Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-04
Correspondence Of The Spy.
THINGS IN THE OLD DOMINION.
PErERsRURG. Va, Jan. 80,


For the last few days have been stopping
here among the swamps of Virginia, scarcely
taking notes, but observing the natural pro-
auctions of the country. The three chiefest of
these are oysters, turkies and negroes, and, if
a man don't grow into an oyster or a turkey,
it must be because he cannot-for he gets
scarcely anything else to eat at this season of
the year. "Raking among the oyster beds is
a perpetual fact in Virginia waters and Vir-
ginian can no more do without oysters than he
can lay aside his pride of birth Turkies, too,
are part of the patrimony, and, either wild or
domestic, are always served at table. The me-
gro feature is the next one in prominence, and
seems to be quite animportant one. This, too,
is one of the prides of Virginians, and is always
a knock-down argument when the abolition
question comes up-they refer to their tobacco
factories and oyster-beds, where, the laborers
being slaves, better wages are made than by
the factory operatives at the North. 1t is about
two weeks, now, that have been waited upon
by this dark property, and can't say that it is
disagreeable, because, with travellers, prompt
tude, activity, and civility in servants is good
desideratum. But, with the system of disci-
pline practiced here, it would be impossible to
have other than active and civil servants. But
do not envy Virginians in their enjoyment of
these things nor would transfer their COM
forts to any other locality, because they are
filter here than they would be anywhere else.
Virginia is much excited, now, with the
coming election. The old Wing party gives
signs of life, and its pretext for reviving is, to
SAFE the State from emancipationists. What
horrible bug-bear this slavery question always
is One party or the other, or both, are ever
on the alert for a plot to free the slaves. A
Democratic convention met in this town the
other day, and nominated John Letcher for
Governor, and they say they will elect him,
too; because Virginia cannot be other than
Democratic. Her proud old aristocracy, who
run their lineage back to the dissolute mobiles
of Charles Rex and the Pocahontases, and
think it honorable descent, believe there is but
one word in any language, and that is ode
mocracy," and it is more comprehensive than
that other one, which is said to "cover multi
tude of sins"
Some of the dormant old Wings have walked
up, and, after rubbing their eyes, have discov-
cred that this is the same John Letcher who
few years ago, advocated the emancipation
scheme of Ruffher, scheme which, in its day,
so startled the owners of the ''institution,"
that the mountains almost came down to kiss
the sea scheme so audacious, that the
tobacco fields, and oyster beds threatened to
run together. These sly old Wings seem to
have been waiting for the opportunity which
they have now seized upon, and they denounce
the Democracy as "abolitionists," aword which
here is more obnoxious than "horse-thief,"
and would have a worse effect upon a mans
prospects. TWAS very cunningly done, and, if
the people can only be scared into the belief,
that their property" is in danger, it may
prove disastrous to the unterrifed.
There is to be convention, and an unchang-
ed old Wing is to be put up, and run against
the Observation-Disclosures John Letcher;
and all this not so much, conceive, from fear
for their property" as desire to change the
Vi SuCCeSSlOH, anu give dlOtilSI lung
neglected class of deserving patriots chance
to figure in the official register of the State
The Richmond Wing, says it can "sooner toll
crate the Black Republicans, than John Letch-
er; for the Republicans only seek to keep
slavery out of free territory, while John Letch-
er and the Democratic party, seek to enamel
pate all the negroes" The discussion is
very pretty one, as it stands, and will wax
iercer as it progresses. The Democrats will
be put upon the defensive because the "record"
of their candidate is decidedly against him.
He has uttered speeches, and had them print
ed. This will be big lift for the old Wings.
1t seems to us that Virginia is very proper
field for discussion upon slavery, if the mer-
its of the question can be got at, but as look
at it, it will be a matter of very little conse-
quence to outsiders, whether Wings or Demo-
Gratis elect their candidates.
There is no snow here, nor has there been
any cold weather. The sky is much overcast,
and it rains about half the time, but the air is
mild and pleasant