The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-02
OUR ALABAMA CORRESPONDENCE.

OUR ALABAMA CORRESPONDENTS.
MONTGOMERY, ALA, June 20, 1854.
The Trip from VIcks6urg-S Southern Colleges
General Quitman--His ideas about Cuba-Social
aspect of Slarery--A Manufacturing Village in
Alabama Cotton Gins, &C., &c.
have recently arrived at this beautiful city, from
Miss. Perhaps brief account OF the
incidents of the trip may not be uninstructive to
your readers. The passage down the river was
made in the splendid steamer Princess. The
stream at this time is unusually high, affording
most excellent view of the adjacent country covered
with plantations nearly as far back as the eye can
reach. The Louisiana side presents much the finer
appearance Of the two.
At Natchez, we were allowed ample time to visit
the city and surrounding country. visited Je1er-
son College at Washington, six miles east Of the
city, for the purpose of obtaining definite ideas OF
Southern colleges. This institution was establshe
on the Jeersonian principles, as its name indicates.
Ever since its existence it has been struggling to re-
cover from difficulties incident, perhaps, to its
organization. No institution in this age can be ex
pected to prosper unless based on clearly distinctive
principles, and these must be such as the commu-
nifty can readily subscribe TO. One Involuntary
shldders when the charter Of college excludes
from ita board of instructors, ministers Of the gos
pei. This college, however, has recently adopted
more human notions, and we were assured that it's
prospects are quite attering: |! has at this time
On boarding the steamer we were particularly
gratifed in finding Gen. Quitman and brother Of
Gen. JEFF Davis among the passengers from Natchez.
men into submission, even though he were disposed
to attempt such thing. In stature he is Short has
. dim eye, and very poor voice. His frame, how
ever, is strongly built, rendering him capable Of
enduring great fatigue He is active In his move
course, turned on Cuban affairs, from which
gathered that there is really great cry, and likely
to be little wool, from the filibuster movements
that Is, republic, in whose constitution the leading
article shall be guaranteeing the perpetual exits
tence Of slavery; but that he viii attempt to bring
abont such state Of things independent or in spite
He is man Of far too much penetration and Of too
sound Judgment seriously to entertain for mo-
ment the projects that have been imputed to him.
That the South is strongly interested in the per-
petuity Of the institution which at present large
" contributes to it's wealth, presume thsre is no
wish TO conceal. But my own impression is that
the South in it's determination to adhere to law and
endless denominations passing between the North
and the South Go over Southern thoroughfares,
through Southern cities, visit plantations, and you
find, as at the North, business thriving everybody
about single one Of which 80 much ado has lately
been made, is infinitely happier here than those rep
resenting it in the city Of Boston, No where on the
face ofthe earth are i've Of blacks within three
States; and experiments have thoroughly demonstrate
ed that If these five millions were colonized IN any
portion Of the world, they would drop in three &C.
nerations to the level of the Hottentot.
ing the welfare Of the black race, the effect of the
action of the North the subject Of slavery would
be to degrade ito restore it to it's original, and,
may not say, normal condition Garry the theo-
- ,~1r G. ~ ss,k4
ton, and you at once get out second edition Of
Hayti-a state of things the South will not permit,
as far as Cuba is concerned.
But it is not my object to dwell upon this sub.
ject.
win pass silently the great city Of the South, as
also the route to Montgomery, generally so well
known, as wish more particularly to bring to the
notice Of readers the village of Prattsville Alabama
on the Autauga creek, four miles from its entrance
into the Alabama river This creek ia rapid stream,
and what is remarkable in stream so small, sell
dom fails in it's supply Of water. As may be infer
mentioned takes its name from it's first settler and
now principal owner, Daniel Pratt, formerly of New
Hampshire. To this gentleman the place Is indebt-
ed for every important feature connected with it.
water power it afforded as in other respects the To-
cation is not very inviting naturally. The general
appearance of the town is now that of a New Eng
land village Of from 800 to | 900 inhabitants.
be made three hundred feet long and four stories
high. The cloth now made is q coarse article, be-
cause it finds ready market. The orders for it
cannot be punctually supplied.
The most important building is gin manufac-
tory--not the gin that troubles the people of New
York 80 much of late, but the gin that has convert
ed the banks of the Lower Mississippi into one Of
the most delightful countries eye ever looked upon;
railroads, and making the South poten. arm Of
this great confederacy. wonder H. after all, Whit
ney was not curse to his fellow men. 81, M
The present gin is said to be almost exactly as
Whitney constructed it. The most essential part
Of it is solid piece Of square wood, tiiled with
from forty 10 seventy circular saws inch or SO
asunder, keptin their places by circular pieces Of
wood OF the proper thickness. The wood and saws
are =: slipped on alternately The edge Of the saws
10 then adjusted so as to pass exactly midway be-
tween two bent pieces Of iron, fastened firmly and
at such a distance from each other as to render it
impossible for the seeds Of the cotton to pass
through, while the cotton itself is forced to pass by
the teeth Of the saws. This simple machine sends
ships into all parts Of the world and gives bread to
the poor OF the greatest nation on earth. Ye braw
ers OF human liberty, what seek ye? To depress
has ever been able to make itself usefui--to sever
the bonds Of the mghtest republic ever established
Ito stop the commerce Of the world-to still the
Pindles Of England. and starve its inhabitants
able to yourselves as well as useful to your fellows
II you would come down here upon the banks of the
beautiful Autauga, invest your capital in cotton
factory, buy negroes and teach them how to work
out their freedom? There is not man South who
will object to such project. Is not this grand
opportunity for the Boston twins to wipe away the
disgrace they have so lately brought down upon
their own headsi They need not come disguised.
With this philanthropc object in view they will be
taken by the hand and treated as brothers, every
facility being thrown in their path to further such
noble efforts to ameliorate the condition of the at
present uncared-for slave. These men have been
vigilant, they have been brave. Let them now be
active.
But to return-these gins are entirely constructed
with machinery, each workman making his parti-
calar piece. One can be sold at from $50 to 5000,
according TO the number of saws, and the finish.
Q. Z. ID.
OUR OHIO CORRESPONDENTS.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, June "A, 1854.
A Iripto Ciersiand-Hs Progress in Wealth and
P0puLnfi0n-Hista, NJ the C;t.l b.. ~. q CLle.k