Valley Virginian

Millboro Depot,
Dec. 25, 1866.

Valley Virginian:--In my letter on "Workingmen in Society" I gave but a few introductory ideas, and before I enter on this deeply interesting subject allow me to thank you for your approval of my poor effort. I am pleased because I feel from your remarks that the question of "Labors rights and its requirements" will not be allowed to rest by you and others who have at heart our prosperity.

To make prosperous the country we must protect labor. To elevate labor to the highest pitch of utility and power, the workingmen must be educated. Halfways or halfmeans will not do. A new era is on us. The great revolution is not yet over, but come what may in the future, how shall we the people be prepared? In the distance we see our country happy--happier and more glorious than ever.

How are we to approach this dear consummation? Is it by rude toil, or by willing heart and cultivated intellect? Every thing susceptible of improvement ought to be improved, and 'tis equal whatever the condition of the individual is, prepared for the grand race of progress, if he does not win a position, let him blame himself.

"Educate that you may be free" is an old axiom in political ethics and shall we forget that "knowledge is power."

To learn Greek and Latin &c., is by no means education, these I hold to be mere accessions--literary accomplishments if you will. The language that clothed the divine ideas of a Milton and Shakspear; that gave imperishable glory to Lyrics of Burns and Moore, and tinged with hues of splendor the burning thoughts of a Henry and a Grattan and flung around the martyr grave of [unclear] met the undying glory of true patriotism, that language will suffice for us poor "workingmen in Society." To train the minds of a people to a proper adaptation to useful purposes, to teach them that in the homestead a knowledge is required, the most essential perhaps of all, for as the family was the first form of government it ought to be the most correct, otherwise society has no true foundation and there is no stability for liberty or natural prosperity. In a republican form of government each individual should consider that on him alone descends the strength and perpetuity of political constitutions, for though the individual is forgotten in the aggregate, the aggregate can have no existence without the individual.

If you want the whole people of the South to apply their great energies to her regeneration and future glory, apply yourself to the base of the structure and ascend by degrees.

The flash of the sabre attracts the eye of beauty, the ring of industry wins liberty; liberty! she never smiled on carnage, but always sat by the board of contentment, where love sweetened toil, and culled from fields made rich by its sweet flowers for the pillow of man's dreams.

You, who have taken so to your heart the good of all the people and the prosperity of the whole country--you will not be satisfied with ideas alone in this moment for our elevation. Go practically to work, there is much to be done and believe me there is very little time to be lost. Looking over the papers from different places I see how industriously people apply themselves to work for the amelioration of the condition of the poor, their intentions are good and may God reward them. In the cities and large towns, they have Lyceums, Literary, Mechanics' and other institutes. Those societies have done much good in their way. In our small towns and villages such establishments do not exist, or if they did, they would only exist for a class. A new enterprise to be successful heretofore, should come into existence under happy auspices, having one or two or more millionaires at the baptismal font, and how many of them have failed. To cure the evils of society--to make powerful a country, consult the heart of a toiler, and if there is no responsive throb to your own desires, chasten down its roughness by brotherly love and strengthen and fire it with the tender touch of gentle association and practical education. You are not afraid to write your sentiments, and I am mistaken if you will be afraid to act, start then at once an organization for the improvement of the "workingmen in society." In Staunton you will have many to assist you in the good work, for I am sure those who fought in the mad fray and struggled up the steel-girt-slopes of many an ensanguined field by the side of the workingman, will not now turn away from any enterprise having for its object his moral, social and intellectual improvement. Commence then at once, collect a few young men, rent a room, let the liberal among you donate them books &c., and you and other gentlemen of the press in Staunton can supply them with a great deal of useful reading in your exchanges. What will be cut out, they will see in your papers, the remainder will be valuable. Let each man subscribe twenty-five cents per month, divide your city into ward clubs and have a central committee who will look to the appointment of teachers--graduates of course. Establish in each ward club a debating night for each week and a Lecture once a month, the subject on all occasions to suit the object of the organization, and above and before all things, firmly resolve that no foolish political or religious questions shall be mooted. Learning the value of Unity we will know how to preserve it.

The young and old men of your town once seeing the value and utility of such an organization they can take council with each other for the common good and never again be made the poor cats paws of enterprising adventurers. They will see the truth of the motto--'in Union there is strength.' And never was that knowledge more needed. There are in our midst chartered corporations who think they have a right to do as they please, and on this assumption act.

An organized working community, fostered and protected, by true patriots, acting on my plan would know how, and be able to govern them, or at least meet them as equals for each others accommodation. The Virginia Central Railroad has initiated locomotion on the [unclear] track. The board of directors met, and behold the result! Fountaine with over three thousand dollars per annum is condescendingly satisfied to sacrifice for the general good fourteen per cent of his salary; and the poor white man who was earning only one dollar per day--his wages now are ninety cents. Oh heavens! and these are the men who would raise up Virginia--pshaw! Have they been studying political philosophy in the school of General Howard of the freedman's bureau, and brought us back for our improvement, with all the audacity, but less of the modesty of Thad Stephens their new fangled notions. If ever a more barefaced, villainous interference with the workingmen's rights took place, I know not when or where, but as the company insists on the continuance of its aristocratic existence, I respectfully submit to the consideration of the Bureau this economical subject. The protigees, soon to be enfranchised can on the road be accommodated with a little anticipatory liberty, thirteen dollars per month and rations amounting to only four dollars and seventy-five cents for the same time. It would be well to make known to honest men North and South how the world wags in the progressive brains of the directors of the Va. C. R. R.

But to my subject, the suggestions I have thrown out are roughly written, for I too have to labor, and time is not my own. How I would like to be near you on the first night of trial. Be not disheartened; try and you will succeed and in the course of a few years, a man may ask the question. Where here is the ignorant toiler? and you can, like one at the sepulchre of old exclaim in answer, "he is not here--he's risen."

The star of our hope is not set, you see it above as the magians did of old. Let us open our souls to receive its effulgent beams, that these grand, useful and progressive ideas which God implanted there, may leap to action at their touch. The past year was one never to be forgotten, the present is dying out--so shall we all die. We are on the threshold of the new year. Let us leave behind our prejudices and errors, and enter on a mission of labor that will be sanctified by love and enlightened by wisdom. The spring shall call forth the buds of our hopes and when the flowers blossom, we will call them for the brows of the trusting living and the graves of the dear and glorious dead.

Their graves we will not desert--their principles we cannot forget, and while there is life.
"We will tread their path
With a spirit that hath
Assurance of triumph yet."
Your's &c.
"Erina."