The southern press., 1852-05-01

as lhis cIass Df prod dctions ara grown here sew.
eral Weeks earlier than at places north 81 the
lChesapeake. and the fscilities OF sendlnu them
/ to distant markets are abundant kichmohd
cuts off all the upper trade from this venerable
! town. which possesses natural advantages that
1.-THE former has not; and which. by energy and
enterprise, Richmond could be- made to feel
| Norfolk is pleasant spot for a residence, as
sea breeze always sets into that port Ports
lm0uth, lying opposite, is quits pleasant village,
having about $500 inhabitants, with but little
trade. It's principal commercial business is
created ~ the Dismal Swamp canal and the ad
ljacent United States navy ward the former
i bringing large quantities Of lumber, and the
latter giving employment to large number Of
mechanics 10 various branches This navy ward
lis one Of the largest il the United States, and
all its buildings, dry-docks, &c, are arranged
on corresponding scale. The Seaboard and
Roanoke railroad here strikes off to Weldon.
North Carolina, which bids fair, ifconducted !
with the spirit manifested by the present presi.
dent, to give strong impetus to the prosperity
Of the place. e ,S- \
Hence traced my steps to Richmond and
Fredericksburg. The latter town is at the head
Of the Rappahannock river which admits vess,, i.
of twelve feet draught up to the town The
population is about 5000. The advantages 81
this place in the way of water power are great.
and well worth the attention of Eastern capital.
lists. This agreeable town was the residence
of the mother Of Washington / now took the
rails for Aqua creek, whore we were put on
board of the mail steamer for Alexandria. The
business Of this venerable city has Of late aug.
|mented rapidly on account of the activity i'm
parted to capital by the Orange railroad and the
branch canal recently cut to intersect the Chesa-
a nd 0hin al
it will become great market for the coal
brought by the Cumberland boats to be sbipped
to Eastern PORTS. 1t does also heavy business
in the expectation Of -four and grain. The en-.
terprisc ofthe Alexandrians would make this an
important commercial port had they the neces-
sary capital to put to account the natural ad-
vaptages of their position.
Here ends my tour. The nature of nv bns;-
ness gave me considerable opportunity to Judge
of the feelings and disposition of the Southern
people. have sketched from memory. a. I
took no notes. If errors should be perceived
in my pencilling by those better informed. I
trust they will be indulgently overlooked.
had much opportunity also to form correct
estimate of that delicate domestic institution.
Southern slavery-an institution recognised and
guaranteed to the South by the Constitution.
and which the Abolitionists have of late pre-.
suulpluous'y ny well as H1lscOlevOuslV meddled
with, thereby disturbing the peace and harmo.
ny of our beloved country. 4 was led 10 the
conviction that the slaves were kindly treated
and contented. The free negroes of the North
will not compare as respects comfort and con-
tent with the slaves of the South Observation
concusively proves that there are sections of
the Southern country in which, from the in
tensity of the heat the whites cannot 20 out
door labor without sure destruction to their
physical constitution; on the contrary, the Afri-
can race do not suffer from such exposure.
Their constitutions seem admirably fitted by
Providence for labor in such districts.
fondly hope that the fanatics referred to will
leave off agitating question over which they
have no legitimate control, especially MS the
tendency of their course is clearly calculated TO
curtail the privileges and happiness of the race
in whose behalf they profess to feel so much
interest.
The Southern people possess morality and
benevoence sufficient to cover all the response
bilites and duties connected with their political
organization, and to them may be safely CON-
mitted the care of this unfortunate race.
Respectfully, d. M.