making in restoring our war-stricken country to its former thrifty appearance. The changes are apparent to the eye of a stranger, but to one that, with a sad heart, saw Sheridan's ruthless devastation and witnessed the destruction, as it went on, of four years of vandalism, and can tell when each scar was made that so marred the features of this loveliest of lands, these changes for the better are eloquent in speaking of the past and cheering for the present and the future.

It is needless to speak of the improvements in Staunton, they are "not done in a corner," the town is filling up and spreading out, as far as the water pipes will let it, especially is the town creeping down the Valley Turnpike, where the houses, some very good ones, have already topped the hill, the fences have resumed their old places and near the little chopping mill on Fanny's Run, Col. Harman's fine new Merchant mill, running like clock-work, first attracts attention after getting into the country--and it is well worth a visit, if for no other purpose, to see how well everything has been done there. I am sure a good roll would taste all the better if the eater knew the flour had been ground in so neat a mill. The fine crops, the fences, the improvements that have been made to houses and barns, speak well for the industry of the farmers, as we go towards the Augusta Church, and there the fine new building that is nearly completed for the school of the Messrs. Bowman and the New Cemetery that is nearly enclosed and is to be neatly and tastefully laid out and ornamented, speak well for the public spirit that is still alive in the old land. Mt. Sidney gives few signs of life we are sorry to say: the hotel has a new sign and the smoke rises from the oven of the pottery, but the end has fallen out of the school house and the weeds grow in the streets, even the toll gatherer was "non est." As we near Burke's Mill two steam saw mills give an active look to the little Valley of the West Branch of Naked Creek, and Capt. Burke's new mill looks as though Sheridan's crow might replenish his haversack there, provided--well, we're reconstructed--The whole place is alive from the steam mill to the stage stables. Pleasant Grove Academy is sadly in need of a tenant, but the huge new barn of Mr. Roller near by proclaims that that fine region has not been sold for taxes yet. Mt. Crawford looks very well, except the church, which always had a forward look, the reservoir in front is more than ever a scar on the body politic, or the corporation, (for all the towns in Rockingham, such as Mt. Crawford, Bridgewater, Dayton, &c., are incorporated.) It speaks well for the place that they are fixing to use the fine water power of Cook's Creek at one end of the town, and are making crocks from the marsh at the other end. The hand of steady industry is apparent all the way from Mt. Crawford to Harrisonburg, this portion of the country was made very desolate, but one could hardly tell that anything had ever happened to it, surely no one ever saw finer crops of corn, or such fields of grass, so many new fences, to say nothing of the new houses and new finger boards. The big spring even had a new look, as though it had recuperated after resting from the many calls of the many.

Harrisonburg does not give many external proofs of prosperity, but the town appears, upon closer acquaintance, to be getting along very well. The Female Seminary is said to be very flourishing, but the outside of it looks as though it were in a state of siege: it needs a little paint and some trees. The new bank will be a very nice building, but the head gear of it looks too much like an old fashioned lady's high-topped comb. General Jones has improved the outside of the old stone church, and the lots of tools he has stowed away inside when they get into the hands of the farmers will do much to improve the country. The Collector of the U. S. taxes goes into the old bank, where he will, no doubt, have more deposits than the new one. The Register office looks much the same as of yore, but it has a fine power press that beats all our Staunton new mills, but the establishment reminded us of Imboden's big mule and little cannon that came down to help us fight the battle of Port Republic. The "boys" all thought the mule was too big for the gun, and we thought the press was too big for the room it had, we don't mean anything more, for we venture that in a short time they will have "the thing" going by steam. The Register is "an institution" still in Rockingham, and its Senior evidently enjoys, (and who would not?) the crowd of the old and young, male and female, that at an early hour on the day of publication crowds his Sanctum eager for the appearance of the paper. It always does us good to see people enjoy themselves as the editor and his subscribers seemed to enjoy themselves. We can't say much for the hotels, and, as for merchants the "Mammoth Store" seems to have swallowed all the others, and surely a store that took in ninety thousand pounds of butter in one year ought to swallow well. The lawyers appear to have taken Harrisonburg as the Doctors have Staunton--and lest you should weary and say we have taken too many notes we will stop.

Yours, &c.
Z.